Very idiomatic playing from all concerned. The young Previn is firmly on home territory as are the Kostelanetz Orchestra conducted by 'the man himself’.
Piano tone is very clear, but rounded in attack and not overly bright or thin. Previn's contribution in general, as hinted above, is to the manner born. He did go on to record both pieces here again in the early digital era with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (where he also doubled as conductor), but not necessarily to greater effect overall.
Kostelanetz, when on the East Coast, conducted the New York Philharmonic in lighter repertoire - in fact many of his recordings more or less feature that orchestra, but - no doubt for contractual reasons (but hardly less of a selling point for music fans at the time either way) - they were usually billed as the Kostelanetz Orchestra when under his baton.
This recording, however, is of West Coast provenance and made in Hollywood. Therefore what we are listening to, is, in all probability, a completely different ensemble: information available elsewhere online reveals that the excellent trumpet soloist in the concerto's second movement, is Uan Rasey, a well known and much revered Hollywood session musician.
I downloaded the 24/96 flac. This sounds clearer and more involving than Sony's 'official' former Columbia in-house release. There, the sound for me is too clean, too clinical and silky. But here we have a genuine warm and textured tone to the strings (just listen to the violins sing - low down at first, but then up an octave at around 6:30 to around 8:30 into the first movement!). I wouldn't want to be without the 1967 Entremont/Ormandy recording of this, but at this moment in the score, to me, even the great strings of Ormandy’s Philadelphia Orchestra, while not upstaged, are certainly equalled. In the present transfer, you can also hear more natural space between the players, as if you really are there, in a plush concert hall with velvet-unholstered seats.
Balance and tempi throughout are apt with rubati perfectly timed.
Everything about the Rhapsody is right too, with a perfectly executed clarinet glissando and as lovely a rendition of the central slow melody as you will ever be likely to hear. In the past, releases of Previn's 1960 Concerto recording have appeared alongside Bernstein's version of the Rhapsody (another classic recording), but it's a treat to have these Previn recordings coupled together once again as they first appeared. Add this to the fact that they can now be heard - just as they would have been heard at the time on state-of-the-art 60's hi-fi equipment - in superb transfers from 2-track open reel tape and its associated and fabled transparency of sound.
A worthy addition to any music library. Thoroughly recommended.
