Joseph Szigeti: Famous Recordings (Bach, Bartok, Beethoven, Bruch)

Parnassus is pleased to present newly remastered recordings from Gene Gaudette and Paul Arden-Taylor of Joseph Szigeti “the scholarly virtuoso” (1892-1973) with Claudio Arrau and Bela Bartók in accompaniment on the piano! These famous recordings are sourced from sessions with Vanguard, the Library of Congress, and a studio recording of Ernest Bloch’s Violin Concerto in A minor with conductor Charles Munch and the Paris Conservatoire.

Joseph Szigeti made his London debut at the Bechstein (Wigmore) Hall as a thirteen-year-old (the public was told he was twelve). From 1907 he was based in England and his concerto debut was made with the Bach Concerto in E major and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the New Symphony Orchestra under Sir Thomas Beecham. While in Britain, until 1913, he toured with Nellie Melba and John McCormack, met Myra Hess and Ferruccio Busoni, gave the first performance of Hamilton Harty’s D minor Concerto and made his first records.

One of the most beloved and influential musical figures of the 20th century. He introduced and popularised works by many of the significant contemporary composers, among them Prokofiev, Bloch, Casella, Stravinsky, Bartók, Warlock, Martin, Cowell, Ives, Berg, Milhaud and Ravel. Were it not for Szigeti, we should also have fewer recordings of Bartók and Stravinsky as pianists: both composers were persuaded into the studio by the prospect of working with such a sympathetic musician. Szigeti was the most distinguished of a line of violinists taught by Hubay.

Johann Sebastian Bach
from Partita No. 2 for Violin Solo in D Minor, BWV 1004
1 Chaconne 16:14

Ludwig van Beethoven
Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23 No. 4
2 I. Presto 5:33
3 II. Andante scherzoso piu allegretto 6:08
4 III. Allegro molto 5:15
Claudio Arrau, piano

Béla Bartók
Rhapsody for Violin and Piano No. 1, BB 94a
5 I. Lassu 4:13
6 II. Friss 5:03
Béla Bartók, piano

Ernest Bloch
Violin Concerto in A Minor (1938)
7 I. Allegro deciso 18:08
8 II. Andante 6:10
9 III. Deciso 10:19
Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire, Paris
Charles Münch, conductor