Album

A must-have for collectors of sublime historical recordings, this re-release of Fournier and Gulda's 1960 recording is equally appropriate for listeners seeking their first recording of Beethoven's works for cello and piano. Fournier's commitment to the exploration of the Beethoven sonatas and variations is clear; he made three complete recordings of the works over the course of his career—the first with Artur Schnabel in 1947, this one with Friedrich Gulda in 1960, and finally with pianist Wilhelm Kempff in 1965.

Here we are exposed to Fournier at the peak of his technical and interpretive skills. His performance is clean, flowing, and clearly articulates Beethoven's three distinct compositional periods. Although Fournier collaborated much more frequently with Kempff than Gulda, that is never apparent to the listener. The interplay between the two instruments is seemless and Gulda's sensitivity is readily evident in the perfect balance achieved throughout the collection.

© Mike D. Brownell, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata in F, Op.5, No.1 Work 21:35 Friedrich Gulda Piano, Pierre Fournier Cello
1	1.Adagio sostenuto (attaca); Allegro	14:48			$2.49
2	2.Rondo: Allegro vivace	6:47			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata in G-, Op.5, No.2 Work 21:09 Friedrich Gulda Piano, Pierre Fournier Cello
3	1.Adagio sostenuto e espressivo (attaca)	12:17			$1.99
4	3.Rondo: Allegro	8:52			$1.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata No.3 in A, Op.69 Work 26:54 Friedrich Gulda Piano, Pierre Fournier Cello
5	1.Allegro ma non tanto	12:55			$1.99
6	2.Scherzo: Allegro molto	5:21			$0.99
7	3.Adagio cantabile	8:38			$1.49
CD 2 of 2
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata No.4 in C, Op.102, No.1 Work 15:28 Friedrich Gulda Piano, Pierre Fournier Cello
1	1.Andante (attaca); 2.Allegro vivace	8:30			$1.49
2	3.Adagio. Tempo d'andante (attaca); 4.Allegro con brio	6:58			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Cello Sonata No.5 in D, Op.102, No.2 Work 20:07 Friedrich Gulda Piano, Pierre Fournier Cello
3	1.Allegro con brio	6:29			$0.99
4	2.Adagio con molto sentimento d'affetto	9:14			$1.49
5	3.Allegro. Allegro fugato	4:24			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer 12 Variations in G on a Theme by Handel, for cello and piano, WoO45 Work 12:22 Friedrich Gulda Piano, Pierre Fournier Cello
6	Theme: Allegretto	0:46			$0.49
7	Variation 1	0:44			$0.49
8	Variation 2	0:44			$0.49
9	Variation 3	0:43			$0.49
10	Variation 4	0:47			$0.49
11	Variation 5	0:51			$0.49
12	Variation 6	0:43			$0.49
13	Variation 7	0:34			$0.49
14	Variation 8	0:45			$0.49
15	Variation 9	0:42			$0.49
16	Variation 10: Allegro	0:41			$0.49
17	Variation 11: Adagio	3:20			$0.99
18	Variation 12: Allegro	1:02			$0.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer 7 Variations in Eb on a Theme from the Magic Flute, for cello and piano, WoO46 Work 9:14 Friedrich Gulda Piano, Pierre Fournier Cello
19	Theme: Andante	0:58			$0.49
20	Variation 1	0:45			$0.49
21	Variation 2	0:46			$0.49
22	Variation 3	0:57			$0.49
23	Variation 4	1:12			$0.49
24	Variation 5: Si prenda il tempo un poco più vivace	0:36			$0.49
25	Variation 6: Adagio	2:09			$0.99
26	Variation 7: Allegro ma non troppo	1:51			$0.49
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer 12 Variations in F on a Theme from the Magic Flute, for cello and piano, Op.66 Work 10:52 Friedrich Gulda Piano, Pierre Fournier Cello
27	Theme: Allegretto	0:36			$0.49
28	Variation 1	0:38			$0.49
29	Variation 2	0:36			$0.49
30	Variation 3	0:33			$0.49
31	Variation 4	0:39			$0.49
32	Variation 5	0:34			$0.49
33	Variation 6	0:30			$0.49
34	Variation 7	0:47			$0.49
35	Variation 8	0:33			$0.49
36	Variation 9: Adagio	0:39			$0.49
37	Variation 10: Adagio	1:33			$0.49
38	Variation 11: Poco adagio, quasi andante	1:23			$0.49
39	Variation 12: Allegro	1:51			$0.49