Genre: Classical
The great music expert and critic Joachim Kaiser called Robert Casadesus "the Impeccable". The pianist came from a family that brought forth several generations of famous musicians, actors and painters. Connoisseurs of the art of the keyboard rave about his inimitable mastery of the jeu perlé. The extraordinary quality of his Ravel playing - the complete piano work can be heard here - and his powerful, lively Debussy interpretations prove Casadesus to be an exceptional pianist and self-confident artist. The 1947 recording of Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand with Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the greatest moments in record history. Casadesus was also a first-rate interpreter of Mozart, and his recordings are as graceful as they are profound. Among the highlights of his Mozart discography are the concert recordings under George Szell with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. This collection of 11 original albums pays tribute to the famous French pianist. The albums are mostly from the 1950s and 60s, when Casadesus was at the peak of his abilities. They document the much praised collaboration with his wife Gaby Casadesus (Mozart, Debussy, Ravel) as well as with the violinist Zino Francescatti (Beethoven, Fauré). Other repertoire highlights include symphonic works, concertos and chamber music by Franck, D'Indy and Beethoven.
Tracklist:
CD 1
■ MOZART Concertos No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466 & No.18 in B Flat Major,
K. 456 (1959)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466 / d-Moll
1. I. Allegro 12‘59
2. II. Romance 7‘55
3. III. Rondo: Allegro assai 6‘29
Piano Concerto No. 18 in B Flat Major, K. 456 / B-Dur
4. I. Allegro vivace 11‘38
5. II. Andante un poco sostenuto 8‘51
6. III. Allegro vivace 6‘22
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent George Szell
recorded / aufgenommen 1956
Total Time 54‘17
CD 2
■ RAVEL Concerto for the Left Hand in D Major
MOZART Concerto in E Flat Major (1960)
Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
1. Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D Major / 17‘02
Klavierkonzert für die linke Hand D-Dur
Lento. Andante. Allegro. Tempo I
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
Piano Concerto for 2 Pianos in E Flat Major, K. 365 /
Konzert für 2 Klaviere Es-Dur
2. I. Allegro 10‘13
3. II. Andante 6‘34
4. III. Rondeaux: Allegro 6‘27
Robert Casadesus, Gaby Casadesus (2-4) piano / Klavier
Philadelphia Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Eugene Ormandy
recorded / aufgenommen 1947 (1) 1960 (2-4)
■ BONUS
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Minor K. 457 / c-Moll
5. I. Molto allegro 3‘59
6. II. Adagio 7‘07
7. III. Allegro assai 4‘53
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1955 (5-7)
Total Time 56‘17
CD 3
■ RAVEL
The Complete Piano Music Vol. 1 (1955)
Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
1. Pavane pour une infante défunte 5‘37
2. À la manière de Chabrier 2‘15
3. À la manière de Borodin 1‘35
Sonatine
4. I. Modéré 3‘49
5. II. Mouvement de menuet 2‘37
6. III. Animé 3‘20
Miroirs
7. I. Noctuelles 4‘18
8. II. Oiseaux tristes 3‘50
9. III. Une barque sur l’océan 6‘47
10. IV. Alborada del gracioso 6‘06
11. V. La vallée des cloches 5‘09
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier recorded / aufgenommen 1951
■ RAVEL The Complete Piano Music Vol. 2 (1955)
Ma mère l’oye
12. I. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant 1‘13
13. II. Petit Poucet 2‘48
14. III. Laideronnette, Impératrice des Pagodes 3‘09
15. IV. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête 3‘31
16. V. Le jardin féerique 2‘53
17. Habanera 2‘34
18. Jeux d’eau 4‘38
Robert Casadesus, Gaby Casadesus (12-17) piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1951 Total Time 66‘11
CD 4
■ RAVEL The Complete Piano Music Vol. 2 (1955)
(continued / Fortsetzung)
Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
Gaspard de la nuit
1. I. Ondine 5‘55
2. II. Le gibet 5‘05
3. III. Scarbo 9‘24
4. Menuet antique 5‘29
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier recorded / aufgenommen 1951
■ RAVEL The Complete Piano Music Vol. 3 (1951)
Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
Le Tombeau de Couperin
5. I. Prélude 2‘49
6. II. Fugue 3‘18
7. III. Forlane 4‘54
8. IV. Rigaudon 3‘10
9. V. Menuet 4‘22
10. VI. Toccata 3‘56
11. Valses nobles et sentimentales 12‘55
12. Prélude in A Minor / a-Moll 1‘23
13. Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn 1‘49
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier recorded / aufgenommen 1951
Total Time 64‘31
CD 5
■ FRANCK Symphonic variations /
D’INDY Symphony on a French Mountain Air (1959)
César Franck (1822 – 1890)
1. Symphonic Variations für Piano and Orchestra / 13‘41
Sinfonische Variationen für Klavier und Orchester
Vincent D’Indy (1851 – 1931)
Symphonie sur un chant montagnard français Op. 25 /
Symphony on a French Mountain Air /
Sinfonie auf ein französisches Gebirgslied
2. I. Assez lente 10‘40
3. II. Assez modéré 6‘16
4. III.Animé 7‘11
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier
Philadelphia Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Eugene Ormandy
recorded / aufgenommen 1958
■ BONUS
Frédéric Chopin (1810 – 1849)
5. Ballade Nr. 1 g-Moll op. 23 7‘53
6. Ballade Nr. 2 F-Dur op. 38 6‘43
7. Ballade Nr. 3 As-Dur op. 47 6‘16
8. Ballade Nr. 4 f-Moll op. 52 9‘43
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier recorded / aufgenommen 1950
Total Time 68‘26
CD 6
■ BEETHOVEN Sonate No. 9 „Kreutzer“ / Sonate No. 1 (1958)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Sonata No. 9 in A Major Op. 47„Kreutzer“ / A-Dur
1. I. Adagio sostenuto. Presto 10‘46
2. II. Andante con variazioni I-IV 14‘16
3. III. Finale: Presto 6‘25
Sonata No. 1 in D Major Op. 12,1 / D-Dur
4. I. Allegro con brio 6‘03
5. II. Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto 6‘39
6. III. Rondo: Allegro 4‘33
Zino Francescatti violin / Violine Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1958
BONUS
Gabriel Fauré (1845 – 1924)
7. I. Allegro molto 6‘34
8. II. Andante 6‘53
9. III. Allegro vivo 3‘43
10. IV. Allegro quasi presto 4‘37
Zino Francescatti violin / Violine Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1953
Total Time 70‘31
CD 7
■ BEETHOVEN Sonatas Nos. 14 & 26 & 23 & 27 (1957)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor Op. 27, 2 “Moonlight” /
cis-Moll „Mondscheinsonate“
1. I. Adagio sostenuto 5‘13
2. II. Allegretto 2‘10
3. III. Presto agitato 5‘44
Piano Sonata No. 26 in E Flat Major Op. 81a „Les Adieux“ /
Es-Dur „Das Lebewohl“
4. I. Adagio. Allegro (Abschied) 6‘32
5. II. Andante espressivo (Abwesenheit) 3‘23
6. III. Viviacissimamente (Ankunft) 4‘14
Piano Sonata No. 24 in F Sharp Major Op. 78 „À Thérèse“ / Fis-Dur
7. I. Adagio cantabile. Allegro, ma non troppo 4‘27
8. II. Allegro vivace 2‘42
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor Op. 57 / f-Moll
9. I. Allegro assai 9‘05
10. II. Andante con moto – attacca 5‘54
11. III. Allegro, ma non troppo. Presto 5‘01
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1952 ( 9-11) 1957 (1-8)
Total Time 54‘27
CD 8
■ BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major & No. 1 in C Major
(1960) stereo
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major Op. 58 / G-Dur
1. I. Allegro moderato 16‘02
2. II. Andante con moto 4‘22
3. III. Rondo: Vivace 9‘12
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major Op. 15 / C-Dur
4. I. Allegro con brio 14‘16
5. II. Largo 8‘37
6. III. Rondo: Allegro 8‘34
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier
Concertgebouw Orkest
Conductor / Dirigent Eduard van Beinum
recorded / aufgenommen 1959
Total Time 61‘04
CD 9
■ DEBUSSY
Piano Music Vol. 2
(1955)
Claude Debussy
(1862 – 1918)
Préludes, Livre II /
Book II / Heft II 29
1. Brouillards 2‘30
2. Feuilles mortes 2‘34
3. La Puerta del Vino 3‘09
4. Les fées sont d’exquises danseuses 2‘27
5. Bruyères 1‘58
6. „Général Lavine“ – excentrique 2‘19
7. La terrasse des audiences au clair de lune 3‘18
8. Ondine 2‘34
9. Hommage à S. Pickwick 2‘12
10. Canope 2‘36
11. Les tierces alternées 2‘18
12. Feux d’artifice 3‘25
Deux Arabesques
13. I. Con moto andantino 3‘16
14. II. Allegretto scherzando 2‘56
Children’s Corner
15. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum 1‘52
16. Jimbo’s Lullaby 2‘56
17. Serenade for the Doll 2‘08
18. The Snow is Dancing 1‘59
19. The Little Shepherd 2‘12
20. Golliwog’s Cakewalk 2‘42
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1950 (15-20) 1954 (1-14)
■ BONUS
Petite Suite pour piano à quatre mains
21. I. En bâteau 3‘12
22. II. Cortège 3‘00
23. III. Menuet 2‘37
24. IV. Ballet 2‘51
Robert Casadesus, Gaby Casadesus piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1959
Total Time 63‘03
CD 10
■ DEBUSSY Piano Music Vol. 3 (1955)
Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918)
Images, Livre I / Book I / Heft I
1. I. Reflêts dans l’eau 4‘40
2. II. Hommage à Rameau 6‘47
3. III. Mouvement 3‘20
Images , Livre II / Book II / Heft II
4. I. Cloches à travers les feuilles 4‘03
5. II. Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut 4‘54
6. III. Poissons d’or 4‘03
Estampes
7. Pagodes 4‘41
8. Soirée dans Grenade 5‘23
9. Jardins sous la pluie 3‘17
10. Masques 4‘32
11. L’île joyeuse 5‘21
Robert Casadesus piano / Klavier
recorded / aufgenommen 1954
Total Time 51‘02