JOSEPH SZIGETI: MILESTONES OF A LEGEND (10 CDS)

- 15 Original Albums from the years 1932 to 1954

- Numerous bonus tracks with works by Beethoven and Hindemith
(in the legendary pairing Szigeti / Arrau), Ravel, Lalo, Bach, Berg, and Debussy
complete the albums.

Legendary violinist Joseph Szigeti is known as one of the most interesting personalities in the history of the instrument. Writers of his time awarded him the "most elegant right arm of all living violinists". This compilation of 15 original albums from the years 1932 to 1954 documents a part of his enormous repertoire and contains several recordings of the highest order. Szigeti plays, among others, Violin Concertos by Mozart and Mendelssohn in the highly acclaimed pairing with Thomas Beecham, as well as concerts by Bach, Tartini and Brahms.
Szigeti was open to bold musical innovations and vehemently supported contemporary music. Prokofiev regarded Szigeti as the ideal interpreter of his works and dedicated his first Violin Concerto to him (here under Beecham). He enjoyed a deep friendship with Bartók, who was in turn a great admirer of Szigeti's art. Among the works the composer dedicated to the violinist were the "Contrasts" for piano, violin and clarinet. Stravinsky ("Duo concertant" and "Pastorale") and Bloch are among the protagonists of classical modernism with whom Szigeti also maintained a particularly close relationship.
The chamber music highlights of this box are the sonatas by Bach, Beethoven (Horszowski), Handel and Tartini (Bussotti), the trio and quartet by Brahms (Festival in Prades) as well as Bartók's "Roumanian Dances", "Rhapsody No.1", and his "Hungarian Folk Tunes ". The passionate chamber musician Szigeti can be heard here alongside excellent and famous musicians, among them Igor Strawinsky and Béla Bartók, as well as Benny Goodman, Myra Hess, Mieczyslaw Horszowski and Andor Földes.

CD 1

■ BRAHMS CONCERTO IN D MAJOR FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA OP. 77 (1948)
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 77 / Violinkonzert D-Dur
I. I. Allegro non troppo 21‘11
2. II. Adagio 8‘50
3. III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace 7‘47

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine The Philadelphia Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Eugene Ormandy recorded / aufgenommen 1945

■ BONUS TRACKS
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Sonata No. 6 in A Major Op. 30, 1 / Sonate Nr. 6 A-Dur
4. I. Allegro 7‘46
5. II. Adagio molto espressivo 7‘39
6. III. Allegretto con variazioni 8‘23

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine Mieczyslaw Horszowski piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1953
Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
7. Valse sentimentale Op. 51, 6 (arr. Grunes) 2‘02
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine Harry Kaufman piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1944 Total Time 63‘41

CD 2

■ BRAHMS TRIO NO. 2 IN C MAJOR - CASALS FESTIVAL AT PRADES:
THIRD SERIES (1953)
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major Op. 87 / Klaviertrio Nr. 2 C-Dur
I. I. Allegro 10‘12
2. II. Andante con moto 8‘50
3. III. Scherzo: Presto 5‘17
4. IV. Finale: Allegro giocoso 6‘42

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine Pablo Casals cello / Cello
Dame Myra Hess piano / Klavier recorded / aufgenommen 1952

■ BRAHMS QUARTET NO. 3 IN C MINOR - CASALS FESTIVAL AT PRADES:
THIRD SERIES (1953)
Quartet No. 3 in C Minor for Piano and Strings Op. 60 / Klavierquartett Nr. 3 c-Moll
5. I. Allegro non troppo 10‘57
6. II. Scherzo: Allegro 4‘23
7. III. Andante 10‘32
8. IV. Finale: Allegro comodo 11‘25

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine Milton Katims viola / Viola Paul Tortelier cello / Cello
Dame Myra Hess piano / Klavier recorded / aufgenommen 1952

■ BONUS TRACK
Edouard Lalo (1823 – 1892)
9. Aubade (Le Rois d’Ys) (arr. Szigeti) 2‘25

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine Andor Farkas piano / Klavier recorded / aufgenommen 1941
Total Time 70‘46

CD 3

■ J.S. BACH SONATA NO. 5 IN C MAJOR FOR VIOLIN UNACCOMPANIED /
CONCERTO NO. 1 IN D MINOR (1950)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)
Sonata No. 3 in C Major BWV 1005 / Sonate Nr. 3 C-Dur
1. I. Adagio 5‘57
2. II. Fuga 10‘51
3. II. Largo 4‘11
4. IV. Allegro assai 3‘18

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine recorded / aufgenommen 1949

Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Minor BWV 1052r. / Violinkonzert Nr. 1 d-Moll
5. I. Allegro 7‘48
6. II. Adagio 7‘32
7. III. Allegro 7‘54

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine New Friends of Music Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Stiedry recorded / aufgenommen 1940

■ BONUS TRACKS
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)
8. Prelude in E Major (Partita Nr. 3) 3‘07
Arcangelo Corelli (1653 – 1713)
9. La Follìa – Variations sérieuses (arr. Léonard) 13‘21

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine Andor Földes* piano / Klavier recorded / aufgenommen 1908 (8); 1940 (9)
*In the 1950’s called Andor Farkas Total Time 64‘00

CD 4

■ PROKOFIEV / MOZART PROKOFIEV: CONCERTO NO. 1 IN D MAJOR FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA, OP. 19
MOZART: CONCERTO NO. 4 IN D MAJOR FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA (K. 218) (1950’s)
Sergei Prokofiev (1891 – 1953)
Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major Op. 19 / Violinkonzert Nr.1 D-Dur
1. I. Andantino 9‘17
2. II. Scherzo. Vivacissimo 3‘55
3. III. Moderato 7‘18

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine New Friends of Music Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Stiedry recorded / aufgenommen 1940

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major K. 218 / Violinkonzert Nr. 4 D-Dur
4. I. Allegro moderato 9‘32
5. II. Andante cantabile 8‘28
6. III. Rondo: Andante grazioso 7‘46
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine London Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Sir Thomas Beecham recorded / aufgenommen 1935 (1-3); 1934 (4-6)

■ BONUS TRACKS
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Violin Sonata No. 10 in G Major Op. 96 / Violinsonate Nr. 10 G-Dur
7. I. Allegro moderato 9‘56
8. II. Andante espressivo 6‘23
9. III. Scherzo 1‘52
10. Poco allegretto 8‘43
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine Mieczyslaw Horszowski piano / Klavier recorded /aufgenommen 1951
Total Time 73.12

CD 5

■ BRAHMS CONCERTO IN D MAJOR FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA OP. 77 (c. 1945)
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 77 / Violinkonzert D-Dur
I. I. Allegro non troppo 20‘53
2. II. Adagio 8‘58
3. III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace 7‘22

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine Hallé Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Sir Hamilton Harty
recorded / aufgenommen 1928

■ BONUS TRACKS
Paul Hindemith (1895 – 1963)
Violin Sonata No. 3 in E Major / Violinsonate Nr. 3 E-Dur
4. I. Ruhig bewegt 3‘14
5. II. Langsam 2‘03
6. III. Sehr lebhaft 5‘00
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine Carlo Bussotti piano / Klavier recorded / aufgenommen 1953

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major Op. 24 Spring / Violinsonate F-Dur „Frühlingssonate“
7. I. Allegro 7‘56
8. II. Adagio molto espressivo 6‘10
8. III. Scherzo: Allegro molto 1‘07
9. IV. Allegro ma non troppo 6‘55

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine Claudio Arrau piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1944 (live) Total Time 69‘40

CD 6

■ BEETHOVEN VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA (1941)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 61 / Violinkonzert D-Dur
I. I. Allegro ma non troppo 22‘19
2. II. Larghetto 9‘48
3. III. Rondo: Allegro 9‘32

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
British Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Bruno Walter
recorded / aufgenommen 1932

■ BONUS TRACKS
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major Op. 47 „Kreutzer“ / Violinsonate Nr. 9 A-Dur
4. I. Adagio sostenuto. Presto 10‘45
5. II. Andante con variazioni 15‘48
6. III. Presto 8‘22

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
Claudio Arrau piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1944 (live)
Total Time 76‘35

CD 7

■ MENDELSSOHN CONCERTO IN E MINOR (c. 1945)
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
Concerto in E Minor Op. 64 / Violinkonzert e-Moll
I. I. Allegro molto appassionato 12‘19
2. II. Andante 8‘18
3. III. Allegro non troppo. Allegro molto vivace 6‘25

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
London Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Sir Thomas Beecham
recorded / aufgenommen 1933

■ BONUS TRACKS
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor Op. 30, 2 / Violinsonate c-Moll
4. I. Allegro con brio 7‘15
5,. II. Adagio cantabile 11‘32
6. III. Scherzo: Allegro 3‘16
7. IV. Allegro vivace 5‘04

Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
Claudio Arrau piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1944 (live)
Total Time 54‘11

CD 8

■ BACH CONCERTO IN G MINOR /
HANDEL SONATA NO. 4 IN D MAJOR /
TARTINI CONCERTO IN D MINOR /
TARTINI SONATA IN G MAJOR (1954)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)
Violin Concerto in G Minor for Violin and
Orchestra BWV 1056r. (ed. Szigeti)
Violinkonzert g-moll
I. I. Moderato 4‘10
2. II. Largo 3‘47
3. III. Presto 3‘57

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 – 1759)
Sonata No. 4 in D Major for Violin and
Piano Op. 1, 13 / Violinsonate D-Dur
4. I. Adagio 4‘25
5. II. Allegro 2‘52
6. III. Larghetto 3‘48
7. IV. Allegro 3‘12

Giuseppe Tartini (1692 – 1770)
Concerto in D Minor for Violin and
Orchestra / Violinkonzert d-Moll
8. I. Allegro 5‘25
9. II. Grave 3‘36
10. III. Presto 4‘25

Violin Sonata in G Major No. 2 Op. 12
Violinsonate G-Dur
11. I. Andante 2‘48
12. II. Allegro 2‘19
13. III. Presto 2‘08
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
Carlo Bussotti piano / Klavier (4-7, 11-13)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra (1-3, 8-10)
conductor / Dirigent George Szell (1-3, 8-10)
recorded / aufgenommen 1954

■ BONUS TRACKS
Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
Sonata for Violin and Piano
Sonate für Violine und Klavier
14. I. Allegretto 8‘42
15. II. Blues: Moderato 5‘47
16. III. Perpetuum mobile: Allegro 4‘01
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
Carlo Bussotti piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1953
Total Time 65‘24

CD 9

■ BLOCH CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN
AND ORCHESTRA (c. 1940’s)
Ernest Bloch (1880 – 1959)
Violin Concerto in A Minor
Violinkonzert a-Moll
I. I. Allegro deciso 18‘05
2. II. Andante 6‘13
3. III. Deciso 10‘17
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
Orchestre de la Société des Concerts
du Conservatoire de Paris
conductor / Dirigent Charles Münch
recorded / aufgenommen 1939

Bela Bartók (1881 – 1945)
Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet and Piano
Kontraste für Violine, Klarinette und
Klavier
4. I. Verbunkos 5‘30
(Recruiting dance / Werbertänze)
5. II. Pihenö (Relaxation / Rast) 4‘35
6. III. Sebes (Fast dance / Schnell) 7‘00
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
Benny Goodman clarinet / Klarinette
Béla Bartók piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1940

Joseph Szigeti / Béla Bartók
Hungarian Folk Tunes (1932) 45RPM
7. Hungarian Folk Tunes 7‘29
Ungarische Volksweisen
Joseph Szigeti / Béla Bartók
(arr. Zoltán Székely)

Roumanian Folk Dances (1930) 45RPM
8. Roumanian Folk Dances 5‘21
Rumänische Volkstänze
Jocul bata. Braul. Pe loc. Buciumeana.
Poarga romaneasca. Marunfitel
Joseph Szigeti / Béla Bartók

Rhapsody No. 1 (1940) 45RPM
9. I. Lassu: Moderato 4‘14
10. Friss: Allegretto. Moderato 4‘57
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
Béla Bartók piano / Kavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1930 (7-8), 1940 (9-10)
Total Time 73‘43

CD 10

■ STRAVINSKY „DUO CONCERTANT“
BLOCH „BAAL SHEM“
STRAVINSKY PASTORALE (1950)
Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971)
Duo Concertant for Violin and Piano
Duo Concertante für Violine und Klavier
I. I. Cantilène 2‘55
2. II. Églogue I 2‘07
3. III. Églogue II 2‘59
4. IV. Gigue 4‘19
5. V. Dithyrambe 2‘51

Ernest Bloch (1880 – 1959)
Baal Shem – Three pictures
of Chassidic Life
6. I. Vidui (Contrition) 2‘57
7. II. Nigun (Improvisation) 5‘39
8. III. Simchas Torah (Rejoicing) 4‘34
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
Igor Stravinsky (1-5) Andor Földes* (6-8)
piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1945
*In the 1950’s called Andor Farka

Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971)
9. Pastorale for Violin and Wind Quartet 2‘48
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
Mitchell Miller oboe / Oboe Robert McGinnis
clarinet / Klarinette Bert Gassman english horn /
Englischhorn Sol Schoenbach bassoon / Fagott
recorded / aufgenommen 1946

■ BONUS TRACKS
Alban Berg (1885 – 1935)
Violin Concerto “To the Memory of an
Angel”/ Violinkonzert „Dem Andenken eines
Engels
10. I. Andante. Allegretto 10‘28
11. II. Allegro. Adagio 14‘29
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
NBC Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Dimitri Mitropoulos
recorded / aufgenommen 1945

Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918)
12. Clair de lune (Suite bergamasque) 4‘39
Joseph Szigeti violin / Violine
Andor Földes piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1942
Total Time 60‘48