Fournier: Bach 6 Solo Cello Suites - Festival Classique CFC 60.014 (3LP box set)

$

320

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This beautiful and extraordinarily rare 3LP box set from Festival Classique (CFC 60.014, French pressing, red label, stereo, booklet included) features the great Pierre Fournier’s final commercial recordings of Bach’s 6 Suites for Solo Cello BWV 1007-1012, recorded in 1976/1977. Fournier brings a lifetime’s wisdom and experience to these works and the rich timbre of his cello is beautifully caught by the sound engineers.

Included then are the following works of Bach:

Suite No. 1 in G Major BWV 1007 – rec. December 1976

Suite No. 2 in D minor BWV 1008 – rec. April 1977

Suite No. 3 in C Major BWV 1009 – rec. December 1976

Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major BWV 1010 – rec. April 1977

Suite No. 5 in C minor BWV 1011 – rec. May 1977

Suite No. 6 in D Major BWV 1012 – rec. May 1977

In some ways, Fournier surpasses his already high benchmark set on Archiv. There is more improvisatory freedom here, with no loss of control, and his playing is imbued with a richly vocal and lyrical sound that is quite remarkable. For all those who treasure the art of the cello and these supreme masterpieces for this instrument, this set will prove revelatory.

Incidentally, the striking cover art reproduces a detail from Vassily Kandinsky’s “Développement en brun” (1933). The photo of Fournier on the booklet front was taken by Ezeghelian.  Included is a full-size, 4-page booklet with extensive notes on the music, as well as an appreciation of Fournier’s artistry, by Jean Cotté – printed in French, English, and German.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY:

Given the rarity and value of this set, I ask potential buyers to please read the text below very carefully. The condition is described in great detail.

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the box is VERY GOOD. There is some shelfwear along the spine, more so at the top and bottom of the spine, but really that is all. There are no cornerbreaks, seamsplits, bends, owners’ markings, or other defects, and the box remains solid, bright, and highly attractive – overall, a very good collector’s copy.

The condition of the full-size, 4-page booklet is near-MINT. Really, there are no flaws to speak of – a fine copy.

The condition of the 3 LPs ranges from GOOD to EXCELLENT to near-MINT. Suite No. 3 (rated as GOOD) has fairly high surface noise during the first 2 minutes and then lighter surface noise thereafter (no tics, however). Suite 5 (EX) has 1 brief patch of light surface noise. Suite No. 6 (EX) has a few soft tics at the beginning of the first movement, but that is all. The labels of LP containing Suites 1 & 2 is slightly discolored, but this does not affect play. Suites 1, 2, and 4 I would grade as NM. So a summary is as follows:

Suite 1: NM

Suite 2: NM / label slightly discolored

Suite 3: G

Suite 4: NM

Suite 5: EX

Suite 6: EX

If you must have flawless surfaces, and cannot live with the defects described above, then please do not buy this set. Overall, this is still a quite decent collector’s copy.

PLEASE NOTE:
This LP has been carefully cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine. All LPs are provided with a new Nagaoka (or Nagaoka-style) inner sleeve. The images I've provided are of the actual item you are potentially bidding on - these are not stock images or images I've taken from other sites. Bid with confidence!

PAYMENT:
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SHIPPING:
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FEEDBACK:
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REFUNDS:
Returns are honored, and any buyer you makes a return will be refunded in full. Please contact me before making a return.

Please see my other classical LP and CD auctions, and feel free to write with any questions, I'll be glad to help.