Nelson’s last notes

Decca are paying homage tonight to the great Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire, who died last year at the age of 77.

The label has gathered together a double-batch of unreleased tracks from radio stations and its own archives.

Decca Classics Label Director and Nelson Freire’s long time recording producer, Dominic Fyfe, says,
‘We lost Nelson too early. He still had many records to make. This two-disc set ‘Memories’ will hopefully serve as both a consolation and celebration. Searching through notes made at past sessions I discovered a handful of tracks which had never been released plus Nelson’s own commentary on the radio broadcasts included here. The recordings span almost five decades and salute this wonderful artist and friend. He was one of the Greats and his discography on Decca will forever be a jewel in our crown’.

CD1

‘The Berlin Sessions, 2014’ (Track 1-3)

1. **Gluck arr. Sgambati: Mélodie (Dance of the Blessed Spirits) from Orpheus ed Euridice

2. **J.S. Bach arr. Hess: Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring

3. **Beethoven: Andante favori in F, WoO 57

4-6. *Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4 in G major, Op.58 (Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR/Uri Segal) – SWR, 6 October 1972

7. **Beethoven: Bagatelle, Op. 119 No.11 – Andante, ma non troppo

8. *R. Strauss: Burleske für Klavier und Orchester dMoll, AV 85 (SWF-Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden/Zoltan Pesko) – SWF, 10 December 1985

9. **Debussy: La Plus Que Lente

10. **Villa-Lobos: Preludio (Introdução) (No. 1 from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4)

CD2

1-3. *Bartók: Piano Concerto No.1 (Sz.83, BB91) (Frankfurt Radio Symphony/Michael Gielen) – Hessischer Rundfunk, 22-23 October 1970

4-7. *Brahms: Piano Concerto No.2 in B-flat major, Op.83 (Frankfurt Radio Symphony/Horst Stein) – Hessicher Rundfunk, 28 March – 1 April 1977

8. **Brahms: Intermezzo, Op.118 No.2 in A major