From the great Hungarian conductor Ferenc Fricsay (1914-1963) there is an abundance of wonderful shots. On this CD are some of his best gathered: First Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 "From the New World", which has been one of their first appearance in 1960 until today in addition to the recordings of Szell, Klemperer, Dorati and Kubelik to the top recordings. It is clear in every detail, played with noticeable commitment and an insert that reveals internal clock in each Fricsay's attachment to this work.
The "filler" of the CD are actually anything but that, they are by Fricsay musicality to sheer major works. This is especially true for Smetana's "Moldau" that is even more compelling and fiery presented to me here than in the famous recording of the South German Radio (with sample extracts). The "Les Préludes" by Franz Liszt will be performed without any bombast and is therefore also for listeners who have the work (because of its misuse for broadcasting special reports during the Nazi period) their difficulties again edible. The recordings were made in 1959 ("The Moldau" in February 1960) made, and they were so careful, meticulous processed by the digital DGG that listening is a pleasure today. Only a faint background noise reveals a little the age of the recordings. All three are part of the indispensable legacy of unfortunately died much too early conductors.
The accompanying booklet is, as with all "original", above average. On the front page it shows the original cover of the LP-edition. For collectors and nostalgics a valuable addition.
