Beethoven: Complete Works for Cello & Piano

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Friedrich Gulda (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Friedrich Gulda
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (August 8, 2006)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000FBHSQI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,678 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

One of Pierre Fournier's great recordings - arguably the best recording of the Beethoven Complete Cello works - that will form part of our Fournier 100 celebrations (the anniversary of his birth falls on 24 June this year). The recordings were made when Fournier was at his technical peak, and partnered by the keenly-insightful Friedrich Gulda. The CD booklet includes a fascinating memoir by the son of Pierre Fournier - Jean Fonda - on "Fournier and Fritz [Gulda]", plus a couple of delightful Fifties photos !

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of Beethoven's best, December 16, 2006

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B. Morris (Richmond, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven: Complete Works for Cello & Piano (Audio CD)

The cello sonatas span Beethoven's entire career. The first two are "early", the third one "middle period", and the last two "late". They range from tuneful to abstract, but all are studded with luscious melody. I find it impossible to choose between this Fournier recording and the later one with Kempff. The sound here is crystal-clear, and the spirit of Beethoven hovers over the proceedings. Gulda points up the structure, Fournier provides the lyricism, and the music takes flight. Note that both sets include the three sets of variations, which are sheer fun.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Satisfying Performances From Two Of The Best Classical Musicians of the 20th Century, January 10, 2007

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven: Complete Works for Cello & Piano (Audio CD)

Musically, cellist Pierre Fournier and pianist Friedrich Gulda, were the least likely couple ever to form a successful chamber music duo in the history of 20th Century classical music. Fournier's elegant, rhapsodic playing was firmly established within a "French school of cello-playing" that emphasized discretion and yielding from this distinguished artist, "so perfect a balance of registers, so immaculate a line" according to music critic Reinhard Beuth (from the liner notes of this two-CD set.). In stark contrast, Gulda's playing was more cerebral and indeed, visionary, in the sense that he was interested in adhering as close as possible to the composer's original intentions for the score, than by imposing his own idiosyncratic, romantic style on his playing (A performance style which has become quite popular amongst contemporary pianists.). And yet, Gulda was also a radical musically, by fully embracing jazz music, along with his keen interest in playing classical music composed by the likes of Mozart and Beethoven. Recorded in late June, 1959 by Deutsche Grammophon at Vienna's legendary Musikverein, this two-CD set is an excellent muscial testament to this unlikely chamber music duo, replete with some of the best performances ever recorded of Beethoven's cello sonatas and other works composed for the cello and piano (I'm not sure how well this two-CD set compares with Fournier's later recordings of these sonatas with pianist Wilhelm Kempff, but I do know that this set ought to be regarded as among the finest currently available of the Beethoven cello sonatas.). Although the sound quality hasn't been digitally enhanced via digital image bit remastering, it nonetheless sounds quite vivid and realistic, giving ample weight to both Fournier's cello and Gulda's piano; needless to say, this is yet another reason to acquire this fine two-CD set.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Supremely great, November 23, 2007

By 

John Marberry (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven: Complete Works for Cello & Piano (Audio CD)

In breathtaking tonal beauty, Fournier and Gulda match and at times even exceed Rostropovich and Richter. One of the great chamber music recordings, in splendid 1959 stereo sound.