This second volume of “Reiner Era” historical recordings, available direct from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, contains several significant additions to his repertoire, including an intensely impressive Webern Six Pieces for Orchestra, a typically disciplined Beethoven Eighth Symphony, and Bartok’s Second Violin Concerto. This last is fabulously accompanied but rather gruffly played by Yehudi Menuhin. By the late 1950s, catching this artist “on the wing” was a risky proposition, and his two studio recordings serve him somewhat better with respect to tone and intonation. The set also includes Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 2, a zippy and dynamic Strauss Til Eulenspiegel (which Reiner recorded commercially in Vienna, not Chicago), as well as an attractive selection of smaller items: the party music from Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet, Mussorgsky’s Prelude to Khovanschina, Delius’ Prelude to Irmelin, Auber’s Overture to Masaniello, and Debussy’s Nuages (No. 1 of his Nocturnes for Orchestra). As a special bonus, we also get to hear Reiner rehearsing Wagner’s Lohengrin Prelude, a run-through that’s just as impressive as an actual performance. The mono sound is clear and vivid. A must for Reiner fans.
