Johanna Martzy

[Barbirollians]

A player whose recordings apparently are rare as she refused HMV permission to reissue them on cheaper labels and who like Ida H fell foul of Walter Legge having an embarrassment of riches on the violinist roster .

Charity shop buy of her Mendelssohn and Brahms with the vintage early Philharmonia and Kletzki for £3 .

I am very taken with them - really superb playing that completely holds your attention and in the Brahms tugs at the heartstrings and yet again how wonderful is that early 1950s Philharmonia playing and Sidney Sutcliffe's oboe solo in the slow movement sends shivers down the spine .

Any other recommended recordings for this fine artist who died all too young at 54 and was rather neglected in later years ?

[pastoralguy]

Iirc, all her recordings are very highly rated. Her solo Bach records are well regarded amongst the cognoscenti.

[richardfinegold]

Iirc, all her recordings are very highly rated. Her solo Bach records are well regarded amongst the cognoscenti.

And ridiculously overpriced in some reissues

[verismissimo]

Her Mozart 4 - unequalled in my experience.

[umslopogaas]

Her mono Columbia LPs are the most expensive of all the 33CX series. My 2006 collectors price guide lists £500 for 33CX1359 Schubert Sonatinas 1 and 2, and £3500 for 33CX1286-8 Bach Violin Partitas and Sonatas. Needless to say I dont have them and dont recall ever seeing them for sale. No, actually I did once see one of the Bach in a secondhand shop, but it was badly damaged and I didnt buy it. Those prices are ten year ago, what they would fetch now I have no idea, but probably even more.

For the faithful ferreters in secondhand shops, those prices are for the first "blue and gold" labels, not the second "red semi" ones, but even the latter are highly desirable.

[Dave2002]

Johanna Martzy is one of a few violinists I explored a year or so back. Quite a number of her recordings are on Qobuz, including the Dvorak concerto with Fricsay which some rate as one of the best ever.

There was another very good violinist of a similar vintage whose work I also sampled - but I should have written her name down.

[umslopogaas]

Might have been Gioconda da Vito? Or possibly Ida Haendel early in her career?

[Dave2002]

Might have been Gioconda da Vito? Or possibly Ida Haendel early in her career?

I think neither of those. I'll rack my brain(s).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ginette Neveu?

[pastoralguy]

Ginette Neveu?

One of the very finest fiddle players ever. Her loss in a plane crash along with her brother was a tremendous loss to music. Her recording of the Sibelius and Brahms concertos are extremely fine.

Ida Haendel, in her autobiography, talks about her first encounter with Neveu whom she thought was bizarre - until she started to play! Haendel was not easily impressed but Neveu gave her a goal to aim for.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

One of the very finest fiddle players ever. Her loss in a plane crash along with her brother was a tremendous loss to music. Her recording of the Sibelius and Brahms concertos are extremely fine.

- couldn't agree more (without going into "R3 announcer" language to describe the Concerto recordings - for once, Music-making that exceeds hyperbole).

[mikealdren]

Her mono Columbia LPs are the most expensive of all the 33CX series. My 2006 collectors price guide lists £500 for 33CX1359 Schubert Sonatinas 1 and 2, and £3500 for 33CX1286-8 Bach Violin Partitas and Sonatas. Needless to say I dont have them and dont recall ever seeing them for sale. No, actually I did once see one of the Bach in a secondhand shop, but it was badly damaged and I didnt buy it. Those prices are ten year ago, what they would fetch now I have no idea, but probably even more.

For the faithful ferreters in secondhand shops, those prices are for the first "blue and gold" labels, not the second "red semi" ones, but even the latter are highly desirable.

I bought the Schubert disk 2nd hand many years ago from Gibbs' bookshop's 33p box but sadly it's in awful condition. The sleeve is fine!

Mike

[mikealdren]

Johanna Martzy is one of a few violinists I explored a year or so back. Quite a number of her recordings are on Qobuz, including the Dvorak concerto with Fricsay which some rate as one of the best ever.

There was another very good violinist of a similar vintage whose work I also sampled - but I should have written her name down.

Erica Morini perhaps although she was a bit older (as were da Vito and Neveu). Michèle Auclair was the closest contemporary and recorded a fair amount.

Other early 20th century options include: Anja Ignatius, Pina Carmirelli, Guila Bustabo, Elisabeth Gilels, Lola Bobesco all of whom were older and Wanda Wilkomirska, Nora Grumlikova, Suzanne Lautenbacher, Edith Peinnemann. Rosa Fain and Iona Brown who were/are younger.

[umslopogaas]

Mike, you could try selling it on ebay if its too rough to enjoy. There might be someone out there with a reasonable disc but tatty sleeve.

[Dave2002]

Erica Morini perhaps although she was a bit older (as were da Vito and Neveu). Michèle Auclair was the closest contemporary and recorded a fair amount.

Other early 20th century options include: Anja Ignatius, Pina Carmirelli, Guila Bustabo, Elisabeth Gilels, Lola Bobesco all of whom were older and Wanda Wilkomirska, Nora Grumlikova, Suzanne Lautenbacher, Edith Peinnemann. Rosa Fain and Iona Brown who were/are younger.

I think it was Erica Morini. The Wiki entry contains sentences which I recognise, and there are some of her recordings on Qobuz too.

Of the others you mention, I did hear Pina Carmirelli in her eponymous quartet (several times if I recall), and I think I heard Iona Brown once.