KODALY: Hary Janos; BARTOK: Duke Bluebeard's Castle - Ustinov, Berry, Ludwig, Edinburgh Festival Chorus, London Symphony, Kertesz (2 CDs)

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