Financial Times Europe 14 June 2024

Hardly anybody will dispute that Otto Klemperer (1885-1973) was one of the most remarkable conductors of the last century. During his Budapest guest performances between the two World Wars he had already been given an enthusiastic reception by the audience and the musical profession alike. Not only his interpretation of the Viennese classical and romantic repertoire met with recognition but that of modern Hungarian music as well. For example, when conducting the premiere of Bartok’s Second Piano Concerto at the head of the Budapest Concert Orchestra Bartok, who was usually grudging of praise, declared that he could not imagine a more consummate performance of the orchestral part. Klemperer lived and worked in Hungary between 1947 and 1950 without a break, conducting the orchestra of the Opera in the first place and appearing on stage in concerts with symphonic orchestras. His interpretations of Bach’s and Wagner’s works on the present CD date from this period.