Described by critics as "ideal and unsurpassable" when first issued in 1961, these historic recordings remain truly definitive. They have the authority of a soloist and conductor who shared the composer's Hungarian heritage and the finesse of two lifelong friends who honed their interpretations through dozens of concerts before committing them to tape. Anda and Fricsay's galvanizing live performances of these works in the 1950s led audiences to demand repeated movements on the spot. These crystal-clear and full-bodied stereo recordings capture that magic and are partly responsible for Bartok's secure place in the concert repertory today.