Brahms – Violin Concerto : Johanna Martzy, Gunter Wand (180g LP)

Label: Analogphonic / SWR – CNLR1605 – 180 Gram Virgin Vinyl

1st Time On Vinyl – Limited Edition – Pressed at Pallas Germany
AAA 100% Analogue – Cut & Mastered at Emil Berliner Studio by Rainer Maillard

We are pleased to announce the release of our three new titles, the first products in cooperation with SWR. They are radio-broadcast recordings of the legendary Hungarian violinist, Johanna Martzy, recorded in 1950s and 60s. These are valuable historical documents as Martzy’s career was relatively brief and her commercial recordings are small in number. Her interpretation of the Mozart, Brahms and Mendelssohn concertos show the phenomenal violinist in her prime: her tasteful approach, cultivated expression, perfect bow control and vibrant tone never cease to amaze us. Additionally, we included the Mendelssohn Concerto performed by Ida Haendel – along with Johanna Martzy – with the same conductor and the orchestra.
Johanna Martzy is one of the greatest violinist of the 20th century alongside the likes of Ida Haendel, Ginette Neveu, Erica Morini and more. There are primarily two factors causing her posthumous reputation to lag behind her true standing: her international career was relatively brief and the repertoire she performed was and remained very narrow. However, the recordings we still have from her testify to a violinist and musician of the highest class who was not possessed by a demon compelling her to provide the world with as extravagant an interpretation as possible, but with unleashed verve, inspired articulation and perfectly clear control as a devoted medium of musical energies.

It is particularly instructive, following the terrific studio recordings of the concertos by Brahms, to hear the exciting live concert recordings made in Stuttgart with Gunter Ward and appreciate what a phenomenal violinist Johanna Martzy was, without any thought of grandstanding or pretension, always authentic, fully emphatic and with a select, cultivated taste. – from liner notes by Christoph Schluren

Features:

• 180g Audiophile Virgin Vinyl

• Cut to lacquers at Emil Berliner Studio

• Mastered from the original master tapes of SWR archives

• Audiophile full analogue mastering by Rainer Maillard

• Analogphonic release

• Pressed at Pallas Gmbh in Germany