London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent - Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition & Night on Bald Mountain (2013) Hi-Res

This recording was made in 1959 but the date is the only thing that dates it. The clarity and truthfulness of the recorded sound using the 35mm tape technique remains notable even in the modern context.

Sargent was a natural extrovert conductor, earning the nickname ‘Flash Harry’ among his supporters. This composition of program content illustrating various contrasted paintings as well as a character responding to them suited that side of his character very well. Needless to say, the Night on the Bare Mountain which completes the disc was also a close to perfect match.

The LSO had been developing as a major national London-based orchestra for a while and at this time was identifiable as an orchestra that had a degree of corporate and individual brilliance about its sound and delivery. Those features distinguished it from the characteristic sonic worlds associated with the other London orchestras as well as European ensembles such as the BPO or VPO. American orchestras likewise developed their own individual sounds around the same time – the Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia orchestras being easy examples to identify.

The upshot of all of this was that the LSO and Sargent made a natural working combination in repertoire such as this. The final result compares well with, but is not superior to, alternative famous and respected accounts by Reiner and Szell of the same period (both also well remastered). Collectors will know the value of owning alternative fine accounts of any repertoire as they add up to a fascinating and invaluable broader understanding of repertoire.

This disc offers rewarding corporate and individual insights to further deepen insights into the presented music. The recording quality is well up to expectations of the renowned Everest label.