ANDRÉ NAVARRA'S SUPRAPHON RECORDINGS

When at the age of 15 André Navarra (1911–1988) completed his studies at the Paris Conservatoire, he ceased taking lessons and set out on his own path, honing his skills on, among other pieces, Ševčík’s virtuoso violin etudes, which he himself arranged for the cello. He drew inspiration from the finest instrumentalists of his time. Victory in the prestigious competition in Vienna (1937) launched his international career as a soloist.

Following his debut at the Prague Spring festival in May 1951, he would pay numerous visits to the city – to appear at the festival, to perform opposite the Czech Philharmonic, as well as to record for Supraphon. The present CD pack is the first complete release of the 19 studio albums Navarra made for the label between 1953 and 1966, including some remarkable tracks that have not been previously issued digitally. His collaboration with Karel Ančerl and Josef Suk gave rise to the legendary recording of Brahms’s Double Concerto, with the accounts of pieces by Prokofiev, Bloch, Schumann and Respighi made with the Czech Philharmonic under Ančerl being just as impressive and engrossing. In addition to Josef Suk, Navarra worked with the superlative Czech pianists Alfred Holeček and František Maxián.

The Supraphon set includes six hours of sensitively remastered recordings, which bear witness to Navarra’s artistry, emotional poignancy and spontaneous musicianship; a real treat for those loving the enchanting cello timbres.