CD-1200(1) RUDOLF SERKIN PLAYS BEETHOVEN: LIVE PERFORMANCES FROM THE 1954 PRADES FESTIVAL. Sonata No. 30 in E Op. 109 [20 June 1954]. 33 Variations On a Waltz by Anton Diabelli Op. 120 [18 June 1954]. Restoration Engineer: Kit Higginson (2007). Notes: Harris Goldsmith. Total time: 76:22 UPC# 017685-120022

BUZZ: Rudolf Serkin (1903-1991) was one of the great Beethoven exponents of the 20th century. Donal Henahan wrote of a performance given by Serkin of the Diabelli in the NY Times:

“Rudolf Serkin’s ... approach to music and his instrument is devout, all but priestly, and his audience attends to him with the seriousness of a congregation that expects nothing less than high revelation.

Nor does Mr. Serkin disappoint them... The ''Diabelli'' Variations [is] a craggy piece nearly an hour in length that few pianists dare to play in public. Its 33 permutations on Anton Diabelli's little waltz do not fly by under ordinary circumstances. In fact, if there is any music played in purgatory, it is probably a recording of a competent but uninspired pianist hacking away at the ''Diabelli'' Variations. The appeal of this work under Mr. Serkin's hands, however, was constant. He did not try to make the thorniest pages sound sweet, certainly, but his command over the score's design was entire. He played every repeat, of course (almost all the variations have a couple), and since he did not attempt to vary his approach in any way the second time around the casual listener might have grown impatient. Most of the repeats in this piece are not structurally crucial, which could lead one to wonder how the ''Diabelli'' would sound in a stripped-down version.

Such a heresy would never occur to Mr. Serkin.”

CD-753(1) ARTURO TOSCANINI CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN. Symphony No. 3 in E-flat (1 Sep. 1945) & Symphony No. 5 in c (8 May 1945), NBC Symphony Orchestra. The famous “Victory in Japan and “Victory in Europe” performances. Originally released in 1992. Completely remastered in 2007 by Aaron Z. Snyder. Notes by Christopher Dyment. Total time:72:17 UPC# 0-17685-07532-2.

BUZZ: “Both performances are sparked by a celebratory dramatic tension and excitement”, wrote Martin Bookspan in Prodigy of the first edition. And Peter Gutman, on his influential website (http://www.classicalnotes.net/features/toscaweb.html), ranks this as one of the top ten Toscanini recordings: ”Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, with its incessant Morse-code "V" motif, became a symbol of the Allied struggle for victory in World War II. Upon Mussolini's overthrow, Toscanini promised a special concert to celebrate Hitler's defeat on V-E Day. Here it is. Toscanini distilled his emotions into a breathless, hyper-dramatic reading (the fastest on record) and his orchestra responds with superheated virtuosity – a stunning synthesis of politics and art.”

CD-1197(1) JOSEPH SZIGETI PLAYS MENDELSSOHN AND BRAHMS: 1941 & 1948 New York public performances in new digital transfers. MENDELSSOHN: Concerto in e for violin & orchestra, Op. 64; with the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, cond. Bruno Walter (p.p., 2 February 1941) and BRAHMS: Concerto in D for violin & orchestra, Op. 77; with the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, cond. Dimitri Mitropoulos (p.p., 24 October 1948). Total time: 67:55. Digital restoration: Ward Marston (2006). UPC# 0-17685-11972-9

BUZZ: Szigeti (1892-1973) was an artist of rare intellect and integrity; he eschewed the role of the virtuoso, placing himself totally at the service of the music. In addition to the standard repertoire, he championed the music of many 20th- century composers, including Stravinsky, Bartók, Ravel, Prokofiev, Honegger, Bloch, and Martin. These rare New York airchecks find him still in fine shape, before arthritis began to seriously affect his tone.

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