Reiner/CSO: Bartok Concerto for Orchestra: RCA Victrola VICS-1110 (plum 1S/1S)

$

60

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome LP – in a 1S/1S pressing – from RCA Victrola (VICS-1110, US pressing, plum/silver label – ED1, stereo) features Fritz Reiner's magnificent reading of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra with the mighty Chicago Symphony Orchestra on brilliant form, marrying virtuoso attack with a beautiful sheen of sound that is quite simply breathtaking. Produced by Richard Mohr and engineered by Lewis Layton, this stunning performance was recorded in the rich acoustics of Chicago’s Orchestra Hall on 22 October 1955 and remains a landmark performance, both in the Bartok discography and in the annals of recorded sound.

Of RCA/BMG’s “Red Seal Living Stereo” CD re-issue of this performance the superb critic Colin Clarke wrote for MusicWeb-International:

“A marvellous reminder of the virtuosity of the Chicagoans under Fritz Reiner. This disc consists of two full LPs, offering superb value for money (with a playing time of over 76 minutes) as well as carefully-chosen repertoire (the ‘filler’ of Hungarian Sketches is pure delight).

“Firstly, the Concerto for Orchestra. Fritz Reiner was a personal friend and confidant of the composer, so this reading carries a special authority. Not only this, Reiner’s orchestra is intensively drilled – rarely will you hear a performance so well-prepared as this. The very opening is tremendously hushed (and what clarity thanks to the SACD format!). Reiner’s understanding of Bartók’s emotional vocabulary is outstanding, as is his control of his orchestra (the accelerando is surely without parallel), all this held within a beautifully warm recorded sound.

“The second movement (the famous ‘Giuoco delle coppie’) is full of charm, but is also rhythmically totally on-the-ball. Fellow Hungarian Solti in his Chicago recording also found real affinity with this movement (now available on Double Decca 470 516-2), but it is Reiner who is more human. Reiner’s ‘Elegia’ is carefully sculpted, working to an excruciating (in the best sense of the word) climax. Similarly Reiner does not play down the more vulgar elements of the ‘Intermezzo interotto’ (the Shostakovich quote is blatant).

“If there is any excerpt from this disc that proves the technical excellence of the Chicagoans, it is the swirling opening of the finale. Trumpets cut through the texture impressively. If there are more jubilant accounts of this finale, the interpretation is entirely in keeping with Reiner’s overall vision, with the final emergence of blazing trumpets seeming all the more victorious. It would be worth the outlay for this performance alone.”

Incidentally, the striking cover art reprints Marino Marini’s “Man Mounting a Horse”. The superb liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket were written by Irving Kolodin, Music Editor of the Saturday Review.

CONDITION:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the jacket is EXCELLENT+. There is slight bumping/wear at corners, as well as mild discoloration, but really that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, owners’ markings, or other defects and the album remains solid, bright, and highly attractive – overall, this rates as a truly fine collector’s copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT+. Though the surfaces are not CD silent, in general the playback is superb, the brass ringing out resplendently. If you must have a flawless copy, then please look elsewhere – overall, this rates as a fine collector's copy.

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