ICA Classics Richard Itter - Great Soloists Box

[Barbirollians]

I cannot recommend this too highly . It includes not only a 1950s Sibelius concerto from Ida Haendel - have not checked timers but seems quicker than later accounts but also Oistrakh in the Tchaikovsky and Campoli in the Symphony Espagnole and de Vito in the Viotti No22 - a piece now rather out of fashion but enjoyable here .

There is also excellent Lalo and Tchaikovsky from Navarra and a deeply felt Dvorak Concerto with Zara Nelson and Sargent .

The fourth disc is the highlight for me - live performances of Dennis Brain in Mozart HC 2 and 4 and Strauss 1 - the Mozart in particular has a freedom above that with HVK and the Strauss with Boult is just terrific.

Finally , a performance of the Paganini Rhapsody by a pianist I did not know and a damn good one too Monique de la Bruchollerie I think her name is .

[Barbirollians]

Or even Richard Itter - can someone please reverse the autocorrect.

[pastoralguy]

Or even Richard Itter - can someone please reverse the autocorrect.

I bought that set and I'm ashamed to say it's still in its plastic wrapping! Very much looking forward to hearing it if I ever get some free time!

[Barbirollians]

Get the wrapping off and it in the player . I have had a great deal of pleasure playing these recordings and as stated above the three Dennis Brain recordings are particularly wonderful.

It is strange that Boult has so little Richard Strauss in his record repertoire . As far as I can see only the four songs he recorded with Janet Baker late in his life .

Yet both here in the Strauss Horn Concerto no 1 and in the chance taping of that very moving Don Quixote with du Pre he comes across as an outstanding Strauss conductor.