Beethoven Complete Works for Cello & Piano/Fournier, Gulda Hand-Numbered Half-Speed Mastered 180g 3LP Box Set

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, Deutsche Grammophon reissues one of the major milestones in its catalogue in a special vinyl edition, the legendary recording of the master's complete works for cello and piano duo by Pierre Fournier and Friedrich Gulda. Set down in June 1959 in the Brahms-Saal of Vienna's Musikverein, these recordings are held in the highest esteem to this day by connoisseurs and experts alike.

The first complete release on Vinyl is newly remastered at Half-Speed from original sources by Emil Berliner Studios, with 180g pressings by Optimal and sleeves adapted from the original artwork. The 4-page booklet includes liner notes by Pierre Fournier's son Jean Fonda and by Reinhard Beuth (German, English); artist photos; and track-listing.

No living cellist has eclipsed Pierre Fournier's Beethoven cycle with Friedrich Gulda

Admittedly I haven't played this record in years but when a Ume publicist sent me this box set of Beethoven's Complete works for Cello and Piano I pulled it out and gave it a spin. It sounded much better than I last remember it since my system's much better. I particularly noted how easy it now was to hear acoustics of the relatively small Musikverein, Brahms-Saal concert space—a 600 seater located in Vienna. Of course, I began with the familiar Sonata #1 and within a few bars it became obvious that this reissue cut ½ speed at the Emile Berliner Studios in Berlin was sonically way better than the original. Instrumental focus was better, everything was better and the pressing probably at Optimal was dead silent too. The presentation includes a high quality glossy laminated box and as with this year's excellent and highly recommended reissue of Beethoven's 9 symphonies with Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, this set includes facsimiles of the DGG production paperwork. It was exciting (for a record geek) to see the sheets produced for the original LP I've had for so many years. About the only thing missing from this box set were the tulips around the label. Otherwise, if you want more high quality all-analog produced classical music reissues you'd do well to support this effort even if you don't think you like chamber music. You might be surprised!