Credits:

Ruggiero Ricci

Description:

The first collection of recordings by the virtuoso violinist, who was also known as an authority on Paganini, is now available for the first time on a 20-CD set, the complete recordings of American violinist Ruggiero Ricci (1918-2012). The recordings were made between 1950 and 1974 and are divided into three major categories: violin and orchestra, solo violin, and violin and piano. 20-CD box set, original jacket, limited edition. Born in California to Italian immigrants, Ruggiero Ricci's talent blossomed early on, and he made his debut in the music world as a child prodigy. By the time of his first recording for Decca (Tchaikovsky's Concerto in 1950 under Sargent), he was already an experienced performer and recording artist, wowing Western audiences with his solo violin repertoire. He played not only Bach, but also Ysaye, Wieniawski, and almost all of Paganini's music, and in late 1950 he made the first complete recording of Paganini's 24 Caprices. The famous beautiful cantabile that Ricci plays in his concertos can be heard in the Paganini concerto with Anthony Collins and the Sibelius concerto with Eifin Fierster.Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto was recorded for the first time with Piero Gamba, another "child prodigy" (1957), and for the second time with Jean Fournet (1974). Many of the chamber music recordings (Sarasate albums, Weber sonatas, R. Strauss and Prokofiev, etc.) were made at Rich's home in New Jersey, not at Decca Studios. Three years earlier, three of Brahms' sonatas had been recorded with Katchen. These 1954 performances are included here for the first time. They were performed with Rich's first teacher, Louis Persinger, as well as with Friedrich Gulda and other well-known pianists. This set is the most complete tribute yet to the masterful fingering and superb artistry of Ruggiero Ricci, a true virtuoso. The booklet includes liner notes by Tully Potter from a conversation with Ricci himself, as well as extensive photographs of Ricci and other major conductors and pianists. Universal Music/IMS