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William Primrose – the 1947 RCA Recordings Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) Air from Suite No.3 Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809) Divertimento arr. Piatigorsky Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Notturno in D Op.42 Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) May Breezes Op.62 No.1 Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893) Andante Cantabile Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921) The Swan Fritz KREISLER (1875-1962) Schön Rosmarin Liebesleid Boris MYRONOFF Caprice Darius MILHAUD (1892-1974) Lema arr Levy Ipanema arr Levy VALE Ao pé da Foguera arr Heifetz Julian AGUIRRE (1869-1924) Huella arr. Heifetz Efrem ZIMBALIST (1889-1985) Sarasateana William Primrose (viola) David Stimer (piano) Recorded 17 December 1947 BIDDULPH 80147-2 [72.25]

AVAILABILITY www.biddulphrecordings.com Biddulph is back. The label’s relaunch is good news for all admirers of string playing and also of piano and orchestral music in which areas the company is building a fine catalogue. The renewed availability of this Primrose disc brings a valuable slice of his immediate post-War recordings into the public domain in cogent and effective ways. What’s remarkable is that all the sides here were recorded on a single day, 17 December 1947 – though some remained unissued on 78 they all appeared on 7" 45 rpm discs. Some of these sides are tricky to collect especially as not many received British releases, so their collation here is a boon for admirers of the great Glasgow-born violist. These discs reveal Primrose in all his technical and expressive glory. The range of tone colours he brings out is phenomenal, the left hand performing feats of digital dexterity sufficient to depress even the toughest professional, and the bow arm capable of seductive slowness or biting incision. There are plenty of sweetmeats here and rumbustious tropical fare (courtesy of Milhaud, Vale and Aguirre) and dextrous finger busting fireworks in the form of the Zimbalist. But there is also the Bach – clean, no portamenti, a sustained bronzed legato – and the Piatigorsky arranged Haydn in which his upper string playing sings out with crystalline purity and the finale of which is dispatched with marvellously articulated left hand work. The Notturno, with which he took some textual liberties, shows the handsome range of tone colours he could elicit and his Mendelssohn dances joyously. His Andante Cantabile is taken at a good flowing tempo and features some discreet echt Romantic slides before he unleashes his Kreisler; infectious brio and style informs Schön Rosmarin and Liebesleid is rhythmically right inside the genre (Primrose had been an eloquent Kreisler playing back in his violin playing days). He played his friend Myronoff’s Caprice from the score – quirky, slightly mordant with some excellent work from pianist David Stimer, the violist’s first class accompanist. His Milhaud is decisive and swaying and one listens spellbound to the subtle variations in vibrato usage, the supercharged pizzicati and salty, knowing phrasing. Tully Potter’s notes relate that he wanted to scrap his recording of Zimbalist’s confection but, thankfully, was dissuaded. Years later he acknowledged it had turned out all right – and no wonder. This is scintillating playing, virtuosic and theatrical and brilliantly dashing. The transfers are vital and lifelike; no over-cleaning sounds to have been used so there’s some inevitable surface noise but Primrose’s tone emerges naturally and without hindrance. A splendid salute: assuming that he made two takes of everything that’s two and a half hours in the can on one day - some stamina, some playing. Jonathan Woolf   Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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