Issac Stern - Complte Columbia Analogue Recordings [75 CDs]

"This man combined showmanship with a holy, often politically interpreted seriousness of music. With him, the beautiful Eastern European tone merges seamlessly into a painlessly American primacy of beauty. Apart from this box, he is not celebrated enough; he was the last great violinist 'for everyone.'" -- Kulturradio Berlin

Isaac Stern would have turned 100 in 2020. To mark this beloved artist’s centenary, Sony Classical is proud to present a new edition of his entire American Columbia analogue discography: 75 CDs of the recordings that established the Ukrainian-born American violinist’s worldwide reputation as one of the outstanding musical figures of his time.

Like so many other of history’s famous fiddlers, Stern was a child prodigy, entering the conservatory in San Francisco (where his family had settled) when he was only eight. In 1936, at 16, he made his recital debut and played with the San Francisco Symphony under Monteux and the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Klemperer. His first New York appearance came in 1937, his European debut after the war, in 1948. By then, much of the world had already heard if not seen him, performing classical showpieces under Franz Waxman’s baton on the soundtrack of the popular 1946 Warner Bros. film Humoresque. An album of selections from the movie, first issued by Columbia on 78s in 1947, appears on CD for the first time in this new set. They include Waxman’s Carmen Fantasy, a thrilling arrangement for Stern’s “Hollywood debut”.

The violinist’s earliest releases, beginning in 1946, already included the indispensable concertos of Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Wieniawski, Brahms and others, works he would revisit in the studio at various stages of his career. One telling example: Stern’s 1951 recording of the Sibelius concerto, with Beecham conducting the Royal Philharmonic, immediately was held up as a rival to Heifetz’s iconic prewar recording, also under Beecham. A recent survey of Sibelius recordings in the leading string magazine, The Strad, declares that “the young Stern’s tone already burns” in 1951, then extols his second recording, made in stereo with Ormandy and the Philadelphia in 1969: “Stern is even more intense, more pointed, more rhythmically incisive in the outer movements, retaining and refining his total command over the sustained line in the second movement … Everyone in the session is digging in, and the sound is a miracle of balance; it hasn’t aged a day.”

Needless to say, the new collection holds even more than Stern’s acclaimed recordings of virtually every major violin concerto in the repertoire, from Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart to Prokofiev, Bartók and Berg, with conductors including Mitropoulos, Walter, Szell and, above all, Ormandy and Bernstein – not to mention Stravinsky’s concerto under the composer’s baton, and newer specimens created expressly for Stern by Penderecki and Rochberg.

Also on full display is Stern’s extraordinary love and affinity for chamber music: much of the sonata repertoire explored with his longtime preferred accompanist, pianist Alexander Zakin, including the first time on CD for their mono recordings of violin sonatas by Mozart, Franck, Brahms (all three) and Bartók; the great piano trios surveyed with his regular partners Leonard Rose and Eugene Istomin; and treasured collaborations with Pablo Casals and his festival ensembles that featured such distinguished players as Alexander Schneider, Milton Katims, Paul Tortelier and Myra Hess – including the first CD releases of the Brahms Second String Quintet and Schumann Piano Quintet from 1952. Like that Sibelius recording and so many others in this vast new Isaac Stern edition, they haven’t aged a day.

SET CONTENTS:

DISC 1:
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, TH 59   
Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 22   

DISC 2:
Mozart, W.A.: Violin Sonata No. 26 in B-Flat Major, K. 378
Haydn (cadenzas: Klengel): Violin Concerto in C Major, Hob.VIIa:1
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64

DISC 3:
Dinicu (arr. Heifetz): Hora staccato   
Wagner (arr. Wilhelmj): Albumblatt in C Major
Milhaud (arr. Levy): Saudades do Brasil, Op. 67: VIII. Tijuca   
Pugnani (arr. Mufatt): Sonata in D Major, Op. 8, No. 3: Largo espressivo   
Sarasate: Caprice basque, Op. 24   
Dvořák (arr. Kreisler): Slavonic Dance in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 2
Bloch: Baal Shem, B. 47: 2. Nigun   
Prokofiev (arr. Grunes): Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75   
Novácek: Perpetuum Mobile, Op. 5, No. 4   
Dvořák (arr. Waxman): Humoresque in G-Flat Major, Op. 101, No. 7
Rimsky-Korsakov (arr. Waxman): The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Act III: Flight of the Bumblebee
Wagner (arr. Waxman): Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90: Liebestod - Arrangements for Violin, Piano and Orchestra
Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20   
Bizet-Sarasate (arr. Waxman): Carmen-Fantasie   
Copland: 4 Dance Episodes from Rodeo: No. 4, Hoe Down
Mozart, W.A.: Rondo

DISC 4:
Bach, J.S.: Concerto for Violin & Oboe in C Minor, BWV 1060R 
Bach, J.S.: Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins, BWV 1043
Bach, J.S.: Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041   
Bach, J.S.: Trio Sonata in G Major, BWV 1038

DISC 5:
Mozart, W.A. (cadenzas: Franko): Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216
Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 7, Op. 30 No. 2
Handel: Violin Sonata No. 4 in D Major, Op. 13, No. 1: Iv. Allegro

DISC 6:
Bartók: Violin Sonata No. 1, Sz. 75, BB 84
Franck: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major, FWV 8

DISC 7:
Brahms (cadenza: Kreisler): Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77   
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47   

DISC 8:
Mozart, W.A.: Sinfonia concertante in E-Flat Major, K. 364   
Mozart, W.A.: Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K. 493   

DISC 9:
Kreisler: Schön Rosmarin
Dvorák (arr. Kreisler): Slavonic Dance in G Minor, Op. 46, No. 1
Schumann (arr. Auer): Prophetic Bird from Waldscenen, Op. 82, No. 7
Tchaikovsky (arr. Zakin): Valse Sentimentale, Op. 5, No. 6
Schubert, Francois: L'Abeille, op. 13, No. 9
Gluck/Kreisler): Mélodie No. 2 (Dance of the blessed spirits) from Orphéus et Euridyce
Mozart, W.A. (arr. Kreisler): Serenade in D Major, KV 250 "Haffner": IV. Rondo
Leclair (arr. Kreisler): Sarabande et Tambourin   
Szymanowski (arr. Kochanski): König Roger, Op. 46: Chant de Roxane   
Szymanowski (arr. Kochanski): Mythes, Op. 30: 1. La Fontaine d'Arethuse   
Stravinsky (arr. Dushkin): Firebird Suite: V. Berceuse   
Mussorgksy (arr. Rachmaninov): Gopak (Hopak)
Falla (arr. Kochanski): Suite populares españolas   
Hindemith: Sonata for Violin & Piano in C Major   

DISC 10:
Brahms: String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 111 
Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-Flat Major, Op.44

DISC 11:
Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 18   

DISC 12:
Schubert: String Quintet in C Major, D. 956, Op. 163  

DISC 13:
Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8   

DISC 14:
Prokofiev: Violin Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 80   
Prokofiev: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94bis   

DISC 15:
Bach, C.P.E: Violin Sonata in G Minor, H.542.5   
Bach, J.S.: Violin Sonata in E Major, BWV 1016 Violin   
Bach, J.S.: Violin Sonata in E Minor, BWV 1023   
Handel: Violin Sonata in D Major, Op. 1, No. 3   
Tartini: Violin Sonata in G Minor, Op. 1, No. 10 "Didone abbandonata"   

DISC 16:
Brahms: Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in G Major, Op. 78   
Brahms: Sonata No. 3 for Violin and Piano in D minor, Op. 108   

DISC 17:
Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100 "Thun"
Various: F.A.E. Sonata For Violin and Piano ("Frei Aber Einsam")  
Dietrich: I. Allegro   
Schumann: II. Intermezzo   
Brahms : III. Scherzo (Op. Posth.)   
Schumann: IV. Finale 

DISC 18:
Vivaldi: Concerto in A Minor for Two Violins and String Orchestra, RV 522
Bach, J.S.: Concerto No. 1 in A Minor for Violin and Orchestra, BWV 1041
Bach, J.S.: Violin Concerto No. 2 in E Major, BWV 1042 

DISC 19:
Lalo: Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21   
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26   

DISC 20:
Bernstein: Serenade for Violin, Strings and Percussion

DISC 21:
Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 22   
Saint-Saens: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28   
Ravel: Tzigane, M. 76   

DISC 22:
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 19   
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 63   

DISC 23:
Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 2, Sz. 112

DISC 24:
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, TH 59
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, MWV O 14   

DISC 25:
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61

DISC 26:
Franck: Violin Sonata in A Major, M. 8   
Debussy: Violin Sonata in G Minor, L. 140   

DISC 27:
Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77   
Brahms: Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Op. 102   

DISC 28:
Vivaldi: Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, RV 514   
Vivaldi: Concerto for 2 Violins in C Minor, RV 509   
Vivaldi: Concerto for 2 Violins in G Minor, RV 517   
Vivaldi: Concerto for 2 Violins in D Major, RV 512   

DISC 29:
Bartók: Violin Concerto No.1, Sz. 36
Viotti (cadenzas: Ysaye): Concerto No. 22 in A Minor for Violin and Orchestra  

DISC 30:
Stravinsky: Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra   
Stravinsky: Symphony in Three Movements   

DISC 31:
Bartók: Violin Rhapsody No. 1, Sz. 87
Bartók: Violin Rhapsody No. 2, Sz. 90
Berg: Violin Concerto "To the Memory of an Angel"

DISC 32:
Tchaikovsky (arr. Harris): 6 Romances, Op. 6: No. 6, Net Tol'Ka Tot Kto Znal (None but the Lonely Heart) [Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra]   
Brahms (arr. Harris): 21 Hungarian Dances, WoO 1: Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G Minor (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Gershwin (arr. Heifetz): Porgy and Bess: Bess, You Is My Woman Now (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Rimsky-Korsakov: Tale of Tsar Saltan, Op. 57: Flight of the Bumblebee (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Foster (arr. Harris): Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Kreisler (arr. Rachmaninoff): 3 Old Viennese Dances: No. 2, Liebesleid (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)    
Traditional: Greensleeves (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Dvořák (arr. Harris): 8 Humoresques, Op. 101, B. 187: No. 7 in G-Flat Major. Poco lento e grazioso (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Debussy (arr. Harris): Suite bergamasque, L. 75: III. Clair de lune (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Benjamin (Arr. Harris): 2 Jamaican Pieces: No. 2, Jamaican Rumba (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Schubert (arr. Harris): Ellens Gesang III, Op. 52 No. 6, D. 839 (Ave Maria "Hymne an die Jungfrau") [Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra]   
Copland (arr. Harris): 4 Dance Episodes from Rodeo: No. 4, Hoe Down (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   

DISC 33:
Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78   
Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108   

DISC 34:
Mozart, W.A. (cadenzas: Joachim): Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, K. 207   
Mozart, W.A. (cadenzas: Joachim): Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219 "Turkish"   

DISC 35:
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 19   
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 63  

DISC 36:
Barber: Violin Concerto, Op. 14
Hindemith: Violin Concerto

DISC 37:
Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1 in B-Flat Major, D. 898, Op. 99   

DISC 38:
Bloch: Baal Shem (Version for Violin & Piano)   
Bloch: Violin Sonata No. 1   

DISC 39:
Brahms: Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Op. 102   
Beethoven: Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano in C Major, Op. 56   

DISC 40:
Dvořák: Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53, B. 96   
Dvořák: Romance in F Minor, Op. 11, B. 39   

DISC 41:
Bach, J.S.: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, BWV 1041   
Bach, J.S.: Concerto No. 2 in E Major for Violin and Strings, BWV 1042 
Bach, J.S.: Concerto for Violin, Oboe and Orchestra in C Minor, BVW 1060R (Remastered)    

DISC 42:
Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8   

DISC 43:
Brahms: Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major Op. 87   
Brahms: Piano Trio No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 101   

DISC 44:
Lalo: Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21   
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26   

DISC 45:
Herz Imber : HaTikvah   
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, MWV O14   
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection": Im Tempo des Scherzos

DISC 46:
Mozart, W.A. (cadenzas: Franko): Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216: I. Allegro 
Mozart, W.A.: Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in E-Flat Major, K. 364: I. Allegro maestoso

DISC 47:
Schubert: Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, D. 929   
Haydn: Piano Trio No. 10 in E-Flat Major, Hob. XV:10   

DISC 48:
Beethoven: Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, WoO 38   
Beethoven: Variations in E-Flat Major, Op. 44   
Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1   

DISC 49:
Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 2 in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2   
Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 1 No. 3   

DISC 50:
Beethoven: Piano Trio in B-Flat Major, Op. 11 "Gassenhauer" (Version for Violin, Cello & Piano)   
Beethoven: 10 Variations on "Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu", Op. 121a   
Beethoven: Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70 No. 1 "Ghost"   
Beethoven: Allegretto from Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in B-Flat Major, WoO 39   

DISC 51:
Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 6 in E-Flat Major, Op. 70 No. 2   
Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 7 in B-Flat Major, Op. 97 "Archduke"    

DISC 52:
Sibelius: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Minor, Op. 47   
Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Op. 11   

DISC 53:
Mozart, W.A.: Quartet for Flute and Strings in D Major, K. 285   
Mozart, W.A.: Quartet for Flute and Strings in A Major, K. 298   
Mozart, W.A.: Quartet for Flute and Strings in G Major, K. 285a   
Mozart, W.A.: Quartet for Flute and Strings in C Major, K. 285b   

DISC 54:
Bartók: Violin Sonata No. 1, Sz. 75
Bartók: Violin Sonata No. 2, Sz. 76 (Instrumental)   
Webern: 4 Pieces for Violin & Piano, Op. 7   

DISC 55:
Chopin (arr. Harris): Nocturnes, Op. 9: No. 2 in E-Flat Major (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Mendelssohn (arr. Achron): 6 Gesänge, Op. 34: No. 2, Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Rubinstein (arr. Orch.): 6 Soirées à Saint-Petersbourg, Op. 44: No. 1, Romance in E-Flat Major (Arr. for Violin & Orchestra)   
Wieniawski: Romance from Violin Concerto No. 2 (Remastered)   
Schubert (arr. Harris): Schwanengesang, D. 957: No. 4, Ständchen (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Debussy (arr. Harris): Preludes, Book 1: No. 8, La fille aux cheveux de lin (Arr. for Violin & Orchestra)   
Rachmaninoff (arr. Harris): 14 Romances, Op. 34: No. 14, Vocalise in E Minor (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Borodin (arr. Harris): String Quartet No. 2 in D Major: III. Nocturne (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Satie (arr. Harris): 3 Gymnopédies: No. 3, Lent et grave (Arr. A. Harris for Violin & Orchestra)   
Tchaikovsky: Sérénade mélancolique, Op. 26 (Orchestrated by A. Harris)   

DISC 56:
Mozart, W.A.: Sinfonia concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in E-Flat Major, K. 364   
Stamitz: Sinfonia concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in D Major   

DISC 57:
Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100 "Thun"
Brahms: Clarinet Sonata No. 2, Op. 120 No. 2

DISC 58:
Copland: Sonata for Violin and Piano (1942/3)   
Copland: Duo for Flute and Piano   
Copland: Nonet   

DISC 59:
Enescu: Violin Sonata No. 3, Op. 25 
Dvořák: 4 Romantic Pieces, Op. 75, B. 150
Various: F.A.E. Sonata for Violin and Piano ("Frei Aber Einsam")
Schumann: II. Intermezzo   
Brahms: III. Scherzo (Op. Posth.)   
Haydn: Violin Concerto in C Major, Hob.VIIa: II. Adagio

DISC 60:
Mozart, W.A.: Concertone for Two Violins and Orchestra in C Major, K. 190
Pleyel: Symphonie concertante in B-Flat Major for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra, B. 112 

DISC 61:
Mozart, W.A. (arr. Kreisler): Divertimento in E-Flat Major, K. 563   

DISC 62:
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61   

DISC 63:
Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72a   
Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50: I. Pezzo elegiaco  
Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19: III. Andante   

DISC 64:
Schumann: Dichterliebe, Op. 48   
Bach, J.S.: Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra in D Minor, BWV 1043 (Remastered)   
Tchaikovsky: Nine Sacred Pieces, TH. 78, No. 6: Pater Noster   
Handel: Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. II, No. 44: Hallelujah Chorus   

DISC 65:
Saint-Saens: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 61   
Chausson: Poème, Op. 25   
Fauré: Berceuse, Op. 16   

DISC 66:
Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8, No. 1 "La primavera"   
Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8, No. 2 "L'estate"   
Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8, No. 3 "L'autumno"   
Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4 "L'inverno"   
Vivaldi (arr. Rampal): Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, RV 514 
Vivaldi (arr. Rampal): Concerto for 2 Violins in C Minor, RV 509

DISC 67:
Mozart, W.A. (Cadenzas: Küchler): Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K.211   
Mozart, W.A. (Cadenzas: Jocachim): Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218   
Mozart, W.A. (arr. Kreisler): Serenade in D Major, K.250/248b "Haffner"   
Mozart, W.A.: Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E Major, K. 261   
Mozart, W.A.: Rondo in C Major, K. 373    

DISC 68:
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35   
Tchaikovsky (arr. Glazunov): Souvenir d'un lieu cher, Op. 42, TH 116: I. Méditation   

DISC 69:
Brahms (cadenza: Kreisler): Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77    

DISC 70:
Rochberg: Violin Concerto    

DISC 71:
Penderecki: Violin Concerto No. 1   

DISC 72:
Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49, MWV Q29   
Mendelssohn: Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66, MWV Q33   

DISC 73:
Rentaro Taki: Kohjoh no Tsuki   
Ryutaro Hirota: Shikararete   
Kohsaku Yamada: Sunayama   
Nagayo Motoori: Nanatsu no ko   
Kohsaku Yamada: Chugokuchiho no Komoriuta   
Traditional: Sakura Sakura   
Traditional: Zuizuizukkorobashi   
Traditional: Imayoh   
Kengyo Yatsuhashi (arr. Masaaki Hawakawa): Chidori No Kyoku   
Traditional: Tohryanse   
Kengyo Yatsuhashi: Rokudan no Shirabe   

DISC 74:
Bach, J.S.: Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043   
Vivaldi: Concerto for 3 Violins in F Major, RV 551   
Mozart, W.A.: Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat Major, K. 364   
Hill: Happy Birthday (Remastered)   

DISC 75:
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, TH 59   
Bach, J.S.: Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041   
Bach, J.S.: Violin Concerto in E Major, BWV 1042