I've really grown to appreciate the 1940's through 50's recordings that Ormandy made with his incredible Philadelphia band. Here's a very good one, the 1954 recording of Bartok's masterpiece, the Concerto for Orchestra. Ormandy would go on to record this two more times, in stereo, but I think the overall playing and energy level, not to mention concentration of the conductor is not to be beaten here.
This recording had the unfortunate timimg of having to compete with Reiner's Chicago stereo remake. Reiner was considered ,and billed as, the leading authority in Bartok's music, perhaps only rivaled by Fricsay, who was European based and little known on these shores. Reiner's record is excellent and has stood the test of time, but no doubt but there is much to enjoy here too. Ormandy, being a native Hungarian, understood the idiom well and was able to project the work honestly and with sufficient authority. And, this is a piece made for the virtuoso talents of the Philadelphia Orchestra as the section chairs have the opportunity to shine brilliantly. Great listening.
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