Between 1957 and 1961 Rudolf Serkin joined Eugene Ormandy and The Philadelphia Orchestra at Philadelphia’s Broadwood Hotel to record the two piano concertos of both Brahms and Mendelssohn. These sessions captured Serkin at the height of his powers: searching and monumental in Brahms, agile and brilliant in Mendelssohn, with Ormandy and his orchestra providing both symphonic weight and sparkling support.
Now heard in new Pristine XR remasterings, these four classic performances reveal Serkin’s unique blend of intellect, passion, and clarity, alongside the fabled Philadelphia sound in its prime. More than sixty years on, they stand as milestones of the stereo era, freshly vivid and undimmed in vitality.
We also celebrate this week's birthday of pianist Edwin Fischer with a 10% discount of all his recordings at Pristine.