TAPE 1
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano in A major, Op. 12/2 *
Salvatore Accardo, Violin
Stefania Redaelli, Piano
Allegro vivace 7'34"
Andante più tosto, Allegretto 6'09"
Allegro piacevole 5'50"
Total Time 19'35"
Conceived, recorded, and produced by Giulio Cesare Ricci
Recorded in the “Sala dell’Ermellino” Casa della Musica, Milan
Recording date: November 10, 2019 *
Recording date: November 23 - 24, 2019 ***
Recording date: February 10, 2020 **
Recording assistant: Paola Liberato
Valve microphones: Neumann U47, U48
Mike preamplifiers, cables (line, microphone, power supply): Signoricci
Photos by Andrea Micheli
The master was made with the Ampex ATR 102 (Electronic Tube Ampex Model 351 - 1965) 2-track, 1/2" 30fps, modified by David Manley.
Thanks to Micheli Associati for allowing the "Sala dell'Ermellino" at Casa della Musica, Milan, for the recording of this album.
The recording collaboration with the great violinist Salvatore Accardo, begun 30 years ago, continues.
In this project, Maestro Accardo masterfully interprets Ludwig van Beethoven's Sonatas for Violin and Piano Nos. 2, 3, and 4 with three different pianists: Sonata No. 2 with Stefania Redaelli, Sonata No. 3 with Maria Grazia Bellocchio, and Sonata No. 4 with Laura Manzini.
I recorded this album in the Sala dell'Ermellino - Casa della Musica in Milan on three different occasions: on November 10th 2019, Sonata No. 2, on February 10, 2020, Sonata No. 3, and on November 23-24, 2019, Sonata No. 4.
For this recording, I brought all my equipment, both analog (Ampex ATR 102 Electronic Tube Ampex Model 351-1965, 2-track, 1/2-inch, 30fps modified by David Manley) and digital (Pyramix Recorder, dCS A/D and D/A converters).
I used the legendary original Neumann U47 and U48 tube microphones from 1947 and 1949, which produced a very natural sound using field-effect bi-microphone techniques.
These microphones have a significant history: they are the original microphones used to record, among others, the Beatles' performances at Abbey Road Studio and by RCA for the "Living Stereo" recordings.
The sound I capture with these legendary microphones It's perfectly in line with my sonic tastes.
No other microphone has such a true timbre and the ability to capture all the nuances of sound and all the richness of harmonics.
The uniqueness of these microphones lies in their ability to create a perfect "sound photograph" and place the music perfectly in the chosen recording space.
A cutting-edge system with no sound manipulation, no equalization, no reverb, no compression and expansion... but a natural sound and true timbre to best enhance the acoustics of the Sala dell'Ermellino.
For 40 years, fonè has been offering recordings crafted with 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's as if the listener were sitting in an armchair positioned in the ideal spot in the Sala dell'Ermellino; in this position, the sound has a field effect and its depth, width, and The heights are highly appreciated.
Great dynamics and great precision.
Giulio Cesare Ricci
