Hollreiser: Bartok Concerto for Orchestra + Cantata Profana - Vox PL 10.480

Jacket VG- / Vinyl VG+ (UK pressing - black/silver label - mono)

This handsome LP from Vox (10.480, English pressing, black/silver label, mono) features the under-rated conductor Heinrich Hollreiser in fine accounts of Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra Sz116 and the Cantata Profana, the former recorded with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in the Kulturraum, Bamberg on 21 May 1957, the latter with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in the Grosser Saal of the Vienna Konzerthaus on 23 February 1958.

In Bartok’s Cantata Profana, Hollreiser and the VSO are joined by tenor Murray Dickie and baritone Edmond Hurshell.

Although he more figures in the discographies of other artists as accompanist, Heinrich Hollreiser – not unlike Hans Swarowsky – was a superb conductor in his own right who was given all too few opportunities to record as 'solo' conductor. These performances, imbued with both grace, wit, and a feel for the dance, deserve to be much better known.

Incidentally, the striking cover art reproduces van Gogh’s “Road with Cypresses”. There are excellent liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket – printed in English only – by John S. Weissmann. The English text for Cantata Profana is also included on the reverse panel.

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 VERY GOOD-. There is slight fraying to the laminate, as well as minor wear along the open edge of the jacket and a bit of creasing. However, there are no seamsplits, bends, owners’ markings, or other defects, and the album remains solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, this rates as a very good collector’s copy.

The condition of the LP is VERY GOOD+.  Though surfaces are not CD silent, in general the playback is excellent. However, those requiring CD silent surfaces are kindly advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this rates as a very good collector's copy.