Pierre Fournier, George Szell, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – Antonín Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191 (1962/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Pierre Fournier, George Szell, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - Antonín Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191 (1962/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download

Pierre Fournier, George Szell, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – Antonín Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191 (1962/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 38:25 minutes | 1,54 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © HDTT

…HDTT chose another genuine classic to remaster, and one can hardly argue the importance of this 1961 recording of Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op.104, B.191 from cellist Pierre Fournier ant the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by George Szell.
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Pierre Fournier – Lalo / Saint-Saens: Cello Concertos (Remastered) (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Pierre Fournier - Lalo / Saint-Saens: Cello Concertos (Remastered) (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Pierre Fournier – Lalo / Saint-Saens: Cello Concertos (Remastered) (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:19:11 minutes | 1,47 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)

Favorite cello concertos in classic interpretations by the great French cellist, his first recording for DG which as long been considered by international critics as “the standard recommendation.”
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Pierre Fournier – Brahms: The Cello Sonatas by Pierre Fournier (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Pierre Fournier - Brahms: The Cello Sonatas by Pierre Fournier (2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Pierre Fournier – Brahms: The Cello Sonatas by Pierre Fournier (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 44:29 minutes | 807 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Alexandre Bak – Classical Music Reference Recording

Pierre Léon Marie Fournier (24 June 1906 – 8 January 1986) was a French cellist who was called the “aristocrat of cellists” on account of his elegant musicianship and majestic sound.
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Pierre Fournier – Dvorak / Elgar: Cello Concertos (1988/2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Pierre Fournier - Dvorak / Elgar: Cello Concertos (1988/2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download

Pierre Fournier – Dvorak / Elgar: Cello Concertos (1988/2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 01:04:51 minutes | 2,48 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)

There are quite a few amazing performances out there regarding the Dvorak concerto. However, my first experience with Fournier`s really captivated me. It ranks right up there with DuPre/Chicago on EMI (mid 1970`s) and Casals/Czech on EMI (late 1930`s).

The first movement is brilliant, with a beautifully mournful trumpet solo about two minutes in. Very nice sound in this Galleria mid-priced cd, with an attractive cover as well. This performance easily ranks in the top five concerning the Dvorak piece.

Although not as impressive as the Dvorak, Fournier does a commendable job with the Elgar. It is not my first choice – yes, yes, I know all about the famous DuPre/Barbirolli tandem- but this recording does offer a generous coupling without giving up any quality.
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Pierre Fournier, George Szell, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – Dvorak: Cello Concerto (1962/2014) [Official Digital Download DSF DSD128/5.64MHz + FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Pierre Fournier; George Szell, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – Dvorak: Cello Concerto (1962/2014)
DSD128 (.dsf) 1 bit/5,6 MHz | Time – 38:24 minutes | 3,03 GB
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time – 38:24 minutes | 788 MB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Digital booklet | Source: HDTT | Genre: Classical

HighDefTapeTransfers chose another genuine classic to remaster, and one can hardly argue the importance of this 1961 recording of Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op.104, B.191 from cellist Pierre Fournier ant the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by George Szell.

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Pierre Fournier, Matthias Bamert, Istvan Kertesz – Lucerne Festival Historic Performances Vol. VII – Pierre Fournier plays Dvořák, Saint-Saëns and Casals (2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz]

Pierre Fournier, Matthias Bamert, Istvan Kertesz – Lucerne Festival Historic Performances Vol. VII – Pierre Fournier plays Dvořák, Saint-Saëns and Casals (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:00:51 minutes | 551 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Audite Musikproduktion

Pierre Fournier (1906-1986) was one of the most eminent cellists of the generation after Pablo Casals. Praised as an “aristocrat of cello playing”, he was admired for his soulful, singing tone, his uncomplicated elegance and his refined sound. This disc presents three live recordings from this legacy, recorded at Lucerne Festival and all of them released for the first time.

Together with István Kertész, Fournier performed a piece of his core repertoire in the summer of 1967: Dvorák’s Cello Concerto in B minor – a particularly noteworthy archive discovery since the conductor’s tragically early death had prevented him from making a studio recording of the concerto. This live recording preserves the unpredictable emotional value of the concert situation: Fournier and Kertész take many risks, preferring the high definition of separate sounds as well as fresh tempi, without any temptation to fall for folklore frenzy or sentimental melancholy. Camille Saint-Saëns’ First Cello Concerto in A minor was held in low esteem for decades, despite composers such as Rachmaninov and Shostakovich declaring it “the greatest of all cello concertos”. It was not revived until the 1950s, not least thanks to its advocacy by Pierre Fournier. In 1962, alongside Jean Martinon and the Orchestre Philharmonique de la RTF, he presented a passionate reading of the work, permitting a telling comparison to his previous studio recording. A new item in Fournier’s discography, however, is the ‘Cant dels ocells’ which he played in 1976 at a memorial concert on the centenary of Pablo Casals’ birthday: this was also his last appearance at Lucerne Festival. Fournier’s brief announcement before this work has been included here: in it he pays tribute both to Pablo Casals – whose cello version of the old Catalan Christmas carol became an obligatory constituent of his concerts and a secret hymn for all refugees and emigrants longing for home – and also to the cellist and composer Enrico Mainardi, who had died only a few months previously, on 10 April 1976.

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Pierre Fournier,Friedrich Gulda – Beethoven: Complete Works for Cello and Piano (Remastered) (2006/2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Pierre Fournier,Friedrich Gulda - Beethoven: Complete Works for Cello and Piano (Remastered) (2006/2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download

Pierre Fournier,Friedrich Gulda – Beethoven: Complete Works for Cello and Piano (Remastered) (2006/2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 02:18:10 minutes | 5,34 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)

It would be difficult to rank these three complete collections of Beethoven’s works for cello and piano, recorded by Pierre Fournier with three different partners, all distinguished Beethoven experts: Arthur Schnabel (1947-48), Friedrich Gulda (1959) and Wilhelm Kempff (1965). Fournier and Gulda are like fire and water. The French cellist provides guidance to the solitary and somewhat untameable Gulda, who himself admitted to having learned some discipline over the course of the recording, and kept a debt of gratitude for Fournier his whole life. The result is a tremendous show of mutual attention and a clarity of expression, without any pomposity or pretentiousness. – François Hudry
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Pierre Fournier, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – Richard Strauss Don Quixote (1965) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Pierre Fournier, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - Richard Strauss Don Quixote (1965) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download

Pierre Fournier, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – Richard Strauss Don Quixote (1965)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 44:06 minutes | 1,50 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © HDTT

Fournier’s Don Quixote with Karajan and the BPO in top form has long held its rank as one of the finest interpretations of this Strauss masterwork. With excellent sound this is warmly recommended.
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Géza Anda, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Pierre Fournier, Janos Starker, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay – Beethoven: Triple Concerto / Brahms: Double Concerto (1961/1962/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Géza Anda, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Pierre Fournier, Janos Starker, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay - Beethoven: Triple Concerto / Brahms: Double Concerto (1961/1962/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Géza Anda, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Pierre Fournier, Janos Starker, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay – Beethoven: Triple Concerto / Brahms: Double Concerto (1961/1962/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:11:24 minutes | 1,35 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)

Fricsay conducts concertos by Beethoven and Brahms: Friendship is the connecting link between the two works here. Beethoven is thought to have written his Triple Concerto in 1803 – 04 for his favorite pupil, the Archduke Rudolph. Brahms composed his Double Concerto in 1887 as a peace offering, to heal a breach with his friend the violinist Joseph Joachim. It seems to have done the trick; and it was canny of Brahms, who conducted the first performance (Cologne, October 1887), to have the cellist of the Joachim Quartet, Robert Hausmann, sharing solo hon- ours – it would have been difficult for Brahms and Joachim to have a row with a third party present. I do not know how friendly the soloists on these two famous recordings were, but I recall what a strong “house style” manated from Deutsche Grammophon productions in the 1950s and early 1960s.
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Pierre Fournier – Bach, J.S.: 6 Suites for Violoncello (1961/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Pierre Fournier - Bach, J.S.: 6 Suites for Violoncello (1961/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Pierre Fournier – Bach, J.S.: 6 Suites for Violoncello (1961/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:19:19 minutes | 2,75 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Deutsche Grammophon (DG)

In Colette’s famous phrase, Pierre Fournier “sings better than anything that sings”. Nowhere is this truer than in his iconic recordings of the six Bach suites. The suites were so much part of him that on the afternoon before a concert he was heard asking which of them he was playing that evening.
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Zino Francescatti, Pierre Fournier, Bruno Walter – Brahms: Concerto for Violin & Cello (1960/2015) [Official Digital Download DSF DSD128/5.64MHz + FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Zino Francescatti, Pierre Fournier, Bruno Walter – Brahms: Concerto for Violin & Cello (1960/2015)
DSD128 (.dsf) 1 bit/5,64 MHz | Time – 00:32:49 minutes | 2,58 GB
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time – 00:32:49 minutes | 531 MB
Genre: Classical | Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © HDTT

~ Brahms Concerto for Violin & Cello – Zino Francescatti,violin – Pierre Fournier,cello – Bruno Walter conducting The Columbia Symphony Orchestra (Pure DSD) ~

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