George Szell, Eugene Ormandy - Offenbach: Gaite Parisienne / Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances / Smetana: Three Dances (1992)

The Philadelphia Orchestra was Rachmaninoff's favorite band. He conducted them himself, and formed a close working relationship with both Leopold Stokowski in the 1920s, and then with Eugene Ormandy. He was reported to have been very disappointed when Ormandy gave a cool reception to the opportunity to conduct the Symphonic Dances premiere, and Ormandy didn't make this recording until a couple of decades later. It's most notable for the typically rich and lovely string sound that Ormandy draws from his players. While other performances may be more exciting, this one does have a certain idiomatic stamp which, at budget price, is worth a listen. --David Hurwitz