VIDEO PODCAST: Slava Ukraini! - recorded on the day Europe woke up to the news that Vladimir Putin's Russian forces had invaded Ukraine. Also features Caitríona O'Leary and Eric Fraad discussing their new film Island of Saints, and pays tribute to Joseph Horovitz, Malcolm Troup and Maria Nockin.
25 YEARS: Classical Music Daily celebrates twenty-five years of daily publication with an hour-long video featuring some of our regular contributors.
French cellist Pierre Fournier was born in Paris on 24 June 1906. He studied with Odette Krettly, André Hekking and Paul Bazelaire, and graduated at seventeen from the Paris Conservatoire. His talents began to be noticed when he played with the Concerts Colonne Orchestra, and he began touring Europe. His recordings include the Bach cello suites, the Beethoven cello sonatas and the Elgar cello concerto. Martinu's Cello Concerto No 1 and Poulenc's Cello Sonata were both dedicated to Pierre Fournier.
Fournier taught in Paris at the Ecole Normale de Musique and at the Conservatoire. He later moved to Swizerland and taught privately in Geneva, where his pupils included Julian Lloyd Webber. He died in Geneva on 8 January 1986, aged seventy-nine.
CD Spotlight. Much Playfulness - Beethoven cello sonatas and variations, heard by Robert Anderson. 'Fournier and Gulda give Handel a rousing send-off ...'
CD Spotlight. A Skilful Balance - The Icicle Creek Piano Trio, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... rhythmically brisk, considered performances ...'