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Armenian Radio Archive Volume 1
Label: Triston Master Recordings SCHOPPER Edition TMR-SE 0025
180 Gramm Pressing
Original mono and stereo recordings were made 1961 in the former Soviet Union.
45 RPM-DLP
Cello: Pierre Fournier
Piano: Naum Walter
Program:
Side A (Stereo):
1. Debussy: Prelude (02:37)
2. Stravinsky: Russian Song (03:24)
3. Bloch: Nigun (06:28)
Side B (Stereo):
1. Faure: Elegy (06:37)
2. Ravel: Habanera (02:42)
Side C (Mono):
1. Debussy: Prelude (02:37)
2. Stravinsky: Russian Song (03:24)
3. Bloch: Nigun (06:28)
Side D (Mono):
1. Faure: Elegy (06:37)
2. Ravel: Habanera (02:42)
Encore
3. Francoeur: Largo (01:49)
4. Francoeur: Allegro (02:07)
Vinyl Cut: Simon Kummer, vinylaudio, Schweiz - www.vinylaudio.ch
Pressing: MEK Vinyl, Gossau, Schweiz - www.mekvinyl.ch
Producer: SCHOPPER AUDIO, Jürg Schopper, Schweiz, - www.schopper.ch
This album is an exact reproduction of the original master tape. In order to guarantee the best possible sound quality, no digital equipment or post-processing has been used.
It is a hand-numbered limited edition of 250 copies.
No shipping to Hongkong and China.
Price: LP CHF 90.00
Testpressing CHF 190.00
Please order by e-mail:
Pierre Fournier Cello Recital - From tape to LP - by Steff Bossert
Review by Kenneth Woo, June 2026
During the golden age of 20th-century cello performance, Pierre Fournier was hailed by the music world as the ‘aristocrat of the cello’ for his elegant and fluid playing style and his delicate, rich tone. His recordings span the eras of both mono and stereo, and whether studio masterpieces or live broadcast recordings, they are cherished by countless music lovers. Within the world of vinyl collecting and the excavation of historical recordings, Triston Master Recordings has long been a name held in the highest esteem by ultimate vinyl enthusiasts and classical music aficionados alike. This independent record label, backed by the renowned Swiss audio equipment manufacturer Schopper, specialises in sourcing previously unreleased master tapes of original radio broadcasts, adhering to the most rigorous standards of craftsmanship. Triston has now released a double 45rpm vinyl record, *Pierre Fournier – Cello Recital*, as the first volume of the highly legendary Armenian Radio Archive series. The album unearths precious solo recordings made by the French cello maestro Pierre Fournier during his visit to the former Soviet Republic of Armenia during the Cold War, recorded by the local national radio station. As the first volume in the series to present Pierre Fournier’s solo performance in its entirety, this release preserves the recordings on a double 45rpm vinyl set of the highest quality, bringing these long-forgotten broadcast recordings back into the light of day. This album is undoubtedly an audio miracle spanning half a century, and is set to become a treasured collection for historical recording enthusiasts and cello aficionados alike.
This legendary recording was made one day in 1961 at the Armenian Broadcasting Studio, where Pierre Fournier performed alongside the Soviet pianist Naum Walter. The most distinctive feature of this set is its unique design: Side A and Side B feature stereo versions of the same recording, whilst Side C and Side D feature mono versions. The tracklist includes Debussy’s ‘Preludes’, Stravinsky’s ‘Russian Songs’, Bloch’s ‘Nigun Improvisation’, Fauré’s ‘Élégie’, and Ravel’s ‘Habanera’; the monaural Side B further includes the ‘Andante’ and ‘Allegro’ movements from Francoeur’s ‘Cello Sonata in E major’. What is most astonishing upon listening is the superb suppression of background noise and the fact that the dynamics have been fully preserved. Master tapes that have been in storage for over sixty years inevitably show some signs of ageing, but this album does not employ modern digital noise-reduction techniques to smooth over these historical traces. Upon close listening, one can still hear extremely faint tape noise, yet this in no way obscures the details of Pierre Fournier’s pianissimo passages or his faint breathing. The physical advantages of 45 rpm are fully demonstrated here; for instance, the surge in intensity during the climax of the middle section of Fauré’s ‘Élégie’, where the violent vibrations of the cello’s soundbox intertwine with the reverberation of the piano’s pedals, is rendered without any compression or blurring, as if Pierre Fournier and Naum Walter were performing right before your eyes.
This album was produced by Jürg Schopper, the founder of Schopper, with Simon Kummer handling the mastering. The master was cut at Vinylaudio Studios in Switzerland using a Studer C37 paired with a Neumann VMS-70/FloKaSon cutting system, and finally pressed into a two-disc set of 180g 45rpm high-quality vinyl records by MEK Vinyl GmbH in Switzerland. The entire process utilised AAA pure analogue processing, with absolutely no digital post-production or special effects applied, ensuring the most authentic reproduction possible. For vinyl enthusiasts, this represents a truly rare listening experience. The stereo version captures the spatial depth achievable by Soviet recording technology in 1961, with a clear left-right separation between the piano and cello. Although the edges are slightly rough, it authentically recreates the acoustic transparency of the original recording. The mono version, meanwhile, offers a fuller core sound image, with a more direct sense of string tension and the tactile feel of the bow hair. Pierre Fournier is renowned for his velvety tone; in the mono version, stripped of spatial reflections and natural reverberation, the sound becomes exceptionally pure, striking a chord deep within the listener’s soul.
*Pierre Fournier – Cello Recital (Armenian Radio Archive Volume 1)* is Triston Master Recordings’ ultimate tribute to the golden age of analogue, great musicians, and the long-forgotten archives of the former Soviet Union. Through a high-specification 45rpm, fully analogue production process and limited-edition, handcrafted pressing, it demonstrates that even when sourced from non-mainstream recording locations and with master tapes that are not in perfect condition, historical classic sounds can not only be preserved but also radiate an emotional impact that surpasses contemporary digital recordings—provided they are produced with the right sense of reverence and exceptional technical standards. For all cello enthusiasts, lovers of historical recordings, and vinyl audiophiles seeking the ultimate analogue sound experience, this album is an absolute must-have for your collection. Finally, please note that this is a limited edition release, with only 250 copies available worldwide, so interested music lovers should act quickly.
©2026 Iceman
Review by Ernest Lau, June 2026
Pierre Fournier + Naum Walter: A natural tone as warm and smooth as jade
This vinyl record, catalogue number LC33268, released by the leading Swiss audiophile label Triston Master Recordings, features extremely rare, previously unreleased recordings made by the ‘prince of the cello’ Pierre Fournier and pianist Naum Walter at the Armenian Radio Archive.
This 45 rpm double LP set offers superior dynamic range, detail and extension in both the high and low frequencies compared to standard 33 rpm records. Side A and Side B are two-channel stereo recordings, whilst Side C and Side D are mono versions of the same tracks as on A and B; Side D also includes two encore pieces by Francoeur: the Largo and the Allegro.
Pierre Fournier is widely regarded as the ‘most noble and elegant representative’ of the cello world. His tone does not rely on exaggerated dynamics or sentimental playing to captivate the listener; instead, he possesses a very natural, warm ‘golden tone’. Naum Walter’s piano accompaniment is exceptionally adept; it never upstages the cello, but rather, in a very understated and precise manner, highlights the beauty of Fournier’s cello lines. The dialogue between the two musicians is fluid and deeply poetic.
The greatest strength of this vinyl record lies in the fact that the Swiss Triston Masters team used the original analogue master tape directly, without any digital processing, and cut it using a Studer C37 in a purely analogue process. You can clearly hear the sense of space from the radio studio of that era, Fournier’s bowing and the resonance of the instrument’s body are reproduced with pinpoint accuracy right at the centre of the soundstage; the tone is incredibly warm and full-bodied, completely devoid of the harshness found in modern digital recordings. The overtones on the mono version of Side C are even more pronounced than on the stereo version.
This set of records consists of previously unreleased radio archive recordings; rarity makes them valuable, and they are of immense collectable value to classical music enthusiasts!