Richard Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel; Tod und Verklärung / Brahms: Hungarian Dances / Dvořák: Slavonic

Reiner was a Strauss conductor of quite exceptional insight and sympathy. Both Tod und Verklärung and Till Eulenspiegel are given immediately gripping performances. I did not get to know the Strauss until relatively recently when I bought a mono copy in a sale of deletions. I must confess that I was bowled over by the splendour of the performances and gratified by the warmth and clarity of the recording. My version was mono only and I can report that the stereo is uncommonly fine and indeed quite remarkable for a recording made in September 1956. I have heard quite a number of records made recently that are nowhere near as good. There is splendid ambience and range, a good stereo spread, clean definition and body. Both performances are immediately gripping: they are obviously of great distinction and I would go even further and say that they are inspired. Reiner was a Strauss conductor of quite exceptional insight and sympathy: his Tod und Verklärung seems to me the finest in the catalogue without exception and Till Eulenspiegel is certainly the equal of the finest both in terms of characterisation, orchestral playing and recording. -- Gramophone [5/1973]