Lys begins a retrospective of Romanian conductor Georges Georgescu with his early-1960s Beethoven cycle, evidently mastered from near mint copies of the rare Electrocord LPs. There’s no pretending that the Georges Enescu Philharmonic is a world-class, or even second-tier ensemble. Yet their effort and team spirit affectionately transcend executional gaucheries. And Georgescu’s strong, stylish leadership can be felt at all times, as revealed by canny transitions, firm accents, and excellent balances. The vocal soloists in the finale of the Ninth Symphony count among the finest on disc, notably Marius Rintzler’s glorious recitative. Adventurous collectors seeking a stern European spin on these oft-recorded masterpieces will find this specially priced set an interesting alternative to the Dohnanyi, Wand, or 1962 Karajan cycles. If you’ve a hankering to hear the “Ode to Joy” sung in Romanian, here’s your chance.
