Pierre Fournier
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Biography
Acclaimed for the rich sounds that he drew from the cello, French classical musician Pierre Fournier ranked with Mstislav Rostropovich in the esteem of most critics as the finest cellists of the 20th century. Before he died at the age of 79 in 1986 he performed and recorded all the great romantic and Baroque masters but also introduced concertos and sonatas by composers such as Frank Martin, Bohuslav Martinu, Francis Poulenc, Albert Roussel and Jean Martinon.
During his career Fournier was nominated for four Grammy Awards including Best Classical Performance Concerto or Instrumental Soloist. He won for Best Chamber Music Performance for Brahms: Trios (Complete)/Schumann: Trio No. 1 in D Minor (1974) and Schubert: Trios Nos. 1 in B Flat, Op. 99 and 2 in E Flat, Op. 100 (Piano Trios) (1975).
Born in Paris (June 24, 1906) to a military family, his early study of the piano came to an end when a bout of polio caused him to lose agility in his feet and he decided to pick up the cello. He graduated from the Paris Conservatory at the age of 17 and spent the second half of the 1920s with the Krettly Quartet. He taught at the Ãcole Normale de Musique and the Paris Conservatoire from 1937 to 1949 and was criticised for performing on the Nazi controlled Radio-Paris during World War II. In the 1950s, he toured South America and in 1956 settled in Switzerland. He continued to tour internationally and gave a recital at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall when he was 78.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Suite for Cello Solo No.1 in G, BWV 1007: 4. Sarabande by Johann Sebastian Bach
- J.S. Bach: Suite for Cello Solo No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 - VII. Gigue
- Elfentanz, Op. 39 (Recorded 1959) featuring Pierre Fournier
- The Swan (Carnival of the Animals) featuring Pierre Fournier
- J.S. Bach: Suite For Cello Solo No.6 In D, BWV 1012 - 6. Gigue
- J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude
- Carnival Overture, op. 92 featuring James Levine
- Beethoven: Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56 - II. Largo featuring Geza Anda
- Beethoven: Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56 - I. Allegro featuring Geza Anda
- Beethoven: Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56 - III. Rondo alla Polacca featuring Geza Anda
- Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 - II. Lento - Allegro molto featuring Alfred Wallenstein
- Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 - I. Adagio - Moderato featuring Alfred Wallenstein
- Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69 - II. Scherzo - Allegro molto featuring Pierre Fournier
- 1. Moderato by Rudolf Baumgartner
- Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 - IV. Allegro featuring Alfred Wallenstein
- Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 - III. Adagio featuring Alfred Wallenstein
- Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69 - III. Adagio cantabile - Allegro vivace featuring Pierre Fournier
- 3. Finale by Rudolf Baumgartner
- 2. Adagio by Rudolf Baumgartner
- Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69 - I. Allegro ma non tanto featuring Pierre Fournier
- II. Allegretto con moto by Pierre Fournier
- Schumann: Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129: I. Nicht zu schnell
- III. Tempo primo by Pierre Fournier
- Dedication Announcement: Pierre Fournier
