Beethoven: Sonatas for Violin and Piano No. 4 & No. 8 [180g Vinyl]

Printed in Japan, natural color transparent vinyl
Pure Analogue Recording, Pure Analogue Cutting, One-Stage Pressing Process, 180gr. Virgin Vinyl Pressing, Heavy Quality Sleeves, 33rpm, Tube Processed Analog Master, HiFi Reference, Limited Edition 496 copies

The recording collaboration with the great violinist Salvatore Accardo, which began 30 years ago, continues. In this project Maestro Accardo masterfully interprets the Sonatas for Violin and Piano n.4 and n.8 by Ludwig Van Beethoven with the pianist Laura Manzini.

I recorded this album at Sala dell’Ermellino – Casa della Musica in Milan on 23th-24th November 2019. For this recording I brought all my equipment both analog (Ampex ATR 102 Electronic Tube Ampex Model 351-1965, 2 tracks, 1/2 inch, 30ips modified by David Manley) and digital (Pyramix Recorder, dCS A / D and D / A converters). For this prestigious recording I used the legendary original Neumann U47, U48 tube microphones from the years 1947 and 1949 with a very natural tone using field effect bi-microphone techniques. These microphones have an important history: they are in fact the original microphones used to record, among others, the Beatles performances in the Abbey Road Studio and by RCA for the “Living Stereo” recordings.
The sound I can capture with these legendary microphones is perfectly in line with my sonic taste. No other microphone has such a true timbre and the ability to engrave all the nuances of sound and all the richness of the harmonics. The uniqueness of these microphones is linked to their ability to make a perfect “sound photograph” and to put the music perfectly placed in the sound space chosen for the recording

A state-of-the-art system with no sound manipulation, no equalization, no reverb, no compression and expansion … but natural sound with true timbre to best enhance the acoustics of the Sala dell’Ermellino. Fonè has been offering for 40 years recordings made in the name of technological refinement and aimed at recovering the original musical atmospheres. The result of this recording is fantastic. With this recording I wanted to give the listener a unique experience. It is as if the listener were sitting on an armchair positioned in the ideal point in the Sala dell’Ermellino. In this position the sound has a field effect and its depth, width and height are very noticeable. Great dynamics and great precision.
– Giulio Cesare Ricci, Fone

Salvatore Accardo, Violin
Laura Manzini, Piano

SIDE A

Sonata n. 4 for Violin and Piano in la min. Op. 23
Presto                                                                 8’13”
Andante scherzoso – più Allegretto                    9’04”
Allegro molto                                                      5’54”

Total Time 23’11”

SIDE B

Sonata n. 8 for Violin and Piano in sol magg. Op. 30
Allegro assai                                                       6’55”
Tempo di Minuetto                                              9’19”
Allegro vivace                                                     3’49”

Total Time 20’03”