ARTISTS
Shura Cherkassky, piano

TRACKLISTING
J. STRAUSS II / GODOWSKY: Wein, Weib und Gesang
SAINT-SAËNS / GODOWSKY: The Swan
RAMEAU / GODOWSKY: Tambourin
GODOWSKY: Waltz-Poem IV for Left Hand alone
SCHUBERT / GODOWSKY: Moment musical No. 3 in F minor
ALBÉNIZ / GODOWSKY: Tango, Op. 165 No. 2
GODOWSKY: Alt Wien
HOFMANN: Kaleidoscope, Op. 40 No.
RUBINSTEIN: Melody in F, Op. 3 No. 1
TCHAIKOVSKY: Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. 19 No. 4
GLAZUNOV: Waltz in D, Op. 42 No. 3
CHAMINADE: Autrefois, Op. 87
MOSZKOWSKI: Caprice espagnol, Op. 37
SCRIABIN: Prelude in D major, Op. 11 No. 5
RACHMANINOV: Polka de W.R.
CHOPIN: Nocturne No. 15 in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1
CHOPIN: Ballade No. 3 in A flat, Op. 47     

When Vladimir Horowitz died in 1989, many music-lovers bemoaned the passing of 'the last Romantic' - an allusion to a bigger-than-life and subjective brand of pianism more typical of the first part of the 20 th century than of its close. But was Horowitz really 'the last'? When Jorge Bolet died a year later, the phrase was used once again, and it still is being used in connection with Earl Wild, who continues to thumb his nose at Father Time by playing demanding recital programs into his nineties.

Shura Cherkassky, who died in 1995, was no less 'the last Romantic' than any of the aforementioned pianists. Like the best of his contemporaries, he had a formidable technique at his disposal, and he took great joy in it, communicating that joy to his audiences. His ability to give the music colour and shading was just one of the things he did particularly well. He also had an unusual understanding of how to use the sustaining pedal to great effect.

ARTISTS
Lynn Harrell, cello
Bruno Canino, piano

TRACKLISTING
FAURÉ (arr. Milton Katims): Après un rêve
VON PARADIS: Sicilienne
FAURÉ: Sicilienne, Op.78
DEBUSSY (transc. Alexander Gretchaninoff): Beau soir
RAVEL: Pièce en forme de habanera
DUPARC: Phidylé
SAINT-SAËNS: The Swan (Carnival of the Animals)
FALLA: Nana (Suite populaire Espagnole)
GLAZUNOV: Spanish Serenade
GRANADOS: Intermezzo (Goyescas)
SCHUBERT (arr. L. Schulz): Moment musical in F minor, D.780 No.3
SCHUBERT: An die Musik D.547
SCHUBERT: Nacht und Träume, D.827
SCHUMANN: Träumerei (Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
HANDEL: Where'er you walk (Semele)
SULLIVAN: An Idyll
ELGAR: Salut d'amour, Op. 12
HILLEMACHER: Gavotte tendre
CHOPIN (arr. Piatigorsky): Nocturne in C sharp minor, op. posth.
CATALANI (arr. Vladimir Cosma): Ebben? ... Ne andrò lontana (La Wally)
TAKI: Kojo no tsuki (The Moon on the Ruined Castle)
BLOCH: Prayer (From Jewish Life - No. 1)                                                                                       

As he explains in his liner notes for this CD, Lynn Harrell uses the voice as his point of departure for this collection of encores. They are largely reflective pieces, with a bit of fun such as the unfairly forgotten Glazunov Spanish Serenade thrown in for good measure, and this once popular disc now makes a return to the catalogue, at budget price.

ARTISTS
Kyung Wha Chung, violin
Phillip Moll, piano

TRACKLISTING
KREISLER: La Gitana
KREISLER: Liebesleid
POLDINI (arr. Fritz Kreisler): Dancing Doll (Poupée Valsante)
WIENIAWSKI (ed. Zino Francescatti): Scherzo-Tarantelle, Op. 16
ELGAR: Salut d'amour, Op. 12
ELGAR: La Capricieuse, Op. 17
TCHAIKOVKSY (arr. Michael Press): Valse sentimentale, Op. 51 No. 6
KREISLER: Praeludium and Allegro (in the style of Gaetano Pugnani)
NOVÁ?EK (arr. Josef Gingold): Moto perpetuo
DEBUSSY (arr. Jascha Heifetz): Beau soir
CHOPIN (arr. Nathan Milstein): Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. posth.
WIENIAWSKI (arr. Fritz Kreisler): Caprice in A minor
GOSSEC (arr. Fritz Meyer): Gavotte
KREISLER: Liebesfreud
CHAMINADE (arr. Fritz Kreisler): Sérénade espagnole
SAINT-SAËNS (transc. Eugène Ysaÿe): Caprice (after Étude en forme de valse, Op. 52 No. 6)
BRAHMS (arr. Joseph Joachim): Hungarian Dance No. 1 

ARTISTS
London Symphony Orchestra [No. 3]
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra [No. 4]
Sir Georg Solti

TRACKLISTING
MENDELSSOHN:
Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 'Scottish'
Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 'Italian'

ARTISTS
Concertgebouw Orchestra
Eduard van Beinum

TRACKLISTING
Symphony No. 94 in G major 'Surprise'     
Symphony No. 96 in D major 'The Miracle'       
Symphony No. 97 in C major   

One of the world's most benevolent conductors who cajoled out of his orchestras some of the most luminous sounds ever to be heard in concert and on record. He recorded extensively with the Concertgebouw for Philips and earlier, for Decca. Three Haydn symphonies were recorded for Decca in 1951, 1952 and 1953 and they have been among the most requested orchestral reissues. Pirate versions have appeared but this is the first official Decca release on CD - and is something to be savoured.