Zempleni / Wehner: Bartok Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Westminster WST 17003

Jacket EX / LP EX

This beautiful LP from Westminster (WST 17003, US pressing, black/blue band label, stereo) features brilliant performances of Bartok’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2, with conductor Janos Ferencsik and the Hungarian State Orchestra providing dynamic accompaniment throughout.

The exact details are as follows:

Piano Concerto No. 1 Sz 83

> with pianist Kornel Zemplény

Piano Concerto No. 2 Sz 95

> with pianist Tibor Wehner

Both performances were set down in the fine acoustics of Coronation Church, Budapest, on 1 August 1961 and sound magnificent here, richly detailed yet in a a spacious acoustic.

This album was originally recorded and released by Hungaroton (producer: András Székely / engineer: Laszlo Csintalan. The remarkable cover photo was taken by John Ross while the album design was executed by Viceroy. The reverse side of the jacket carries insightful liner notes by Paul Affelder, provided in English only.