TAPE 1
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Sonata No. 1 in F minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 80
Salvatore Accardo, Violin
Maria Grazia Bellocchio, Piano
Andante assai 7:30
Allegro brusco 7:37
Andante 8:06
Allegrissimo - Andante assai, come prima 8:07
Total Time 31:20
Conceived, recorded, and produced by Giulio Cesare Ricci
Recorded in the “Sala dell’Ermellino” Casa della Musica, Milan
Recording date: February 14th - 15th - 16th, 2020
Recording assistant: Paola Liberato
Valve microphones: Neumann U47, U48
Mike preamplifiers, cables (line, microphone, power supply): Signoricci
Photos by Paola Liberato
Mastered with the Ampex ATR 102 (Electronic Tube Ampex Model 351 - 1965) 2 tracks, 1/2" 30fps modified by David Manley.
Thanks to Micheli Associati for granting the "Sala dell'Ermellino" at Casa della Musica, Milan, for the recording of this album.
The recording collaboration with the great violinist Salvatore Accardo, which began 29 years ago, continues. In this project, Maestro Accardo plays with violinist Laura Gorna and pianist Maria Grazia Bellocchio. This album contains chamber music by Sergei Prokofiev where the violin is the protagonist: the Sonata in C major for 2 Violins, Op. 56, and the Sonata No. 1 in F minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 80. I recorded this album at the Sala dell'Ermellino - Casa della Musica in Milan in February 2020. For this prestigious recording, I used the legendary original Neumann U47 and U48 tube microphones.
I use pairs of Neumann tube microphones from 1947 and 1949, each with a very natural timbre, using two-microphone field-effect techniques. These microphones have a significant history: they were the original microphones used to record, among others, the Beatles' performances at Abbey Road Studio and by RCA for their "Living Stereo" recordings. The sound I capture with these legendary microphones is perfectly in line with my sonic taste. No other microphone has such a true timbre and the ability to capture all the nuances of sound and all the richness of the harmonics.
The uniqueness of these microphones lies in their ability to create a perfect "sound photograph" and place the music perfectly in the chosen sound space for recording. I mastered the vinyl using the Signoricci system, which is entirely analog and tube-based. A state-of-the-art system without any sound manipulation, equalization, reverb, compression, or expansion... but a natural sound with true timbre to best enhance the acoustics of the Sala dell'Ermellino. fonè has been offering recordings for nearly 40 years, crafted with technological sophistication and aimed at recovering the original musical atmosphere.
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. From this position, the sound has a field effect, and its depth, width, and height are highly appreciable. Great dynamics and great precision.
An album not to be missed!
Giulio Cesare Ricci
