CD 1
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
London Symphony Orchestra
Ataúlfo Argenta
EDOUARD LALO
Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Op. 21
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Eduard van Beinum
PABLO DE SARASATE
Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20*
London Symphony Orchestra
Piero Gamba
CD 2
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS
Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28*
Havanaise, Op. 83*
London Symphony Orchestra
Anatole Fistoulari
Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61*
HENRYK WIENIAWSKI
Légende, Op. 17*
NICCOLÒ PAGANINI
Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 6*
(Version in one movement by Fritz Kreisler}
London Symphony Orchestra
Piero Gamba
Alfredo Campoli, violin
*FIRST INTERNATIONAL CD RELEASE ON DECCA
Recording Producers: James Walker (Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3, Paganini–Kreisler, Sarasate, Wieniawski); John Culshaw (Lalo, Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Havanaise)
Balance Engineers: Kenneth Wilkinson, Gordon Parry (Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3, Paganini–Kreisler, Sarasate, Wieniawski); Kenneth Wilkinson (Lalo, Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Havanaise);
Recording Location: Kingsway Hall, London, UK, 27–28 December 1956, 3–4 March 1953 (Lalo), 22–23 October 1956 (Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3, Paganini–Kreisler), 25–26 October 1956 (Sarasate, Wieniawski), 10 November 1953 (Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Havanaise)
Remastering Engineers: Chris Bernauer, Paschal Byrne
Original Decca LP Releases: LXT 2801 (Lalo); LW 5085 (Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Havanaise); LXT 5313 (Tchaikovsky); LXT 5298/LW 5306 (Sarasate, Wieniawski); LXT 5302 (Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3, Paganini-Kreisler)
‘Campoli has the technical equipment and musical understanding to exploit these varied works to the fullest. Notable features, aside from his big, singing tone in all of them, are his subtlety and phrasing and rapid double-stop passagework in the ‘Havanaise’ and his entirely gypsy-like approach to the ‘Zigeunerweisen’.’ High Fidelity
‘Campoli is an enormously proficient violinist, one on the order of a Stern, Oistrakh, or anybody else you can name. His tone has amazing solidity and sweetness, his fingerwork is impeccable, his intonation is a joy… Admirable recorded sound, and Gamba leads the London orchestra in precisely adjusted accompaniments.’
High Fidelity (Saint-Saëns, Paganini-Kreisler)
‘A refreshingly vital performance distinguished by the gorgeous opulent tone and unmannered directness of Alfredo Campoli.’ Fanfare (Lalo)