"The word that comes to mind to describe Firkušný’s playing here is "fresh.” He is poised, rhythmically alert and completely to the point. There is something absolutely dewy about these clean-sounding performances and the ultra-efficient, tasteful manner in which Firkušný makes his points." - New York Times, 1958

This release concentrates on Rudolf Firkušný's 1950s recordings of Debussy, with performances of four major sets - the Deux Arabesques, the Suite Bergamasque, Children's Corner and Estampes, as well as excerpts from the Préludes and Images, all remarkably refreshed in this new Pristine XR remaster.

We also celebrate the 125th birthday of conductor Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, with a 20% reduction on all his recordings at Pristine.

“This radio machine is building up a new kind of community. The people are being united in the spirit of Beethoven and Brahms by listening in. A new harmony is brought into the world, not so harmonious otherwise." - Bruno Walter, March 1939

This week's release brings two more concerts from the spring of 1939 as Walter conducted broadcasts with the NBC Symphony Orchestra - with music by Beethoven, Corelli, Richard Strauss, possibly the only recording of a piece by Daniel Gregory Mason, and a full all-Berlioz concert concluding with his Symphonie fantastique.

We also celebrate the 105th birthday of violinist Ossy Renardy with a 15% discount on all his recordings at Pristine.

"Never have I heard better balance in a quartet on the gramophone, and the 'cello - that bête noir of the experts - has been recorded almost to perfection. The music, modern but free from eccentricity, is too simple to need explanation; musicianly and sincere throughout, it makes a deep impression."
- The Gramophone, Feb 1926, on the LSQ's Frank Bridge Idylls

This week we bring you one of the great "lost" ensembles, the London String Quartet, in a first volume of early electrical recordings made by Columbia. Hailed frequently in their time as the equals or betters of illustrious rivals such as the Budapest Quartet, here they can be heard in beautifully-rendered transfers of music by Schubert and Bridge.

We also celebrate the birthday of Stokowski with a 10% reduction on all his many recordings at Pristine.