Composer: Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann
Performer: Jacqueline du Pré
Orchestra: Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Gerd Albrecht
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Audite
Catalogue: AUDITE95622
Release: 2013
Size: 251 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129
01. I. Nicht zu schnell
02. II. Langsam
03. III. Sehr lebhaft
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
04. I. Maestoso
05. II. Adagio
06. III. Rondo: Allegro non troppo
As part of its series of historic recordings, the audite label presents another notable jewel. On 5 March 1963 two great virtuosos made their Berlin débuts with orchestra in the same concert: the then 18-year-old cellist Jacqueline du Pré and the 22-year-old pianist Bruno Leonardo Gelber.
Du Pré’s interpretation of the Schumann Cello Concerto seems more vivid and contains greater contrasts even than her later recording of the work. With his reading of Brahms’ First Piano Concerto, Gelber communicates a conception of a large-scale work, shaping the inner contrasts and connections without ever losing sight of the overall coherence. For everyone who is interested in the history of interpretation, these two live documents of a great moment in Berlin’s post-war musical life are a must.
This CD forms part of our series “Legendary Recordings” and bears the stamp “1st Master Release”. This term stands for the exceptional quality of audite’s archive releases which are all, without exception, produced using original tapes from the radio archives. Usually, these are the original analogue tapes with tape speeds of up to 76 cm/s which are of astonishingly high quality, even by today’s standards. In addition, the process of re-mastering – executed with professional expertise and sensitivity – reveals hitherto hidden details of the interpretations, creating a sonic image of superior quality. CD releases produced from private recordings of radio broadcasts or old 78rpm records cannot match this level of sound quality.