Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Fritz Reiner
The bulk of this double-disc bargain features Reiner with the Chicago Symphony, which he shaped into a polished paragon of orchestral virtuosity. The set opens with Beethoven's Coriolan Overture, one of best on disc, thrusting and powerful. The longest work is Brahms's Second Piano Concerto, which pits Reiner's machined precision against Gilels's big, warm sound. The combination yielded one of the best Brahms Seconds in the catalogue, more dynamic than the pianist's later version with Jochum (on DG).  Mozart's Linz Symphony gets a lean, classical performance, forward-moving yet lyrical, the finale thrilling.  The Dawn and Siegfried's Rhine Journey fromGoetterdaemmerung, stresses the darkness of the Rhine more than the light of the dawn, and Reiner's 1950Til Eulenspiegelwith the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra captures the sardonic humor of Strauss's masterpiece.  Falla'sEl Amor Brujo, a work Reiner often played, is a souvenir of his leadership of the Pittsburgh Symphony, brilliantly done with Carol Brice a terrific, chesty-voiced singer. Ravel'sLe Tombeau de Couperincould use a bit more charm and grace, but it's well-played by the NBC Symphony. Sonics range from superb early stereo to decent late 1940s mono. A good overview, proving that Reiner was indeed one of the century's great maestros.--Dan Davis