Pierre Fournier’s elegant and aristocratic playing, his superb control of the bow and his supple, consistently beautiful tone impressed a whole generation of cellists and music lovers all over the world. Sixty-five years since he first recorded for Decca, we are proud to celebrate the artistry of this most distinguished of cellists and the wealth of recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, Decca and Philips – presented here together for the very first time in this 25-CD limited edition set.

Repertoire includes Fournier’s legendary Bach cello suites and Beethoven’s complete piano trios with Szeryng and Kempff. Different interpretations of certain repertoire allow for enlightening comparisons: Beethoven’s complete works for cello and piano can be found twice in this edition, with Fournier being accompanied by Friedrich Gulda (1959) and Wilhelm Kempff (1965). Also listen to Fournier as a soloist in Richard Strauss’s Don Quixote in two different recordings - under Herbert von Karajan and Clemens Krauss.

Original jackets

64-page booklet with new liner notes (in English, French & German) and rare artist photos

“Of all the great cellists, Pierre Fournier came closer to the heart of the music than almost any other.  He could be brilliant in execution, profound in utterance, aristocratic in poise and wonderfully coherent...” - Gramophone

“Fournier's playing is often described as 'elegant and aristocratic', but there is often so much more: there's a compelling engagement with the music and a sense of line that few other cellists can match.” - Nigel Simeone

“The art of cellist Pierre Fournier is the art of musical suggestion, of feelings fine-tuned through technical and emotional control. Fournier's beauty of tone extended across the instrument's entire range: it was a rich, vibrant sound, evenly deployed, yet offering endless reserves of nuance.” - Rob Cowan, Gramophone

Contents:

CD1
Cello Concertos: Lalo, Saint-Saens; Bruch, Bloch
Orchestre Lamoureux Paris, Martinon / Berliner Philharmoniker, Wallenstein

CD2
Beethoven: Triple Concerto in C major, op.56
Schneiderhan, Anda, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Fricsay

CD3
R. Strauss: Don Quixote, op.35
Cappone, Berliner Philharmoniker, Karajan

CD4
Cello Concertos: Dvořák, Elgar
Berliner Philharmoniker, Szell/Wallenstein

CD5
Vivaldi Cello Sonata; Cello Concertos: Couperin, CPE Bach, Boccherini
Festival Strings Lucerne, Baumgartner

CD6
Haydn: Cello Concerto Nos. 1 & 2 | Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite
Festival Strings Lucerne, Baumgartner | Lush

CD7-9
Beethoven: Trios for Piano, Violin and Violoncello
Kempff, Szeryng

CD10
Beethoven: Trios for Piano, Violin and Violoncello
Kempff, Szeryng; Kempff, Leister

CD11-12
Beethoven: The Complete Music for Cello and Piano
Gulda

CD13-14
Beethoven: The Complete Music for Cello and Piano
Kempff

CD15
Brahms: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 | Franck: Sonata in A major
Firkušný | Fonda

CD16
Sonatas | Stücke: Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin
Fonda

CD17
Arrangements for violoncello and piano: Francoeur, Haydn, Weber, Chopin, Rimsky-Korakov, Schumann, Bach, Paganini | Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Popper, Dvořák, Saint-Saëns
Crowson

CD18-19
J.S. Bach: The Six Suites for Solo Violoncello BWV 1007-1012

CD20
Cello Concertos: Haydn; Dvořák
Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Münchinger / Wiener Phiharmoniker, Kubelík

CD21
R. Strauss: Don Quixote
Moraweg, Wiener Philharmoniker, Krauss

CD22
Works and arrangements for violoncello & strings: Boccherini, Vivaldi, Couperin
Works for violoncello & piano: J.S. Bach, Bloch, Kreisler, Debussy, Fauré, Gershwin, Nin
Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Münchinger / Lush

CD23
Sonatas for violoncello & piano: Brahms; J.S. Bach
Backhaus; Lush

CD24
Brahms: Sonatas for Piano & Violoncello, Nos. 1 & 2
Fonda

CD25
Sonatas for violoncello & piano: Brahms, Grieg
Fonda