Eloquence Janos Ferencsik; Gyorgy Lehel: Hungarian Pictures

Hungarian Pictures presents recordings of music by Liszt, Bartok, Kodaly and Dohnanyi in recordings of native authority, many of them making their first appearance on CD. Janos Ferencsik and Gyorgy Lehel were leading orchestras who knew their style intimately, and who had the Hungarian rhythms of this music flowing in their blood. In the 1960s, Deutsche Grammophon and the Westminster label introduced listeners to much fascinating Hungarian repertoire which they had never previously encountered. This Eloquence set of 'Hungarian Connections' gathers up these rare recordings for the first time and reissues them in newly remastered versions with original covers. Ferencsik and Lehel were leading orchestras who knew their style intimately, and who had the Hungarian rhythms of this music flowing in their blood: Ferencsik remarked that he performed Bartok's music as naturally as if he were breathing. No less compelling is the single album issued by DG of Kodaly conducting his own music, which introduced the shimmeringly evocative tone-poem Summer Evening to many western listeners. Finally, there is a single LP of highlights from the 1961 Liszt-Bartok Piano Competition, held in Budapest. Hungarian Connections is a feast of rare recordings which no collector will want to miss.