Antal Doráti in London: The Mercury Masters Vol. 2

Volume 2 of Antal Doráti’s London recordings for Mercury covers sessions between June 1960 (Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony) and August 1966 (Tchaikovsky’s Orchestral Suites). By way of a bonus, the set concludes with a rarity issued on Philips and scarcely seen since, an album of neoclassical works by Julian Orbón (Cantigas del Rey, sung by Heather Harper) and Manuel de Falla (the Harpsichord Concerto, with Rafael Puyana). 

Dorati’s ear for colour, his rhythmic discipline and knife-edged attack were complemented by the high-definition, pin-point detail of Mercury’s 35mm stereo engineering. Works by Doráti’s countryman Bartók came to life on record as never before. The versions of the Concerto for Orchestra, Divertimento for Strings and Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta have scarcely been equalled since for atmosphere and accuracy. No less valuably, the box brings together the Mercury/Doráti versions of Bartók’s principal works for the stage, Bluebeard’s Castle (now with the spoken introduction included on CD for the first time) and The Miraculous Mandarin, as well as a definitive recording of The Wooden Prince. 

Volume 2 of Dorati’s sessions in London draws on repertoire affinities established in the years covered by Volume 1. There is more sparking Haydn (Symphonies Nos. 59 & 81), the completion of symphony cycles by Brahms and Tchaikovsky, and another three concerto albums with the violinist Henryk Szeryng. Doráti’s coloristic and analytical gifts in music of the Second Viennese School are further explored with a 1962 album of expressionist-era orchestral pieces which won many new friends for this music at the time. Even more adventurous was the album dedicated to Surrealist-era Paris, coupling Satie’s Parade and Milhaud’s Le Boeuf sur le toit with rarities by Françaix and Auric.

The Mercury sessions in London expanded to include ensembles beyond the London Symphony Orchestra. The box features the Bath Festival (‘Festival Chamber Orchestra’) and BBC Symphony orchestras, as well as the New Philharmonia Orchestra in a complete cycle of the orchestral suites by Tchaikovsky which became an instant classic on its release in 1967. By then, Dorati and Mercury had parted ways, but between them they left a lasting legacy of orchestral and engineering excellence.

The legacy has been lovingly restored and revived in this pair of boxes from Eloquence, featuring Original Jacket album covers, and new essays on the historical context and significance of these recordings by David Patmore as well as remastering and mastering supervision by Thomas Fine, heir to the Mercury legacy.

TRACKLISTING:

CD 1
BARTÓK Bluebeard’s Castle
Imre Pallo; Olga Szönyi; Muhaly Székely
London Symphony Orchestra

CD 2
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 3
SCHOENBERG Five Pieces for Orchestra
WEBERN Five Pieces for Orchestra
BERG Three Pieces for Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 4
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5
Overtures – Egmont; The Consecration of the House
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 5
BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto
Joseph Szigeti; London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 6
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1
Nocturne Op. 27 No. 1
Three Études, Op. 25
Gina Bachauer; London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 7
LISZT Four Hungarian Rhapsodies
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 8
BARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 9
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4
Piano Sonata Op. 14 No. 1
Gina Bachauer; London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 10
STRAVINSKY Scherzo à la russe; Fireworks
Tango; Four Etudes; Le Chant du rossignol
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 11
KHACHATURIAN Violin Concerto
Henryk Szeryng; London Symphony Orchestra

CD 12
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 13
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 3
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 14
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
SCHUMANN Violin Concerto
Henryk Szeryng; London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 15
TCHAIKOVSKY Rococo Variations
SAINT-SAËNS Cello Concerto No. 1
János Starker; London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 16
BARTÓK The Miraculous Mandarin
Divertimento for Strings
BBC Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 17
BARTÓK The Wooden Prince
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 18
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 2; Fantaisie, Op. 49
Gina Bachauer; London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 19
MILHAUD Le Boeuf sur le toit 
FRANÇAIX Concertino in G major for Piano and Orchestra
AURIC Ouverture pour orchestre
SATIE Parade
Claude Françaix; London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 20
HAYDN Symphonies Nos. 59 & 81
Festival Chamber Orchestra
 
CD 21
MOZARTIANA
Festival Chamber Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 22
BRAHMS Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4
London Symphony Orchestra

CD 23
BARTÓK Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta 
Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion
Géza Frid; Luctor Ponse
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 24
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7
London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 25
TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto
Henryk Szeryng; London Symphony Orchestra
 
CD 26
TCHAIKOVSKY Suites Nos. 1 & 2
New Philharmonia Orchestra
 
CD 27
TCHAIKOVSKY Suites Nos. 3 & 4
New Philharmonia Orchestra
 
CD 28
FALLA Harpsichord Concerto
ORBÓN ∙ SALAVERDE · ARAUXO ∙ CABEZÓN
Rafael Puyana; Charles Mackerras
London Symphony String Quartet