These recordings are well done. On the Audio Fidelity label, Swarowsky leads an energetic, dramatic, yet sensitive reading played by musicians who knew this music inside and out. As with most Swarowsky readings, there is no sentimentality or indulgence, just honest conducting filled with great respect for score. Most impressive is that Swarowsky brings out woodwind details that many conductors gloss over.
Walter Klien had a long career has a specialist in Mozart and Brahms and his authority shines through in this performance. He is ably partnered by Milan Horvat, a distinguished conductor, whose name, like Swarowsky's, has appeared over the years on countless budget records. This, I think, has been a great disservice to him since everything I've heard conducted by him, from Mozart to Hindemith, has been excellent. Horvat pretty much built the ORF orchestra after reorganizations at Austrian radio, and the orchestra under him is very, very fine. There is some good solo work in this second concerto by the orchestra as well as Klien's keen participation. This record came out on the Classical Excellence label as part of entire series, featuring generic covers and most performances led by Horvat or Carl Melles, a longtime resident conductor in Vienna.
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