For this final Pristine release of 2018 we turn to the NBC broadcasts of Arturo Toscanini, and music by his Russian contemporaries. The earliest recording we present here, his 1939 account of the Shostakovich First Symphony, demonstrates a particular lightness of touch, and benefits from excellent sound for its era.
Sparkling too is Toscanini's 1947 performance of Prokofiev's First "Classical" Symphony, the fourth of six performances given with the NBC orchestra, and the only work by Prokofiev he ever conducted. We Also have the two works by Dmitri Kabalevsky in Toscanini's repertoire, his Symphony No. 2, here in Toscanini's earlier 1945 performance of two, and the Overture "Colas Breugnon", again in its first appearance, in this case of six, from 1943.
In each case we've been able to draw on excellent sources, and generally the sound quality is superb.This is the first of two back-to-back Toscanini releases - we'll be back with more from the Maestro on the first Friday of 2019. In the meantime we wish you all the very best for this holiday season, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.