Born in Vienna in April 1902, the cheery-looking Josef Krips seems to have been pre-destined to achieve eminence in the Viennese classics. He recorded with both, the Wiener Philharmoniker and the key London orchestras for Decca in the 1940s, 50s and 60s and the interpretations have genuine expressive power while remaining devoid of exaggeration or affectation.

Here we have two extremely rare recordings, both receiving their first international release on CD. They are the only two recordings Krips made with the Concertgebouw Orchestra for Decca. The Beethoven is beautifully paced and energetic, the Schubert painted on an expansive canvas, never exaggerated and offering fascinating comparison with his later recording of this work, also for Decca, but with the London Symphony Orchestra (Decca Eloquence 4804725).

This issue forms part of a series of five reissues devoted to the art of Josef Krips.

Recording producers: Victor Olof (Beethoven); John Culshaw (Schubert)

Recording engineer: Kenneth Wilkinson

Recording location: Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, September 1953 (Beethoven), May 1952 (Schubert)