01. - 06. Serenade No.1 in D major, op.11 [46'27]
07. - 11. Serenade No.2 in A major, op.16 [29'16]
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Istvan Kertesz
Decca Weekend 421628-2 (recorded December 1967; this CD release 1989)
(flac and scans)
Recording venue: Kingsway Hall, London
Recording engineer: Kenneth Wilkinson; Producer: Erik Smith
I noticed that this Kertesz recording is selected as the top recommendation in the Gramophone Collection for Serenade No.1 in the May issue of Gramophone. I was surprised to find that neither this, nor subsequent re-releases, are frequenting the blogosphere. Unfortunately, this is one of Decca's minimalist Weekend series so there are no booklet notes or accreditation at all - but the details shown above, found on the interweb, appear to be correct. I imagine that the current release on Eloquence Australia is more forthcoming.
In his review, Andrew Farrach-Colton finds that "Kertesz brings out the music's exuberance and colour, the LSO playing with gusto...the recording has lost none of its thrilling vividness". This listener also cut his teeth on these recordings although I am nowadays a little less enthusiastic. As with some earlier reviewers, I find some of Kertesz's tempi very slow.