Volume I

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Petteri Iivonen & Kevin Fitz-GeraldArt of the Sonata Vol.I

1-4 Franck Violin Sonata in A Major 25:57 Allegretto ben moderato 5:42 Major Allegro 7:42 Ben moderato 6:42 Allegretto poco mosso 5:50 withKevinFitz-Gerald,piano

5 Lefkowitz Miniature VIII for solo violin 6:13

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The International Rectifier Quartet

PleasegivetwofriendsatInternationalRectifierawarmthankyou.Mr.VishwasKarve(VicePresidentforStrategyandBusinessDevelopment)andMr.JunHonda(DirectorofAudioSystemsEngineering)madethisquartetofDSDalbumspossibleinmorewaysthantheirgenerousfinancialsponsorship.

AudiophilesmaynotrecognizethenameInternationalRectifierfromequipmentintheirlisteningroomsbuttheyprobablydoknowthecompanyfromtheirhigh-techstockportfolios.AudiophilesshouldappreciatethenameInternationalRectifier,however,becausemuchofthegreatmusicwehearflowsthroughtheircircuitry.

InternationalRectifierbuildsmanycomponentshigh-endaudiomanufacturersuseintheirproducts.MergingTechnologies,forexample,whichbuildstheHapianalog-to-digitalconverterweusedinthesealbums,usesInternationalRectifierMOSFETamplifiers.Inthe“goodolddays,”apieceofequipmentstrugglingtodotheworkoftheHapiwouldconsumeagreatdealofelectricitytorun,andalsogenerateagreatdealofheat.Thiswouldrequirenoisyfansorelaborateandveryheavydesignsfordissipatingtheheat.ThisInternationalRectifierquartetcelebratesthetenthanniversaryoftheClassDAudioApplicationsGroupwhichJunHondafounded.

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Mr.Honda’sdivisionatthecompanypridesitselfindesigningandbuildinghighoutputamplifiersthatdeliverbetterandbetteraudioqualityusinglessandlesselectricity(andconsequentlygeneratinglessandlessheat).

Thecompanyisnotwillingtorestonitslaurels.VishwasmentionedGalliumNitride(GaN),tomeaboutayearago.GalliumNitrideisarecentsemiconductormaterialwhichoutperformstoday’sSilicondevicesandisespeciallyhelpfulforhighpoweroutputdevices.InternationalRectifiermakesthefirstapplicationsusingGalliumNitride.Musicreproductionofthefuturemaysoundevenbetter(andbeevencoolerandmoreenergyefficient).

Asmentionedabove,JunandhisteamatInternationalRectifierdonotmakeamplifiersorpreamplifiersyouwillseeinlisteningrooms.Usingaculinaryanalogy,Junjokedwithusthatifthedesignersatthegreatamplifiermanufacturers(likeMergingTechnologiesinourcase)arethefive-starchefs,heviewsInternationalRectifierasoneofthemostimportantpurveyorsoforganicmeatsandvegetablesavailable.

Junandthecompanytakegreatprideinthequalitytheymakepossible.Jun’sfeelingaboutthisprogressischaracteristicallymodest:“Wearegratefultobeapartofit,”hesays.

PleasethankJuninpersonnexttimeyouseehimintheInternationalRectifierroomatCESoratotheraudiophileelectronicsshows.HappyTenthAnniversary!

BobAttiyeh,producerwww.yarlungrecords.com

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ThankstothegenerosityofAnnMooreMulally,YarlungRecordsbringsyouthelonganticipatedsecondrecordingfeaturingFinnishviolinistPetteri Iivonen,CanadianpianistKevin Fitz-Geraldandtheirspecialmusicalchemistry.Weliveduringamusicalflowering,especiallyinSouthernCalifornia.Futuregenerationswilllookbackonthesedecadesasoneofthemusicalgoldenerasforliveconcertperformancesandnewmusiccomposition.Despitethis,classicalrecordingsdonotsellenthusiasticallyanymore.Butalongwithconcerts,recordingsremainoneof theprincipalwaysoursocietysharesmusicalgreatness.Eventhoughclassicalmusicrecordingsarenotascommercialastheyoncewere,theyprovidecriticalsupporttomusiciansandtheircareers,theyremainthemediumthroughwhichmostofusfirsthearandappreciateclassicrepertoire,andtheyprovideendlesslisteningpleasureathome.Sowearedoublygratefultoourfriendsandsponsors,especiallyAnn,formakingthisrecordingpossible.David S. Lefkowitz’s Miniature VIII follows the Franck. Petteri is fond of David’s music. With generous help from the Jerry & AdiGreenbergFoundation,YarlungcommissionedEli EliforPetteri,whichherecordedonourfirstalbum.DavidwroteMiniature VIIIin1994.Awell-knownviolinistplayeditonceatthepremiereandthendeclareditnearlyunplayablebecauseofthedemandsitmakesonthelefthand,includingseveralunisondouble-stops.Miniature VIIIdoesnotsounddifficult.Theslow,beautifulandhauntingmelodydrawsthelistenertowardthework’smoodandimagery,nottoitsvirtuosity.Ilikedthepiece,andaskedDavidtoarrangeitasaduetforviolinandviola.WereleasedthisversionwithviolinistSerenaMcKinneyandviolistKatieKadarauchonourYarlungRecordsalbumInner World.AfterIbegantoworkwithPetteriIivonen,Iknewwehadanartistwhocouldplaytheoriginal.IrememberDavid’sfacewhenhepresentedtheworktoPetteri,explainingthathewashappytomakecertainadjustmentsifthefingeringprovedtoodemanding.Petterireadquicklythroughthemusic,smiledandsaidtoDavid“Yourjobwastowritethismusic.Itismyjobtoplayit.”Playithedoes.César FranckwrotehisViolinSonatainAMajorasaweddingpresentforthegreatBelgiancomposerandviolinistEugèneYsaÿein1886.Thestorydiffers.Inoneversion,YsaÿeaskedFrancktowriteasonataforhim.Inanotherversion,FrancksurprisedYsaÿewiththesonataasagiftonthemorningofhismarriage.Ysaÿerehearsedquicklyandperformedthesonataattheweddingitselflaterthatday.Thesonatasoontookitsplaceamongthestandardmasterpieces.Franckwrotehisbestknownworkslateinlife.IndeedhecompletedhisSymphonyinDMinortwoyearsaftertheviolinsonata,andthesymphonypremieredlessthantwoyearsbeforehisdeath.TheFrancksonataisn’taboutamarriage,orevenaweddingceremony.Butifwearelucky,greatworksofmusiccancaptureauniqueimageofanentireworld. Andinthiscompositiononecanalmosthearthestagesinamarriageandinacouple’s lifetogether. Thetentative, fragileopening,building slowly inconfidenceas the two instruments, twovoices,begin toblend. Thesecondmovementopenswithastorminthepiano.Theviolinjoinsinthestorm.Listenasglimmersofsunlight,encouragement,stubbornoptimismandresolutionpokethroughtheclouds,especiallyinPetteri’shands.Thefinalmovementalternatesbetweentendernessandexuberanceuntilthestoryreachesitsclimax.

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Petteri Iivonenwasbornin1987,andbegantostudytheviolinattheHelsinkiConservatorywhenhewasfouryearsold.Petterialsostudiedthepianoasastudentandremainsanaccomplishedpianist.PetteriwontheErkkiMelartinchambermusiccompetitionwhenhewasfifteen:Petteri’snuancedtalentasamusicalcollaborator(asapartnerwholistens)remainseasytoheareveninhisviolinsoloandconcertorepertoire.Since1997,Petteri’sprincipalteachershavebeenTuomasHaapanenandHagaiShaham.Pettericontinuestostudydespitehis increasinglybusyconcert scheduleof solorecitalsandconcertos in theUnitedStates,Germany,Belgium,Finland,theNetherlands,Israel,Portugal,SpainandItaly.IivonenhasperformedwithPaulNeubauerandDavidGrossmanoftheNewYorkPhilharmonic,andraisedmoneyfortheLosAngelesPhilharmonicinaspecialChoralroombenefitatWaltDisneyConcertHall.PetteriwasinvitedtoperformwithpianistRyanMacEvoyMcCulloughtoopenTheBroadStageinSantaMonicain2008.LastyearIivonenperformedtheTchaikovskyviolinconcertounderthebatonofZubinMehta,andbasedonthisperformancewasimmediatelyinvitedtoplaythegalaopeningnightconcertwiththeIsraelPhilharmonicwithwhomPetteriperformedtheBruchViolinConcertoNo.1.AsIwritethesenotes,PetteriispreparingforaSouthAmericantourwithZubinMehtaandisscheduledformoreconcertoperformanceswithmajororchestrasinEurope,especiallytheTchaikovsky,BlochandSibeliusconcertosforwhichPetterihasbecomefamous.ImmediatelyafterplayinginSouthAmerica,PetterifliestoLosAngelestojoinKevinFitz-GeraldforaprivateconcertanddinnerinthehomeofAnnMooreMulallytocelebratethereleaseofthisalbum.WhilemuchofPetteri’splayingisexceptionallybeautiful,henevertriestomakethesound“pretty.”Ihaveheardveryfewviolinist’swithPetteri’sabilitytocontrolcolorandtimbre,andevenfewerwhousethisabilityforsuchmusicalandappropriateends.ForourrecordingPetteriplaysaFerdinandusGaglianoviolin,builtin1767,kindlyloanedtohimbyOKOBankArtFoundation.KevinplaysNewYorkSteinwayserialnumber567908.Canadian pianist Kevin Fitz-Gerald performs in concert halls around the world as a soloist, has recorded with seven record labelsincludingYarlungRecords,andperformsregularlyinpartnershipwithothermusiciansincludingPatrickGallois,StephenIsserlis,RichardStolzman,Petteri Iivonen,AlanCivil,CamillaWicks,MidoriGoto,EudiceShapiro,MiltonThomas,KarenTuttle,DonaldMcInnes,RonaldLeonard,andtheBartok,St.PetersburgandSt.LawrenceStringQuartets.Kevinalsoperformsfour-handspianoworkswithhiswifeBernadeneBlaha.In addition to his position as Professor of Piano Performance and Collaborative Arts at the USC Thornton School of Music in LosAngeles,Mr.Fitz-GeraldisalsoaregularvisitingartistteacherattheBanffSchoolofFineArts,afrequentguestmasterclassteacheratTheColburnSchoolforthePerformingArtsinLosAngeles,andservesasvisitingfacultyatmanyothernationalandinternationalmusicfestivalsandinstitutionsthroughoutNorthAmerica,SouthAmerica,AsiaandAustralia.KevinwasborninKelowna,BritishColumbiaandreceivedfullscholarshipstostudyattheVictoriaConservatoryofMusic,TheBanffCentreSchoolofFineArtsandtheRoyalConservatoryofMusicinTorontowherehisprincipalteacherswereMarekJablonski,RobinWoodandAlmaBrock-Smith.

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GRAMMY® Award winning Yarlung Recordsbringsfreshmusicianstotheclassicalmusicworldusingminimalistaudiophilerecordingtechniquestodeliversoundasclosetolivingperformanceaspossible.Ratherthanusingrecordingstudios,weproducethesealbumsinconcerthallsfamousfortheiracoustics,includingWaltDisneyConcertHall,AmbassadorHall,ZipperHallandAlfredNewmanHallinLosAngeles.Yarlungusesbothanalogtapeandhighresolutiondigitalmediafor24-bitdownloadsandCDsand180GramvinylLPs,allmasteredbySteveHoffman.ForourCDs,pressedinGermany,Yarlungusesspecialalloys,highresolutionvirginpolycarbonateandcarefulglassmasteringtechniquestobringyousoundthatcloselymatchestheoriginal.Yarlungrepertoirerangesfromthe11thcenturythroughtheBaroque,ClassicalandRomanticeras,withaspecialfocusonnewmusicfromthe20thand21stcenturies.Artistsincludetopsoloistsaswellassuperstaryoungmusiciansatthebeginningsoftheirinternationalconcertcareers.Yarlungbringsartistsintoyourlivingroom;youcanheartheirmusic,theirbreathing,andalmosttheirheartbeats.

PetteriIivonen

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Yarlung Artistsisa501(c)(3)publiccharitywhichraisesmoneytobringnewrecordedmusictothepublicthroughoursupportofyoungmusiciansatthebeginningsoftheirinternationalconcertcareers.Wewishtoexpresshowgratefulweareforthesupportwereceivefromkeyplayersinthemusicindustryandfromgenerousfriendsandpatrons.Forthisparticularalbum,wewantespeciallytothankmyfriendAnnMooreMulallyforhergenerosity,aswellasSteveHoffman,ElliotMidwood,JonFisher,KevinFitz-GeraldandRobertCutietta.Contributions to Yarlung Artists are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. If you would enjoy supporting our recordings, thecommissioningofnewmusicandthecareersofourmosttalentedyoungmusiciansastheylaunchtheirinternationalconcertcareers,pleasevisitwww.yarlungartists.org,orwritetousatYarlungArtists,10920WilshireBoulevard150-9162,LosAngeles,California90024.Thankstosupport fromDeanRobertCutietta,werecordedPetteriandKevininAlfredNewmanHallat theUniversityofSouthernCalifornia.NewmanHallexemplifiesthewarmyettransparentandlivelysoundofconcertshallsthatIfavorforrecordings,anditsacoustics adjust easily to provide different lengths of decay. We chose a legendary Austrian AKG C-24 stereo microphone with theoriginalbrasssurroundCK12tube,madeavailabletousbyourfriendandsponsorJonFisheratGearworksProAudio.Weusedfive-feetlongYarlung-Records-designedinterconnectswithaflatsilverribbonsuspendedinairforthedielectric,customizedvacuumtubepreamplifiersandnomixer.Thesignalpathwasasshortaswecouldmakeit,withasfewelectronicsbetweenperformerandfinalproductaspossible.Inclosing,IwouldliketothankMartinChalifour,agoodfriendandadvisortoYarlungArtists,forhishelpwiththisrecording.Martinworkedcloselywithmeandhelpeduschoosethebesttakesforeachmovementfromourfourdaysofrecordingsessions.Hehasplayedthisrepertoireinmanyconcerts,andMartin’shelpwasinvaluable.--BobAttiyeh,producerJuly15,2011

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PetteriIivonenandKevinFitz-Gerald

10PetteriIivonen

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PetteriIivonenandKevinFitz-Gerald

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Inasurprisinglyshortperiodoftime,theadventurousGRAMMY®AwardwinningclassicalmusiclabelYarlunghasproducedaneclecticcatalogofimpeccablyrecordedperformancesbyarosterofadventurousmusicians,includingmanythatarewell-knownandotherssoontobe.Thevariedrepertoire,witharefreshinglyinternationalflavor,coverseverythingfrommodernpercussiontosolopianoandviolintolargescalesymphonicworkswithsingers.

Theminimallymiked“purist”recordingsproducedandengineeredbylabelfounderBobAttiyehinsomeoftheworld’sgreatconcertspaces,arecapturedsimultaneouslyonanalogtapeandhighresolutiondigitalandreleasedonvinyl,reel-to-reeltape,CDandashighresolutionStudioMasterdownloads.

Yarlung’sproductionandsonicmodelisdistilledfromtherecordingindustry’sgloriouspast—onethatpessimistswerecertaincouldneverbesuccessfullyresurrected—whileitsforward-thinkingbusinessanddistributionmodelpointsthewaytowardsahealthyfuturefora“recordbusiness”longgivenupfordeadbytrendy“futurists.”

Forolderloversofrecordedclassicalrepertoire,Yarlung’scatalogrepresentsareturntosonicandmusicalgreatness.Foryoungeronesfamiliaronlywithdynamicallyandspatiallycompressedlowresolutionrecordings,thesefromYarlungarelike3DIMAXbutwithouttheglasses.

-MichaelFremerEditoranalogplanet.comSeniorcontributingeditor,Stereophile 

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Onceuponatimetherewasalandofhi-fi. Anditwasgonealltoosoon. ButthankHeavensforYarlungRecords. Intheageofcompresseddigitaldownloads,itisrefreshingtohearrealsoundandrealmusicagain,reminiscentofRCALivingStereoinitsgoldenage,orMercuryRecordsatitsheight. Yarlung’ssoundisliquidandtransparent,justasifyouweresittingintheconcerthallswithsuperbacoustics,wheretheserecordingsaremade. WaltDisneyConcertHallinLosAngeles,AmbassadorHallinPasadena,andZipperHallatTheColburnSchool,tonameafew.

WhatMercurydidforHowardHansonandtheEastman-RochesterOrchestrainthefifties,YarlungRecordsisnowdoingforTheColburnOrchestraandMetropolitanOperamezzo-sopranoSashaCooke. YoucanheartheevidenceonthealbumIfYouLoveForBeauty,releasedin2012. Whowouldhavethoughtthataconservatoryorchestra(grantedtheplayersareyoungsuperstars,soloistsall),couldcapturetheworld’sattentionlikethis. IunderstandthatYarlungdoesthisbyusingsimilartechniquestothoseinthegoldenageofrecordings. Onlyonestereomicrophoneforsmallerensembles,anduptofourmicrophonesforfullorchestras,recordingdirectlytotwotrackanalogtapeandhighresolutiondigital.

Don’tworry,Yarlung’srecordingsarealloniTunes,AmazonMP3andsoforth,butyoucanalsoorder180GramvirginvinylLPs,exquisitelymadeCDsmasteredbymightySteveHoffman,andhighresolutiondownloads,allavailableworldwidethroughNaxosGlobalLogisticsinMunich. MostexcitingforanalogtapeenthusiastsmightbetheSonoruSSeriesofrecordingson¼inchmastertape. IrecentlyreviewedYarlung’sMartinChalifourandtheLosAngelesPhilharmonicinWaltDisneyConcertHall,anotheralbumIrecommendhighly.1Yarlungoffersusatruefeastfortheears,andthisreviewerforone,wantsmore.

-MoriShimaStereo Sound,Japan1Stereo Sound,June2013

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Yarlung Records10920 Wilshire Boulevard 150-9162 Los Angeles, California 90024www.yarlungrecords.com

© 2011, Yarlung Records. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

ThisrecordingmadepossiblewithgeneroussupportfromAnn Moore MulallyRecordedinAlfredNewmanHall,LosAngeles,June9-16,2008Producer&RecordingEngineer:BobAttiyehAssistantProducer:JacobHorowitzMasteringEngineers:SteveHoffman&BobAttiyehMonitoringequipment:ElliotMidwoodAKGtubemicrophone:GearworksProAudioAnalogtapetechnicians:LenHorowitz&BobHovlandSteinwaytechnician:YasuyoNakamura

1-4 Franck ViolinSonatainAMajor5 Lefkowitz MiniatureVIIIforsoloviolin

Petteri Iivonen & Kevin Fitz-GeraldArt of the Sonata

VolumeI

YAR76721DSD1