Product Overview
Jeanne Demessieux - Jeanne Demessieux - The Decca Legacy (CD BOX SET) From her legendary debut through the succeeding years, Jeanne Demessieuxbrought virtuosity allied to intellect and sensitivity, and went on to become the glory of the French organ school. This 8-CD celebration of one of the instrument's most spoken-of, yet enigmatic figures, brings together for the first time her complete Decca recordings and a previously unpublished BBC Radio broadcast, and is released to mark the centenary of her birth. It includes Demessieux'slegendary Franck recordings; her recordings from St. Mark's, North Audley Street, London, many released for the first time since the original 78s; little-known recordings of sacred songs with Demessieuxaccompanying the Belgian soprano, Suzanne Danco; and an improvisation on a submitted theme from the only extant BBC radio broadcast with Demessieux, which also includes Bach, Buxtehude, Widorand Messiaen. All recordings have been carefully remastered by Mark Obert-Thorn and Chris Bernauer. The accompanying booklet includes details of Demessieux'sunpublished recordings, rare photos and facsimiles of some of her programs, extensive notes, including details of some of the recording sessions; and notes on the instruments and full specifications for each of the five organs. "This young French player has an amazing technique and uses a considerable variety of touch" Gramophone, October 1947 (Bach, BWV 565 1947 recording) "This really is that very rare thing, organ playing with imagination Without pretending to authority, I feel that I had stepped into Westminster Abbey in Purcell's time I might have heard organ playing which sounded like this" Gramophone, September 1948(Clarke, attr. Purcell) " a deep dream of peace to soothe a tortured world Miss Demessieuxgives a most restrained and finely-phrased performance" Gramophone, August 1950 (Franck: Cantabile 1949 recording)
