Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ROSENTHAL
The complete
recordings
MORIZ ROSENTHAL
(1862 – 1946)
1 I Victor Talking Machine Company, Camden, New Jersey, USA 8 May 1928 (75.07)
1. ROSENTHAL Fantasy on themes from Johann Strauss matrices CVE-45018 and 45019; (7.29)
(Blue Danube, Joys of Life [Freut euch des Lebens] and Fledermaus) issued only on Electrola EJ329
2. CHOPIN Waltz in C sharp minor Op 64 No 2 matrix W500005B; Argentine Odeon 132552-A (3.59)
3. CHOPIN Mazurka in G major Op 67 No 1 matrix W500006A; Argentine Odeon 132552B (1.17)
4. CHOPIN Waltz in E minor Op posth " (3.03)
III Thomas A Edison Inc, West Orange, New Jersey, USA March & April 1929
5. CHOPIN Prelude in B minor Op 28 No 6 1 March 1929; lateral cut matrix N-754-A; unpublished (2.16)
6. CHOPIN Prelude in B major Op 28 No 11 " (0.33)
7. CHOPIN Prelude in A major Op 28 No 7 " (0.50)
8. CHOPIN Prelude in F major Op 28 No 23 " (0.52)
9. CHOPIN Prelude in B minor Op 28 No 6 1 March 1929; lateral cut matrix N-754-B; 47004-R (2.19)
10. CHOPIN Prelude in B major Op 28 No 11 " (0.32)
11. CHOPIN Prelude in A major Op 28 No 7 " (0.51)
12. CHOPIN Prelude in F major Op 28 No 23 " (0.49)
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The complete recordings
13. CHOPIN Mazurka in C sharp minor Op 63 No 3 2 March 1929; lateral cut matrix N-755-A; unpublished (1.55)
14. CHOPIN Mazurka in A flat major Op 24 No 3 " (1.18)
15. CHOPIN Mazurka in G major Op 67 No 1 " (1.17)
16. CHOPIN Mazurka in C sharp minor Op 63 No 3 2 March 1929; lateral cut matrix N-755-B; unpublished (1.55)
17. CHOPIN Mazurka in A flat major Op 24 No 3 " (1.17)
18. CHOPIN Mazurka in G major Op 67 No 1 " (1.13)
19. CHOPIN Waltz in A flat major Op 42 2 March 1929; lateral cut matrix N-756-A; unpublished (3.42)
20. CHOPIN Waltz in A flat major Op 42 2 March 1929; lateral cut matrix N-756-B; unpublished (3.43)
21. CHOPIN-LISZT-ROSENTHAL Chant polonais No 1 (The Maiden’s Wish) 2 March 1929; (4.42)
lateral cut matrix N-757-A; unpublished
22. CHOPIN-LISZT-ROSENTHAL Chant polonais No 1 (The Maiden’s Wish) 2 March 1929; (4.45)
lateral cut matrix N-757-B; unpublished
23. CHOPIN Nouvelle étude No 3 in A flat major 8 April 1929; lateral cut matrix N-838-B; Edison 47004-L (2.15)
24. CHOPIN Étude in C major Op 10 No 1 " (1.58)
25. CHOPIN Prelude in B minor Op 28 No 6 8 April 1929; lateral cut matrix N-842-A; unpublished (2.15)
26. CHOPIN Prelude in A major Op 28 No 7 " (0.52)
27. CHOPIN Étude in G flat major Op 10 No 5 (Black Keys) " (1.35)
28. CHOPIN Prelude in B minor Op 28 No 6 8 April 1929; lateral cut matrix N-842-B; unpublished (2.16)
29. CHOPIN Prelude in A major Op 28 No 7 " (0.53)
30. CHOPIN Étude in G flat major Op 10 No 5 (Black Keys) " (1.34)
31. CHOPIN Nocturne in E flat major Op 9 No 2 8 April 1929; lateral cut matrix N-843-A; unpublished (4.33)
32. CHOPIN Nocturne in E flat major Op 9 No 2 8 April 1929; lateral cut matrix N-843-B; unpublished (4.32)
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2 IV Lindström group (Odeon and Parlophone), Berlin 1929, 1930 & 1931 (73.31)
1. CHOPIN-LISZT Chant polonais No 5 (My Joys) 29 May 1929; matrix XXB8347; French Odeon 171107 (4.17)
2. CHOPIN Mazurka in B flat minor Op 24 No 4 29 May 1929; matrix XXB8349; French Odeon 171107 (3.50)
3. CHOPIN Berceuse in D flat major Op 57 1 June 1929; matrix XXB8350; Spanish Odeon 173164 (4.01)
4. CHOPIN Waltz in C sharp minor Op 64 No 2 29 May 1929; matrix 21457; Japanese Parlophone E17021; (3.52)
also on Japanese Columbia J8425
5. CHOPIN Prelude in C minor Op 28 No 20 29 May 1929; matrix 21465; Japanese Parlophone E17021 (1.21)
6. CHOPIN Prelude in C major Op 28 No 1 " (0.33)
7. CHOPIN Prelude in G major Op 28 No 3 " (0.55)
8. CHOPIN Prelude in E flat major Op 28 No 19 " (1.17)
9. CHOPIN Waltz in C sharp minor Op 64 No 2 28 April 1930; matrix 21692; German Parlophone P9520 (3.41)
10. CHOPIN Waltz in E minor Op posth 28 April 1930; matrix 21693; German Parlophone P9520 (2.52)
11. ROSENTHAL Papillons 3 May 1930; matrix 21704; French Parlophone 59521 (2.14)
12. CHOPIN Mazurka in C sharp minor Op 63 No 3 " (1.35)
13. CHOPIN Étude in G flat major Op 10 No 5 3 March 1931; matrix 21783; German Parlophone P9570 (1.40)
14. CHOPIN Mazurka in C sharp minor Op 63 No 3 " (1.54)
15. CHOPIN Mazurka in C sharp minor Op 63 No 3 3 March 1931; matrix 21783 take 2; (1.56)
issued only on U.S. Decca 25268
16. CHOPIN Étude in G flat major Op 10 No 5 (Black Keys) " (1.35)
17. CHOPIN Étude in C major Op 10 No 1 March 1931; matrix 21784; German Parlophone P9570 (2.02)
18. CHOPIN Mazurka in G major Op 67 No 1 " (1.18)
19. DEBUSSY Reflets dans l’eau (from Images Book I) 29 May 1929; matrix 21460; French Parlophone F57063 (4.08)
20. DEBUSSY Reflets dans l’eau 29 May 1929; matrix 21460 take 2; English Parlophone E11145 (4.10)
21. ALBÉNIZ Triana (from Iberia Book 2) 29 May 1929; matrix 21461; French Parlophone 57063 (4.09)
22. LIADOV A Musical Snuffbox Op 32 3 May 1930; matrix 21705; French Parlophone 59523 (2.32)
23. LIADOV Prelude in B flat major Op 46 No 1 " (0.56)
24. ROSENTHAL Carnaval de Vienne 3 May 1930; matrices 21706 and 21707-2; German Parlophone P9542 (7.07)
(Humoresque on Themes of Johann Strauss)
25. ROSENTHAL Fantasy on themes from Johann Strauss 6 March 1931; matrices 21785 and 21786; (7.35)
(Blue Danube, Joys of Life [Freut euch des Lebens] and Fledermaus) German Parlophone P9562
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3 IV Lindström group (Odeon and Parlophone), Berlin continued 1930 & 1931 (78.27)
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor Op 11 26 November 1930; matrices 38839 and 38840; & (32.55)
1. Allegro maestoso 2 March 1931; matrices 133019, 133020, 133021, 133026; German Parlophone B12451, 12452, 12453 (16.12)
2. Romanza: Larghetto 26 November 1930; matrices 21695 and 21696; German Parlophone P9558 (8.10)
3. Rondo: Vivace 1 May 1930; matrices 21697 and 21698; German Parlophone P9559 (8.06)
with BERLIN STATE OPERA ORCHESTRA/FRIEDER WEISSMANN
4. LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 (with Rosenthal cadenza) matrices 30473 and 30474; F486 (7.41)
5. LISZT Liebestraum No 3 in A flat major matrix 30476; F469 (3.53)
6. CHOPIN Berceuse in D flat major Op 57 matrix 30475; F469 (3.57)
VI Gramophone Company Ltd, No 3 Studio, Abbey Road, London 1934 & 1935
7. ROSENTHAL New Carnaval de Vienne (on themes from Johann Strauss) 9 February 1934; (8.03)
matrices 2B6004-1 and 6005-2; unpublished on 78rpm
8. CHOPIN-LISZT-ROSENTHAL Chant polonais No 1 (The Maiden’s Wish) 9 February 1934; (4.40)
matrix 2B6006-1; unpublished on 78rpm
9. CHOPIN Waltz in A flat major Op 42 9 February 1934; matrix 2B6007-2; unpublished on 78rpm (3.47)
10. CHOPIN Nocturne in E flat major Op 9 No 2 29 March 1935; matrix 2EA1359-1; unpublished on 78rpm (4.21)
11. CHOPIN Étude in F minor Op 25 No 2 31 March 1935; matrix 2EA1365-1; unpublished on 78rpm (1.38)
12. CHOPIN Nouvelle étude No 3 in A flat major " (2.14)
13. CHOPIN Mazurka in A flat major Op 50 No 2 31 March 1935; matrix 0EA1366-1; unpublished on 78rpm (3.01)
14. CHOPIN Étude in G flat major Op 10 No 5 31 March 1935; matrix 0EA1369-1; unpublished on 78rpm (1.37)
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4 VI Gramophone Company Ltd, No 3 Studio, Abbey Road, London continued 1935–1937 (67.24)
1. CHOPIN Waltz in A flat major Op 42 21 November 1935; matrix 2EA2561-1; HMV DB2772 (3.48)
2. CHOPIN Prelude in B minor Op 28 No 6 21 November 1935; matrix 2EA2562-2; HMV DB2772 (2.07)
3. CHOPIN Prelude in G major Op 28 No 3 " (1.04)
4. CHOPIN Prelude in A major Op 28 No 7 " (0.51)
5. CHOPIN Mazurka in A flat major Op 50 No 2 21 November 1935; matrix 2EA2566-1; (2.55)
issued briefly on Victor 14304
6. CHOPIN Mazurka in G major Op 67 No 1 " (1.20)
7. CHOPIN Mazurka in B minor Op 33 No 4 23 November 1935; matrix 2EA2567-1; HMV DB2773 (4.29)
8. CHOPIN Waltz in C sharp minor Op 64 No 2 22 May 1936; matrix 2EA2565-4; issued only on Victor 14299 (3.46)
9. CHOPIN Nocturne in E flat major Op 9 No 2 22 May 1936; matrix 2EA3640-4; issued only on Victor 14297 (4.10)
10. CHOPIN Nocturne in D flat major Op 27 No 2 22 May 1936; matrix 2EA3641-5; issued only on Victor 14297 (4.56)
11. CHOPIN-LISZT-ROSENTHAL Chant polonais No 1 (The Maiden’s Wish) 22 May 1936; matrix 2EA3646-1; (4.35)
issued only on Victor 14300
12. CHOPIN Mazurka in A flat major Op 50 No 2 25 May 1936; matrix 2EA2566-3; HMV DB2773 (3.22)
13. CHOPIN Mazurka in D major Op 33 No 2 22 October 1937; matrix 0EA5504-2; issued only on Victor 1951 (2.29)
14. CHOPIN Mazurka in B major Op 63 No 1 22 October 1937; matrix 0EA5505-2; issued only on Victor 1951 (2.15)
15. CHOPIN Mazurka in G major Op 67 No 1 22 October 1937; matrix 0EA5506-1; unpublished on 78rpm (1.17)
16. CHOPIN Mazurka in A flat major Op 24 No 3 " (1.28)
17. CHOPIN Prelude in F sharp major Op 28 No 13 23 October 1937; matrix 0EA5507-1; (3.26)
unpublished on 78rpm
18. SCHUBERT Moment musical No 3 in F minor D780 22 October 1937; matrix 0EA3645-2; (1.57)
unpublished on 78rpm
19. SCHUBERT-LISZT Soirée de Vienne No 6 (Valse-Caprice in A) 25 May 1936; (5.04)
matrices 0EA3647-1 and 3648-1; issued only on Victor 1854
20. ROSENTHAL Papillons 23 October 1937; matrix 0EA3644-3; unpublished on 78rpm (2.19)
21. ROSENTHAL New Carnaval de Vienne (on themes from Johann Strauss) 23 November 1935; (8.08)
matrices 2EA2568-1 and 2569-1; HMV DB2836
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5 VII RCA Victor, Camden, New Jersey, USA June 1939 & March 1942 (71.29)
1. HANDEL Air and Variations in E ‘The Harmonious Blacksmith’ 23 June 1939; matrix CS-040200-1A; (4.37)
unpublished on 78rpm
CHOPIN Piano Sonata No 3 in B minor Op 58 26 June 1939; unpublished on 78rpm (25.43)
2. Allegro maestoso matrices CS-040220-1 and 040221-1 (8.48)
3. Scherzo: Molto vivace matrix CS-040205-1 (2.41)
4. Largo matrices CS-040211-1 and 040212-1 (9.10)
5. Finale: Presto non tanto matrix CS-040214-1 (5.04)
6. Scherzo: Molto vivace alternative matrix CS-040205-2 (2.40)
7. Finale: Presto non tanto alternative version recorded on 2 sides; matrices CS-040215-1 and 040216-2 (5.06)
8. CHOPIN-LISZT Chant polonais No 5 (My Joys) 18 March 1942; matrix CS-073452-1; unpublished on 78rpm (4.21)
9. CHOPIN Tarantelle in A flat major Op 43 18 March 1942; matrix CS-073453-3; unpublished on 78rpm (3.13)
10. CHOPIN Piano Sonata No 3 in B minor Op 58 Largo (incomplete) off air recording of (5.33)
live broadcast
7
T
HERE ARE PIANISTS who have talent and father was a professor of mathematics who
technique and little intellect, pianists that spoke fluent French and also wrote a book on
have a great deal of intellect and little German grammar that was adopted by the
technique, but there are very few who possess Austrian Ministry of Education. Young Moriz
both in equal measure. In the second half of the grew up in an atmosphere of intelligent debate
twentieth century the ‘intellectual’ pianist often and learned, healthy argument. It was not, how-
presented the Urtext edition and a ‘serious’ ever, a musical household, but Rosenthal’s father
programme that ‘served’ the composer. Every purchased a piano when his son was seven years
note was offered just as the composer intended, old and arranged for a local teacher, Wenzel
nothing added, nothing taken away; or so it Galath, to give him lessons. The boy’s progress
was thought. The pianist repressed his own was so fast that it was not long before Galath
personality in deference to a greater mind. declared he could teach him nothing more. It was
During the first half of the twentieth century the decided that Moriz should study with the famous
personality of the performer was still paramount, pupil of Chopin, Karol Mikuli (1819 –1897), at that
but this was often because the strength of time Director of the Lemberg Conservatory.
that personality was able to communicate the Between the ages of ten and twelve, Rosenthal
meaning of the music to the audience rather than had two lessons a week from Mikuli who taught
come between it and them (often the perception him ‘the secret of a perfect legato’.
today). The intellect of the artist was founded on In 1875, Rosenthal’s father took him to
a background of European culture that fostered Vienna for two months to continue his studies
knowledge and learning, and it was this know- with Rafael Joseffy (1852–1915), a pupil of
ledge and learning that formed the foundation of Tausig and Liszt. Unfortunately, Joseffy was
the interpretation. At the age of twenty, the soon- about to leave for a concert tour, so he initially
to-be-celebrated Paderewski decided to study entrusted the boy to Joseph Dachs (1825 –1896),
Latin, mathematics, history and Polish literature, a pupil of Czerny. In August, Moriz was awarded
while the subject of this essay, Moriz Rosenthal, a three-year stipend by the Galician parliament
interrupted a successful performing career at and, because the boy was only thirteen, his
the age of eighteen to attend the University of father secured a job at a Viennese life insurance
Vienna where, for five years, he studied company and opened a private teaching institute
philosophy and aesthetics. Both understood that so that the whole Rosenthal family could move to
without a comprehensive background of know- Vienna. Joseffy returned to Vienna in October
ledge they would be just regular piano players and soon Moriz made his debut playing Chopin’s
and not musical artists. Piano Concerto in F minor Op 21 (with Joseffy at
Moriz Rosenthal was born in 1862 in what the second piano), Beethoven’s Variations in C
was then Lemberg, in the Kingdom of Galicia, minor, some solo Chopin, and Liszt’s La
part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (with the Campanella.
re-establishment of a Polish state it became Tours of Poland and Romania followed, with
Lwów, it is now L’viv, part of the Ukraine). His the now fourteen-year-old Rosenthal being
8
appointed Court Pianist to the Royal Family of young caused a sensation. At this time, he also
Romania. At this time, Franz Liszt heard him made friends with the greatest musicians of the
play and immediately accepted the boy as a time including Johann Strauss, Saint-Saëns,
pupil. Rosenthal was fortunate that while Tchaikovsky, Brahms and, particularly, Anton
studying with Liszt in Rome and Weimar (from Rubinstein with whom he often travelled.
1876 to 1878 and again from 1884 to 1886) he was At the end of 1888, Rosenthal undertook his
sometimes the only student, receiving Liszt’s first tour of America giving more than a hundred
sole attention. Further concerts took place in concerts. He astounded audiences throughout
Paris, St Petersburg and Warsaw but it was the country and returned many times. It was
during this period, at the age of eighteen, that not until 1895, at the age of thirty-two, that
Rosenthal decided to enrol at university to study Rosenthal gave his debut in London, playing
for a period of five years. Liszt’s Piano Concerto in E flat. ‘The tone he
When he returned to the concert stage in produced was simply prodigious, yet it must be
Vienna in 1886, the combination of stupendous admitted that it seldom or never degenerated
technique and deep musical insight in one so into mere noise’, wrote one critic. Rosenthal also
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A Note On the Recordings
BY WARD MARSTON
This five-CD set contains all of Moriz Rosenthal’s
known recordings, including three recently
discovered sides and one previously unknown
alternative take. Over the years of Rosenthal’s
recording career, he made records for no fewer
than six companies: US Victor; Thomas A Edison
Inc; Lindström group (Odeon & Parlophone);
Ultraphon; and EMI. Since the recordings of each
company have distinctive sonic characteristics,
we have decided to present them by record label
in more or less chronological sequence, diverging
only occasionally for the sake of musical con-
tinuity. Because of the extreme differences in
sound quality, a few words about the recordings
and the challenges of remastering them may help
the listener to understand why they sound as
they do.
Many of the records presented here are
exemplary for their sonic presence and their
ability to capture both the grandeur and delicacy
of Rosenthal’s artistry. The 1928 Victor recording
of his ‘Blue Danube’ Waltz Paraphrase is one of
the finest-sounding records on this set. One can
only wish that he had made additional recordings
on that occasion. The present transfer was made
from quiet vinyl discs pressed from the original
metal masters, permitting us to hear this marvel-
lous performance in the best possible sound.
The most difficult records to listen to in this
set are the Edison recordings (CD 1, tracks 5–32),
where one is bombarded by a virtual wall of
surface noise, at times almost obliterating
Rosenthal’s softer playing. The primary reason
for this is that the recordings were cut at such a
low level that the noise masks the sound of the
piano. One must understand that Edison was the
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last major record company to switch from The second group of recordings requiring our
acoustic to electric recording. By 1927, electrical attention is the series of discs made by the
recording had become the industry standard but Lindström Company and issued on either the
it wasn’t until mid-1928 that the Edison Company Odeon or Parlophone labels in Germany, France,
finally developed and began using its own Spain, England, and Japan. His first published
electrical recording system. The company also recordings for Lindström were two sides cut
decided to switch from its tried and true vertical- in New York City, at the studio of the Okeh
cut disc to the lateral system, which was used by Company, which was affiliated with the
all other major record companies. In the spring Lindström group. The existence of these sides
of 1929, when Moriz Rosenthal visited Edison’s was unknown until a few years ago when they
New York City recording studio, the engineers were discovered on a 12-inch Argentinian Odeon
were still ironing out the kinks in their new disc, now in the private collection of Jon M
system. During his four sessions in March and Samuels. The Okeh label specialized in popular
April, seven sides were cut, two of them being music, and we can only speculate as to the
issued on opposite sides of one 12-inch lateral- circumstances surrounding the making of these
cut disc. The same recordings were issued also Rosenthal recordings. They were made in a small
as a 10-inch vertical-cut disc. These records were studio suited for popular music, but the sound of
in print only for a matter of months, since the the piano is quite acceptable. The only flaw in
Edison Company went out of business later that these recordings is a severe pitch flutter, which
year. We are fortunate that shellac test pressings thankfully we have been able to remediate by
of all seven sides are preserved at the Thomas using recently developed pitch stabilization
Edison National Historical Park, and for six of technology.
the sides, there exist second takes. With today’s Rosenthal’s next group of Lindström record-
digital technology, some of the noise on these ings was made in Berlin in 1929. Like many other
discs can be suppressed. But the enhancement Lindström recordings of the period, these discs
of noise reduction comes with the risk of all suffer from a complete lack of bass frequen-
compromising the sound of the piano, thereby cies, giving the piano a thin and hollow sound. On
degrading the performance. In this regard, I feel the positive side, the sound level is much higher
that a light hand on the controls is the wisest than on Edison’s discs and consequently, the piano
course. In remastering these Edison recordings, emerges with greater clarity. Having listened to
a judicious amount of noise reduction has been many Lindström recordings from the late 1920s
applied, with careful attention given to the and early 1930s, I have heard some examples
preservation of piano tone and attack. Many will with full bass, and others with none at all. I can
still find the surface noise too obtrusive for easy only conjecture that the company was experi-
enjoyment, but listening beyond the noise, one menting with two, and perhaps three, different
can hear truly astounding performances, in recording systems. Rosenthal’s 1930 Lindström
particular, the two Chopin etudes (CD 1, tracks discs exhibit somewhat more bass but still have
23 and 24). that characteristic Lindström sound. Chopin’s
17
E minor Concerto, recorded on six 10-inch and had to be taken from APR’s previous issue since
four 12-inch sides, is quite scarce on original 78s the original masters are no longer available.
and justifiably coveted by collectors. As I These recordings are flawed by a noticeable
remastered this recording, I marvelled at so electronic hum at about 180 Hz and detectable
many lovely details of Rosenthal’s playing, and pitch wow which might be the cause for them
yet, it is a sonically disappointing recording. The being rejected. In the present transfers, these
first movement exhibits plenty of bass, although defects have been substantially attenuated.
the piano is somewhat too remote. In the second Remastering the remainder of the EMI record-
movement, the bass is cut, and in the final move- ings was an absolute delight, as I had at hand
ment, not only is there no bass, but the perspec- several mint condition copies of each disc.
tive of the piano completely changes, and the Rosenthal’s Victor discs from 1939 and 1942
recording becomes harsh and shrill. I thought were unpublished as 78rpm discs but were
that by adding some artificial reverberation, the briefly available on a 1957 LP. I have remastered
sound might be improved, but ultimately, I these recordings from mint vinyl test pressings.
decided against it. These discs were recorded in what sounds like
Rosenthal’s EMI recordings, all made at a small room, and Rosenthal sounds decidedly
Abbey Road Studio 3, were a joy to remaster. His uncomfortable in this confined space. His playing
first EMI session took place in 1934, yielding four is much stiffer than on the 1937 EMI recordings.
sides, none of which was published at the time. Yet at times, we can still here a glimmer of his
Shellac test pressings of these sides were former greatness. He tosses off Handel’s
preserved and are held by the Historic Sound ‘Harmonious Blacksmith’ with ease, and there
Recordings Archive at Yale University. The are a few exquisite moments in Chopin’s B minor
present remastering is taken from recently made Sonata. Alternative takes of the 2nd and 4th
excellent transfers of the original pressings. The movements are issued here for the first time.
March 1935 sessions, also unpublished on 78rpm, © 2012 Ward Marston
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Producer, restoration & remastering: Ward Marston
Audio assistance: J Richard Harris, Andrew Rose, and Aaron Z Snyder
With thanks to Gregor Benko, Bryan Crimp, Raymond J Edwards
and the International Piano Archives at University of Maryland
Special thanks to Donald Manildi for his discographic assistance
Executive Producer: Michael Spring
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APR 7503