In her heyday the Italian-British soloist Gioconda de Vito was regarded as Europe’s foremost violinist. The Documents label releases a 10-CD box set, the first to document all of her recorded work. Highlights show her playing with Yehudi Menuhin while the icing on the cake is her recording of the Brahms Concerto under Furtwangler.
When Gioconda de Vito (1907-1994) left the stage for ever after a concert in Basel in 1961, she was regarded as the best violinist in Europe. For Yehudi Menuhin, she was a respected and equal partner, David Oistrakh had invited her to sit on the jury of the first Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow, and Furtwangler spoke of her only with the utmost appreciation. He also accompanied her on the piano, when she – a strict Catholic – performed in Castel Gandolfo in 1953 at the request of Pope Pius XII and later also at the Vatican. But at the age of 54, at the height of her fame, she ended her career because she thought she could no longer fulfil her self-imposed and very high standards of quality. That is why her radio and studio recordings are relatively few in number. Bach, Beethoven and, above all, Brahms, were central to her efforts, but she was also devoted to chamber music. All of her recorded works, including those with Menuhin and Furtwangler, are included on these ten CDs. They are mostly played on the famous “Tuscan” Stradivarius from 1690, which the Italian state had made available to her, and on a Gagliano from 1762. Thus, Gioconda de Vito will be remembered the way an English critic described her after a Mozart concerto with Rafael Kubelik: “(She) played in a way that you rarely hear in life … the slow movement … was almost heavenly.”
CD1
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR, OP. 61
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, D-Dur, op. 61
1. 1. Allegro ma non troppo 25:36
2. 2. Larghetto 10:44
3. 3. Rondo: Allegro 9:34
Gioconda de Vito violin
RIAS Symphonie-Orchester
conductor / Dirigent Georg Ludwig Jochum
recorded /aufgenommen 1954, live
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809–1847)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR, OP. 64
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, e-Moll, op. 64
4. 1. Allegro molto appassionato 12:40
5. 2. Andante 9:15
6. 3. Allegretto non troppo. Allegro molto vivace 6:51
Gioconda de Vito violin
London Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Sir Malcolm Sargent
recorded /aufgenommen 1951
Total Time 74:47
CD2
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR, OP. 77
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, D-Dur, op. 77
1. 1. Allegro non troppo 22:52
2. 2. Adagio 9:47
3. 3. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace 8:03
Gioconda de Vito violin
Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI
conductor / Dirigent Wilhelm Furtwängler
recorded /aufgenommen 1952, live
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO NO. 9 IN A MAJOR, OP. 47
Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 9, A-Dur, op. 47, „Kreutzer“
4. 1. Adagio sostenuto. Presto 11:34
5. 2. Andante con variazioni 14:11
6. 3. Finale: Presto 9:03
Gioconda de Vito violin
Tito Aprea piano
recorded /aufgenommen 1955
Total Time 75:35
CD3
Pjotr I. Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR, OP. 35
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, D-Dur, op. 35
1. 1. Allegro moderato. Moderato assai 18:45
2. 2. Canzonetta. Andante – attacca subito 6:36
3. 3. Finale: Allegro vivacissimo 10:55
Gioconda de Vito violin
Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI
conductor / Dirigent Mario Rossi
recorded /aufgenommen 1954
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
VIOLION CONCERTO IN D MAJOR, OP. 77
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, D-Dur, op. 77
4. 1. Allegro non troppo 23:02
5. 2. Adagio 9:52
6. 3. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace 8:22
Gioconda de Vito violin
Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
conductor / Dirigent Eugen Jochum
recorded /aufgenommen 1956
Total Time 77:38
CD4
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO NO. 1 IN G MINOR, OP. 78
Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 1, g-Moll, op. 78
1. 1. Vivace man non troppo 10:40
2. 2. Adagio 8:14
3. 3. Allegro molto moderato 9:07
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO NO. 2 IN A MAJOR, OP. 100
Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 2, A-Dur, op. 100
4. 1. Allegro amabile 8:20
5. 2. Andante tranquillo – Vivace – Andante – 7:02
Vivace di più – Andante vivace
6. 3. Allegretto grazioso (quasi andante) 5:06
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO NO. 3 IN D MINOR, OP. 108
Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 3, d-Moll, op. 108
7. 1. Allegro 7:45
8. 2. Adagio 5:03
9. 3. Un poco presto e con sentiment 3:01
10. 4. Presto agitato 6:01
Gioconda de Vito violin Edwin Fischer piano (1-3, 7-10) Tito Aprea piano (4-6)
recorded /aufgenommen 1954 (1-3, 7-10), 1956 (4-6)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
11. ROMANCE NO. 2 IN F MAJOR, OP. 50 / Romanze Nr. 2, F-Dur, op. 50 9:10
Gioconda de Vito violin Philharmonia Orchestra conductor
Dirigent Alberto Erede, recorded /aufgenommen 1948
Total Time 79:42
CD5
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
DOUBLE CONCERTO IN A MINOR, OP. 102
Konzert für Violine und Violoncello, a-Moll, op. 102
1. 1. Allegro non troppo 16:40
2. 2. Andante 8:34
3. 3. Vivace non troppo. Poco meno allegro 8:41
Gioconda de Vito violin
Amedeo Baldovino cello
Philharmonia Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Rudolf Schwarz
recorded /aufgenommen 1952
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
SONATA FOR VIOLIN SOLO IN A MINOR / a-Moll NO. 2, BWV 1003
4. 1. Grave 5:45
5. 2. Fuga 8:21
6. 3. Andante 4:47
7. 4. Allegro 4:53
Gioconda de Vito violin
recorded /aufgenommen 1959
Total Time 57:48
CD6
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 3 IN G MAJOR, K 216
Konzert für Violine und Orchester Nr. 3, G-Dur, KV 216
1. 1. Allegro 10:30
2. 2. Adagio 9:55
3. 3. Allegro 6:34
Gioconda de Vito violin Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Rafael Kubelik recorded /aufgenommen 1959
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759)
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO IN D MAJOR NO. 4, HWV 371
Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 4, D-Dur, HWV 371
4. 1. Affettuoso 4:11
5. 2. Allegro 2:58
6. 3. Larghetto 3:42
7. 4. Allegro 2:15
Gioconda de Vito violin Tullio Macoggi piano
recorded /aufgenommen 1959
SONATA FOR TWO VIOLINS & CONTINUO OP. 5 NO. 2
Sonate für zwei Violinen und Continuo, op. 5 Nr. 2
8. 1. Adagio 1:16
9. 2. Allegro 1:56
10. 3. Minuetto 1:12
11. 4. Allegro 2:00
12. 5. Minuetto 1:12
13. 6. Gavotte 0:40
14. 7. March 1:47
Gioconda de Vito & Yehudi Menuhin violin George Malcolm harpsichord/ Cembalo
recorded /aufgenommen 1953
SONATA IN G MINOR, OP. 2 NO. 8 FOR TWO VIOLINS & CONTINUO
Sonate für zwei Violinen und Continuo, g-Moll, op. 2 Nr. 8
15. 1. Andante 5:10
16. 2. Allegro 2:23
17. 3. Largo 3:47
18. 4. Allegro 3:12
Henry Purcell (1659–1695)
SONATA IN F MAJOR FOR TWO VIOLINS & CONTINUO
Sonate für zwei Violinen und Continuo, F-Dur
19. 1. Allegro 1:58
20. 2. Adagio 2:28
21. 3. Canzona 2:01
22. 4. Grave 1:40
23. 5. Allegro 1:26
Gioconda de Vito & Yehudi Menuhin violin
Raymond Leppard harpsichord/ Cembalo
John Shinbourne cello
recorded /aufgenommen 1955 (15-23)
Total Time 74:35
CD7
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MAJOR, BWV 1042
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, E-Dur, BWV 1042
1. 1. Allegro 9:41
2. 2. Adagio 8:20
3. 3. Allegro assai 3:23
Gioconda de Vito violin
London Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Rafael Kubelik
recorded /aufgenommen 1959
CONCERTO IN D MINOR / d-Moll / FOR TWO VIOLINS, BWV 1043
4. 1. Vivace 4:16
5. 2. Largo, ma non tanto 7:38
6. 3. Allegro 5:34
Gioconda de Vito & Yehudi Menuhin violin
Philharmonia Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Antony Bernard
recorded /aufgenommen 1953
PARTITA FOR VIOLIN SOLO IN D MINOR / d-Moll / NO. 2, BWV 1004
7. 5. Ciaccona / Chaconne 16:56
Gioconda de Vito violin
recorded /aufgenommen 1957
Total Time 56:00
CD8
Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755–1824)
VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 22 IN A MINOR
Konzert für Violine und Orchester Nr. 22, a-Moll
1. 1. Moderato 16:43
2. 2. Adagio 11:00
3. 3. Agitato assai 7:52
Gioconda de Vito violin Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Vittorio Gui recorded /aufgenommen 1953
DUO IN G MAJOR FOR TWO VIOLINS / Duo für zwei Violinen, G-Dur
4. 1. Allegro 3:26
5. 2. Andante 2:49
6. 3. Allegretto 2:45
Gioconda de Vito & Yehudi Menuhin violin recorded /aufgenommen 1955
Tomaso Antonio Vitali (1663–1745)
7. CIACCONA IN G MINOR / Chaconne in g-Moll 12:55
Gioconda de Vito violin Michael Raucheisen piano
recorded /aufgenommen 1951
8. CIOACCONA (arr.: Respighi) 12:45
Gioconda de Vito violin Philharmonia Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Alberto Erede recorded /aufgenommen 1948
Total Time 70:29
CD9
César Franck (1822–1890)
SONATA IN A MAJOR FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO / Sonate für Violine und Klavier, A-Dur
1. 1. Allegretto ben moderato 6:56
2. 2. Allegro 9:30
3. 3. Recitativo-Fantasia 8:47
4. 4. Allegretto poco mosso 6:35
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
SONATA NO. 7 IN C MINOR OP. 30 NO. 2 FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO
Sonate Nr. 7, op. 30 Nr. 2, c-Moll, für Violine und Klavier
5. 1. Allegro con brio 7:55
6. 2. Adagio cantabile 9:53
7. 3. Scherzo. Allegro 3:25
8. 4. Allegro 5:18
Gioconda de Vito violin Tito Aprea piano
recorded /aufgenommen 1955 (5-8), 1956 (1-4)
Ludwig (Louis) Spohr (1784–1859)
DUO OP. 67 FOR TWO VIOLINS / Duo op. 67 für zwei Violinen
9. No. 3: Allegro 5:56
10. No. 3: Larghetto 4:41
11. No. 2: Rondo 5:21
Gioconda de Vito & Yehudi Menuhin violin
recorded /aufgenommen 1955
Total Time 74‘28
CD10
Arcangelo Corelli (1653–1713)
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO IN D MINOR, OP. 5 NO. 12, „La follia“
Sonate für Violine und Klavier, d-Moll, op. 5 Nr. 12
1. La follia 14:00
Gioconda de Vito violin
Antonio Beltrami piano
recorded /aufgenommen 1954
Jean-Marie Leclair (1697–1764)
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO IN C MINOR, OP. 5 No. 6, „Le tombeau“
Sonate für Violine und Orchester, c-Moll, op. 5 Nr. 6
2. 1. Grave 3:26
3. 2. Allegro ma non troppo 2:29
4. 3. Gavotta. Gratiosa. Andante 2:45
5. 4. Allegro 5:50
Gioconda de Vito violin
Tullio Macoggi piano
recorded /aufgenommen 1959
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759)
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND CONTINUO, OP. 4 NO. 1
Sonate für Violine und Continuo, op. 4 Nr. 1
6. 1. Adagio 4:06
7. 2. Allegro 2:49
8. 3. Larghetto 3:14
9. 4. Allegro 3:03
Gioconda de Vito violin
George Malcolm harpsichord/ Cembalo
recorded /aufgenommen 1951
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
PARTITA NO. 2 IN D MINOR FOR SOLO VIOLIN, BWV 1004
Partita für Violine solo Nr. 2, d-Moll, BWV 1004
10. 1. Allemande 3:51
11. 2. Currante 2:48
12. 3. Sarabande 3:23
13. 4. Guige 3:37
14. 5. Chaconne 15:21
Gioconda de Vito violin
recorded /aufgenommen 1947 (14), 1950 (10-13)
Total Time 70:55