Search - Schumann / Saint Saens - Cello Concerto on DVD

Hats Off to These Performances

BLee | HK | 06/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Having said that, the jems are indeed the Chopin and Beethoven, and part of the credit should go to Jean Fonda for having made such wonderful music possible. They are so intriguing that even one such piece is well worth the ticket.

For the concertos, Fournier did not appear absolutely at ease. Perhaps he was tired or a bit nervous? In any event, these are admirably impeccable performances.

Note that the angle of the camera is rather odd. Odd in the sense that the cellist stood out so much from the orchestra and we are seeing the cellist sort of sideways. Yet, it is seen from such an angle that we could have a very good look of his fingerworks. Oddly, his bowings were not equally well covered, yet Tortelier admired his bowings whereas Fournier admired his fingerworks.

Fournier's musicianship is simply out of the question. He is profound in his voicing, intonation and was aristocratic in his poise. Other than Fueureman and Casals, he came closest to the heart of music than any other cellists. Needless to say, he is brilliant in his execution, but there isn't any sign of virtuosity for the sake of virtuosity either here or in any of his music.

Suffice to say that Fournier had recorded almost all chamber music with Schnabel, Szegetti and Cortot before recording all the Beethoven Cello sonatas with Kempff and then the same with Gulda. Gulda, having recorded the whole cycle of Beethoven Sonatas and all 5 Piano Concertos, admitted openly that Fournier was his "superior" as far as Beethoven was concerned...

The sound of this DVD is more than acceptable, but the quality of the picture-- except that last piece which was in colour-- somehow leaves a little bit more to be desired."