Great Conductors of the Twentieth Century: Reiner.(Sound Recording Review)

Great Conductors of the Twentieth Century: Reiner. Emil Gilels, Carol Brice, soloists; Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Robin Hood Dell Orchestra, NBC Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. EMI 7243 5 672866 2 7 (2-disc set).

This budget-priced, two-disc set is representative of the quality one can find throughout EMI's "Great Conductors of the Twentieth Century" series. These Reiner discs include over two-and-a-half hours of music by the great conductor, covering most of the man's later career, about half in stereo and half in mono, and containing complete tracks from some of his best EMI, RCA, and Sony (Columbia) recordings from 1946 to 1959. Given that Amazon.com and other retailers are selling the set for as little as $10.98, I'd say it's a bargain, indeed.

The set contains a load of music, but the centerpiece is the Brahms Second Piano Concerto with Reiner and the Chicago Symphony supporting pianist Emil Gilels in a performance from 1958. Gilels would, of course, go on to make an even more-celebrated recording of the work for DG some years later, but this one is more detailed in sound, one of RCA "Living Stereo" productions of the time, and just as surefooted in execution. Think of it this way: For a little over ten bucks you get a terrific Brahms Second Piano Concerto, plus almost two more hours of equally good material. Do I have to ...