Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30, was composed in the summer of 1909. The piece was premiered on November 28 of that year in New York City with the composer as soloist, accompanied by the New York Symphony Society under Walter Damrosch. The work has the reputation of being one of the most technically challenging piano concertos in the standard classical piano repertoire.

Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 (sometimes renumbered as Symphony No. 7, in accordance with the revised Deutsch catalogue and the Neue Schubert-Ausgabe), commonly known as the Unfinished Symphony (German: Unvollendete), is a musical composition that Schubert started in 1822 but left with only two movements—though he lived for another six years. A scherzo, nearly completed in piano score but with only two pages orchestrated, also survives.

The Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43, is a four-movement work for orchestra written from 1901 to 1902 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. He began writing the symphony in winter 1901 in Rapallo, Italy, shortly after the successful premiere of the popular Finlandia. Sibelius said, "My second symphony is a confession of the soul."

This is one of two recordings of the Double Concerto that Mstislav Rostropovich performed. That the cello's repertoire has been so wonderfully enriched during the 20th century is due largely to Mstislav Rostropovich, the most influential cellist of his time, a champion of liberty, and also a noted conductor and pianist. Rostropovich was closely associated with EMI Classics (now Warner Classics) for more than 50 years, having made 100 recordings with the company between 1954 and his death in 2007, just a month after celebrations for his 80th birthday at the Kremlin.

What can you say about George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra? No other conductor and orchestra has ever turned in performances of such discipline and transparency of sound–not Karajan and Berlin, not Solti and Chicago–no one! In Brahms, where the natural thickness of the orchestral writing is always a peril, they never put a foot wrong. And all of this at budget price, too! Simply amazing."

George Szell, originally György Széll, György Endre Szél, or Georg Szell was a Hungarian-born American conductor and composer. Considered one of the twentieth century's greatest conductors, he was music director of the Cleveland Orchestra of Cleveland, Ohio, and recorded a standard classical repertoire in Cleveland, and with other orchestras.

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was one of the most linguistically as well as musically versatile sopranos of the post-war years. Her soprano accompanied by various other participants including the Pianisten, Orchestras & famous Conductors cover the classical great composers.

HighDefTapeTransfers chose another genuine classic to remaster, and one can hardly argue the importance of this 1961 recording of Antonín Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor, Op.104, B.191 from cellist Pierre Fournier ant the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by George Szell.

Immerse yourself in the timeless brilliance of Ludwig van Beethoven's music with this captivating album: a remarkable live performance led by the legendary conductor George Szell, accompanied by the virtuoso pianist Rudolf Firkušný and the prestigious Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Released by Gebhart, the album captures the essence of Beethoven's compositions, infusing them with passion and precision. The symphonic grandeur and expressive nuances come alive under Szell's masterful direction, while Firkušný's piano prowess adds depth and beauty to the performances. This album is a testament to the enduring power of Beethoven's music, brought to life by exceptional musicians in a live setting that resonates with energy and emotion.

Pianist Clifford Curzon joins the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by George Szell for this recording of Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15. This 1962 recording of Brahms's massive First Concerto was an instant classic when originally released.

HighDefTapeTransfers chose another genuine classic to remaster, and one can hardly argue the importance of this 1961 recording of Antonín Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor, Op.104, B.191 from cellist Pierre Fournier ant the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by George Szell.

This 1970 concert, recorded live in Tokyo by NHK radio engineers, is the stuff of which legends are made…