Historical performances!
Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 04/08/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The titanic effort and dedication of this master Hungarian conductor was simply anthological. He elevated the rank of The Pittsburgh to unexpected heights and never dreamed for their members: the steeled discipline and expression force maintains an eviden parallelism with Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Orchestra. Fritz Reiner ` s incandescent baton gave a powerful and hyper expressive epic breath to these works.
Beethoven `s Second has been possibly the most virile version ever recorded in any format. Demonic precision and accurate phrasing without loss of musical balance. Mozart `s Haffner possesses an evident Pre Beethovenian musculature. And finally the symphony No. 40 is filled of autumnal energy and ferocious accords that definitively engage even the most nonchalant listener.
If you really want to acquire a part of the immense bequeath of this superb Hungarian master conductor, try to get as soon as you can this indispensable album.
A notable universal treasure, without just a little bit of possible exaggeration.
So wherever you are, don`t think it over and acqure it immediately. This is a true collector item."
Fleet and full of energy
H. A. James | Devon, United Kingdom | 09/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The famously irascible Fritz Reiner was music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony from 1938 until 1948 when he succeeded the famously mild Rafael Kubelik at Chicago. These recordings from the years at Pittsburgh just before his departure for Chicago are full of energy and drama. That is what one expects of performances by Reiner but they are also delicately modelled, fleet of foot and full of subtle touches of lyricism. We have become familiar with period style in performance in the last thirty years or so and it comes as a surprise that here is a recording from the 1940's which prefigures such practice.
This disc has been discontinued by the manufacturer but is well worth seeking out on Amazon."