Title: Unusual couplings for Ormandy's splashy Concerto for Orchestra
Product review: Mid-century conductors often recorded Bartok's popular Concerto for Orchestra as often as the 1812 Overture--Ormandy made three, of which this is the second. His reading lacks imagination, but it gets a splashy recording that pops out all of Bartok's luscious sonorities. The real attraction here are the unusual couplings, a crisp Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion from husband and wife Robert and Caby Casadesus (pulled from the Sony catalog now that Sony and BMG are one in the classical department), and a generous sampling of Barrtok's piano music in the 8 Improvisations from Charles Rosen. These latter two recordings are better than Ormandy's contribution, but he is more than respectable, and the Philadelphia Orch. is amply virtuosic, needless to say.
Would you say this review depicts the product in a flattering or unflattering light?
