Depending on where you sat, Henryk Szeryng and James Tocco's performance on August 1, 1979, was either dominated by the pianist, dominated by the violinist, or both were simply lost in the space of the Grossfestspielhaus in Salzburg. But apparently the technicians of the Austrian Radio knew where to set up the microphone because, as judged by the evidence of this recording, Szeryng and Tocco had a wonderfully sympathetic partnership and they knew exactly where they were at all times. Szeryng was at the peak of his abilities ...
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Depending on where you sat, Henryk Szeryng and James Tocco's performance on August 1, 1979, was either dominated by the pianist, dominated by the violinist, or both were simply lost in the space of the Grossfestspielhaus in Salzburg. But apparently the technicians of the Austrian Radio knew where to set up the microphone because, as judged by the evidence of this recording, Szeryng and Tocco had a wonderfully sympathetic partnership and they knew exactly where they were at all times. Szeryng was at the peak of his abilities and his career when this recording was made and he had in Tocco a pianist who was also an accompanist, a partner who would be an equal and not merely a supporter. Each fully characterized the parts in each piece, but both worked together to achieve the rare frisson of two artists creating a wholly unified work of art. Their Mozart is the essence of elegance, their Brahms is the soul of lyricism, and their Beethoven is the quintessence of drama. Orfeo's sound is rich and round and...
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