This big 12 CD set is part of EMI’s Icon series. I’ve dipped
into it, but have not listened to everything.
Firstly a necessary word about transfers. Very little here has
been remastered specially for this box. I noted only two Beethoven
sonatas in disc 4; the Op.10 No.3 and Op.78, and the Schubert
Allegretto D915 and the little March D606, which are both to
be found in the ninth disc. Additionally the transfers of the
classic Schumann and Grieg concerto disc derive from Testament’s
release of this material. Everything else dates back variously
to releases in 1988, 1991, 2001 and 2004 and the like. If you
find this situation not to your liking you will have to wait
until a similarly comprehensive collection arrives with newer
restorations, or cherry pick things from Arrau’s recorded legacy
that most interest you. For the more general listener, this
very competitively priced box offers an opportunity to hoover
a large chunk of his c.1955-62 recordings, adding the pre-war
Schumann Carnaval, which was put onto 78s in April 1938,
the Chopin Tarantelle similarly, and the two Debussy
pieces which followed a year later.
The set therefore concentrates on mid-period Arrau. Companies
such as Marston have brought out editions devoted to his earliest
recordings on 78, and the later recordings, for example concerto
collaborations with Haitink and Colin Davis, are very well known.
Which is not to say that these EMI recordings aren’t well enough
known; they certainly are.
This then is an outline of what you’ll find in this box. There’s
the 1955-58 cycle of the Beethoven concertos with the Philharmonia
and Galliera .in which Arrau excavates a myriad of bass detailing
and plays with a measured assurance not always shared by Galliera.
There are nine sonatas including the Appassionata, Waldstein,
Les Adieux, Opp.110 and 111, EMI capturing the pianist in
a mix of mono and stereo. One can contrast these examples of
his 1950s with the Philips recordings of all 32 sonatas made
in the 1960s. In the main he is a touch more determined and
measured in the later performances, though Philips’ sound is
certainly better. His Appassionata is perhaps the very
best of the Icon sonatas – intensity, rugged selflessness, a
broad conception but one that he sustains perfectly according
to his lights. But running it close is op. 101, in which conception
and execution are in perfect accord, and the tonal qualities
he evinces are wholly impressive. So too for that matter the
last two sonatas, brilliantly realised, intense, nobly powerful,
shorn of all artifice and false gestures.
Both Brahms concertos are with Giulini, and they show both soloist
and conductor in lingering, and loving form - too much so really,
as the powerful romanticism generated tends to work against
the two concertos’s more direct qualities. The Tchaikovsky,
Grieg and Schumann are with Galliera. The Schumann is finely
played, though perhaps a little dour overall. The Grieg is not
Arrau’s finest hour, and his elastic phrasing tends to pull
it about far too much. One wouldn’t immediately turn to Arrau
for Tchaikovsky and indeed one’s presentiment that there will
be a lack of brilliance and bravura is rather borne out. Disc
nine is devoted wholly to Schubert – the D946 Klavierstücke,
the Wanderer Fantasy and the aforementioned Allegretto and March,
but there is also the D780 Moments Musicaux. Also the Third
Chopin sonata and F minor Fantasie, both outstandingly well
done, and all the Etudes.
Finally, you might want to read my review
of Carnaval with differing couplings, but a similarly
disappointing Schumann concerto, in its Naxos release and in
a competing ‘Early’ Arrau two disc set from Marston.
There’s also the Chopin
Etudes in the same EMI transfer.
Conclusion time: if you’re content with older remasterings,
which are pretty reasonable, than you can confidently acquire
this box. It has central Arrau repertoire in mostly outstanding
performances. It’s also exceptional value for money.
Jonathan Woolf
Track-listing
CD 1 [78:58]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN 1770-1827
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op.15
[1] I. Allegro con brio 16.24
[2] II. Largo 10.55
[3] III. Rondo: Allegro scherzando 9.25
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op.19
[4] I. Allegro con brio 14.04
[5] II. Adagio 9.02
[6] III. Rondo: Molto allegro 6.33
Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo Galliera
Recorded: 1 - 3.V. and 7.X.1958, No. 1, Abbey Road Studios,
London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Harold Davidson & Francis Dillnutt
Recordings first issued in 1959 & *1960 by EMI Records Ltd.
STEREO/ADD
32 Variations in C minor, WoO.80 12.23
[7]
Recorded: 13.IV.1960, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Jellinek
Balance engineer: Harold Davidson
(P) 1961 EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
CD 2 [76:20]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op.37
[1] I. Allegro con brio 16.53
[2] II. Largo 10.58
[3] III. Rondo: Allegro - Presto 9.24
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op.73 "Emperor"
[4] I. Allegro 20.29
[5] II. Adagio un poco mosso 7.47
[6] III. Rondo: Allegro - Piů allegro 10.42
Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo Galliera
Recorded: 19 - 22.VI.1958, No. 1, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Douglas Larter
Recordings first issued in 1959 by EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
This compilation and digital remastering (P) 1991 by EMI Records
Ltd.
CD 3 [79:15]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, Op.58
[1] I. Allegro moderato 19.14
[2] II. Andante con moto - 5.38
[3] III. Rondo: Vivace - Presto 10.06
Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo Galliera
Recorded: 30 & 31.V.1955, No. 1, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Jellinek
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1956 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 1991 by EMI Records Ltd.
Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 "Waldstein"
[4] I. Allegro con brio 12.11
[5] II. Introduzione: Adagio molto - 4.17
[6] Rondo: Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo 10.39
Recorded: 1 & 22.XII.1956 and 19.V.1957, No. 3, Abbey Road
Studios, London
Producer: William Mann and Alan Melville
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1958 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 1991 by EMI Records Ltd.
Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major, Op. 81a "Les Adieux"
[7] I. Adagio - Allegro (Les Adieux) 6.59
[8] II. Andante espressivo (L’Absence) 3.50
[9] III. Vivacissimamente (Le Retour) 6.04
Recorded: 4.IV.1958, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Jellinek
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1959 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 1991 by EMI Records Ltd.
This compilation (P) 2011 by EMI Records Ltd. © EMI Records
Ltd. 2011
CD 4 [72:45]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 "Appassionata"
[1] I. Allegro assai 10.26
[2] II. Andante con moto 7.05
[3] III. Allegro ma non troppo - Presto 8.12
Recorded: 11 & 12.IV.1960, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge & Walter Jellinek
Balance engineer: Harold Davidson
(P) 1961 EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 1991 by EMI Records Ltd.
Piano Sonata No. 22 in F major, Op. 54
[4] I. In tempo d’un Menuetto 5.59
[5] II. Allegretto 6.15
Recorded: 13 & 14.IV.1960, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Jellinek
Balance engineer: Harold Davidson
(P) 1961 EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 1991 by EMI Records Ltd.
Piano Sonata No. 7 in D, Op. 10 No. 3
[6] I. Presto c6.37
[7] II. Largo e mesto c10.12
[8] III. Menuetto: Allegro c2.50
[9] IV. Rondo: Allegro c3.55
Recorded: 6.X.1958 & 15.X.1959, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios,
London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Douglas Larter and Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1960 by EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 2011 by EMI Records Ltd.
Piano Sonata No. 24 in F sharp, Op. 78
[10] I. Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo c7.20
[11] II. Allegro vivace c3.00
Recorded: 8.IV.1958, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1959 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 2011 by EMI Records Ltd.
This compilation (P) 2011 by EMI Records Ltd. © EMI Records
Ltd. 2011
CD 5 [69:59]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
[1] I. Allegretto ma non troppo 4.20
[2] II. Vivace alla Marcia 5.06
[3] III. Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto - 2.40
[4] Allegro 8.07
Recorded: 30.XI & 1.XII.1956, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios,
London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1958 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110
[5] I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo 7.15
[6] II. Allegro molto 2.16
[7] III. Adagio ma non troppo - 3.53
[8] Fuga: Allegro ma non troppo 7.14
Recorded: 18.V.1957, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge & Alan Melville
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1958 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
[9] I. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato 9.01
[10] II. Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile 19.53
Recorded: 21 - 23.V.1957, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge & William Mann
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling & Edward Huntley
Recording first issued in 1958 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
This compilation and digital remastering (P) 1991 by EMI Records
Ltd.
CD 6 [51:36]
Johannes BRAHMS 1833-1897
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op.15
[1] I. Maestoso GB-AYC-88-03494 23.28
[2] II. Adagio GB-AYC-88-03495 15.06
[3] III. Rondo: Allegro non troppo GB-AYC-88-03496 12.54
Philharmonia Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini
Recorded: 21 - 23.IV.1960, No. 1, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Harold Davidson
(P) 1961 EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 1988 by EMI Records Ltd.
CD 7 [69:17]
Carl Maria von WEBER 1786-1826
Konzertstück in F minor, Op. 79
[1] Larghetto affettuoso - 6.18
[2] Allegro passionato - Adagio - 5.06
[3] Tempo di marcia - Piů mosso - 2.25
[4] Presto giojoso 4.31
Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo Galliera
Recorded: 19.IV.1960, No. 1, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Harold Davidson
(P) 1961 EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 2004 by EMI Records Ltd.
Johannes BRAHMS
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op.83
[5] I. Allegro non troppo GB-AYC-88-03324 19.11
[6] II. Allegretto appassionato GB-AYC-88-03325 9.17
[7] III. Andante* GB-AYC-88-03326 12.05
[8] IV. Allegretto grazioso GB-AYC-88-03327 9.57
* Raymond Clark, cello
Philharmonia Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini
Recorded: 21 & 22.IV.1962, No. 1, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Francis Dillnutt
(P) 1962 EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 1988 by EMI Records Ltd.
This compilation (P) 2011 by EMI Records Ltd. © EMI Records
Ltd. 2011
CD 8 [68:43]
Pyotr Il’yich TCHAIKOVSKY 1840-1893
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op.23
[1] I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito
21.20
[2] II. Andantino semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I 7.46
[3] III. Allegro con fuoco 7.06
Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo Galliera
Recorded: 18 & 19.IV.1960, No. 1, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Harold Davidson
(P) 1961 EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 1991 by EMI Records Ltd.
Edvard GRIEG 1843-1907
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.16
[1] I. Allegro molto moderato - Cadenza - Tempo I 14.32
[2] II. Adagio 6.55
[3] III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato - Andante maestoso
10.46
Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo Galliera
Recorded: 19 & 20.IV.1957, No. 1, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1958 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 2001 by Testament
This compilation (P) 2011 by EMI Records Ltd. © EMI Records
Ltd. 2011
CD 9 [70:02]
Franz SCHUBERT 1797-1828
3 Klavierstücke, D.946
[1] Impromptu No. 1 in E flat minor 15.21
[2] Impromptu No. 2 in E flat 15.37
[3] Impromptu No. 3 in C 5.13
Recorded: 2 & 3.IX.1956, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: William Mann
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1959 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 1988 by EMI Records Ltd.
Fantasy in C "Wanderer", D.760
[4] Allegro con fuoco ma non troppo 6.32
[5] Adagio 7.49
[6] Presto 5.15
[7] Allegro 3.22
Recorded: 22 & 25.X.1957, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: William Mann
Balance engineer: Harold Davidson & Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1959 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 1988 by EMI Records Ltd.
Allegretto in C minor, D.915 c6.05
March in E, D.606 c4.12
Recorded: 15.X.1959, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recordings first issued in 1959 by EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 2011 by EMI Records Ltd.
This compilation (P) 2011 by EMI Records Ltd. © EMI Records
Ltd. 2011
CD 10 [79:22]
Franz SCHUBERT
6 Moments musicaux, D.780
[1] No. 1 in C 5.35
[2] No. 2 in A flat 7.11
[3] No. 3 in F minor 1.59
[4] No. 4 in C sharp minor c5.48
[5] No. 5 in F minor c2.08
[6] No. 6 in A flat major c9.00
Recorded: 3 & 4.IX.1956, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: William Mann
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1959 by EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 2011 by EMI Records Ltd.
Frédéric Chopin 1810-1849
Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op.38
[7] I. Allegro maestoso 14.44
[8] II. Scherzo: Molto vivace 2.41
[9] III. Largo - 10.35
[10] IV. Finale: Presto non tanto 5.19
Recorded: 14, 24 & 25.IV. and 21.VI.1960, No. 3, Abbey Road
Studios, London
[11] Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49 13.11
Recorded: 21.VI.1960, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Walter Jellinek
Balance engineer: Harold Davidson
(P) 1962 EMI Records Ltd. STEREO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 2001 by EMI Records Ltd.
This compilation (P) 2011 by EMI Records Ltd. © EMI Records
Ltd. 2011
CD 11 [79:45]
Frédéric CHOPIN 1810-1849
12 Études, Op.10
[1] No. 1 in C 1.55
[2] No. 2 in A minor 1.22
[3] No. 3 in E 4.31
[4] No. 4 in C sharp minor 2.16
[5] No. 5 in G flat 1.41
[6] No. 6 in E flat minor 2.53
[7] No. 7 in C 1.37
[8] No. 8 in F 2.23
[9] No. 9 in F minor 2.09
[10] No. 10 in A flat 2.14
[11] No. 11 in E flat 3.00
[12] No. 12 in C minor 2.27
12 Études, Op.25
[13] No. 1 in A flat 2.25
[14] No. 2 in F minor 1.43
[15] No. 3 in F 2.04
[16] No. 4 in A minor 2.18
[17] No. 5 in E minor 3.24
[18] No. 6 in G sharp minor 2.06
[19] No. 7 in C sharp minor 5.18
[20] No. 8 in D flat 1.09
[21] No. 9 in G flat 1.04
[22] No. 10 in B minor 4.29
[23] No. 11 in A minor 3.36
[24] No. 12 in C minor 2.29
3 Nouvelles Études
[25] No. 1 in F minor 2.05
[26] No. 2 in D flat 2.24
[27] No. 3 in A flat 2.04
[28] Allegro de concert in A, Op.46 12.22
Recorded: 15 - 22 & 29.VI. and 5.IX.1956, No. 3, Abbey Road
Studios, London
Producer: Alan Melville and William Mann
Balance engineer: Neville Boyling
Recording first issued in 1957 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
This compilation & digital remastering (P) 2007 by EMI Records
Ltd.
CD 12 [70:01]
Robert SCHUMANN 1810-1856
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54
[1] I. Allegro affetuoso - Andante espressivo - Tempo I - Cadenza
- Allegro molto 16.45
[2] II. Intermezzo (Andantino grazioso) 5.54
[3] III. Allegro vivace 11.14
Philharmonia Orchestra/Alceo Galliera
Recorded: 24.V.1957, Walthamstow Town Hall, London
Producer: Lawrance Collingwood
Balance engineer: Robert E. Beckett
Recording first issued in 1958 by EMI Records Ltd. MONO/ADD
Digital remastering (P) 2001 by Testament
Carnaval, Op. 9
[4] 1. Préambule 2.04
[5] 2. Pierrot 0.59
[6] 3. Arlequin 0.35
[7] 4. Valse noble 1.06
[8] 5. Eusebius 2.04
[9] 6. Florestan 0.51
[10] 7. Coquette. 0.57
[11] 8. Réplique 0.52
[12] 9. Papillons 0.40
[13] 10. A.S.C.H. - S.C.H.A. (Lettres dansantes) 0.46
[14] 11. Chiarina 0.45
[15] 12. Chopin 1.25
[16] 13. Estrella 0.32
[17] 14. Reconnaissance 1.49
[18] 15. Pantalon et Colombine 0.52
[19] 16. Valse allemande 0.31
[20] 17. Paganini (Intermezzo) 1.03
[21] 18. Aveu 1.00
[22] 19. Promenade 2.11
[23] 20. Pause 0.18
[24] 21. Marche des »Davidsbündler« contre les Philistins 3.32
Recorded: 3 & 4.IV.1939, No. 3, Abbey Road Studios, London
Producer: Unknown
Claudio Arrau (piano)
