István Kertész’s recordings on Decca are legendary and many of them are now on CD on Eloquence – some for the first time. This generous 2CD set offers a unique coupling of two ‘fairy tale’ pieces by Hungarian composers: Kodály’s ‘Hary Janos’ (a ‘singspiel’), a light-hearted tale of the imaginary adventures of the Hungarian general (with Peter Ustinov, no less, as the hilarious actor/narrator) and Bartók’s one-act operatic thriller, ‘Duke Bluebeard’s Castle’. The extensive notes in the booklet include a conversation between producer Erik Smith with Kertész and Christa Ludwig who sings the part of Judith in the Bartók. The recordings are some of Decca’s best and even today sound absolutely spectacular.
CD1
ZOLTAN KODÁLY
Háry János
Peter Ustinov, narrator
György Melis, baritone
Erzsébet Komlóssy, contralto
Márgit László, soprano
Olga Szönyi, mezzo soprano
László Palócz, bass-baritone
Zsolt Bende, baritone
Wandsworth School Boys’ Choir
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra
István Kertész
CD2
BÉLA BARTÓK
Duke Bluebeard’s Castle, BB 62 (Op. 11)
Walter Berry, bass-baritone
Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano
London Symphony Orchestra
István Kertész
Recording Producers: Ray Minshull, Erik Smith (Kodály); Erik Smith (Bartók)
Balance Engineers: Kenneth Wilkinson, Stanley Goodall (Kodály); Kenneth Wilkinson (Bartók)
Recording Location: Kingsway Hall, London, UK, February-March 1964 & May 1968 (Kodály), November 1965 (Bartók)
‘the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and the Wandsworth schoolboys deserve special commendation for their valour … something of a virtuoso performance in its own right which Ustinov obviously enjoyed hugely … technically the whole thing is a ‘tour de force’ – and that includes particularly vivid orchestral sound; partly it is the sheer superlative panache of the orchestral playing under Kertesz’ (Kodály) Gramophone
‘this issue of Bartók’s early opera must count as one of Decca’s great operatic recordings, to be treasured by all who appreciate this marvellous score. Rival versions, past and present, are left at the post’ (Bartók) Gramophone
‘sets new standards … the Decca remastering reaches demonstration quality’ (Bartók) Penguin Guide ***