Piano CTO. No. 1 -Previn / Poulenc: CTO. For Piannos - Gold & Fizdale - Bernstein / N.Y Philh.

Released by Columbia Masterworks in 1962, this recording captures a pairing of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Francis Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos. The Shostakovich side features pianist André Previn with Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic, while the Poulenc side features duo-pianists Arthur Gold and Robert Fizdale. The album represents a mid-century interest in bridging the gap between classical repertoire and more contemporary, whimsical compositions, with the Shostakovich work particularly noted for its integration of a solo trumpet part, played here by William Vacchiano.

The album art and sound production reflect the standards of Columbia’s high-fidelity series during the early 1960s. Gold and Fizdale were highly regarded for their advocacy of two-piano music, frequently commissioning works from major composers of the era. This specific recording was received as a sophisticated showcase of the New York Philharmonic’s versatility under Bernstein, who was deeply committed to promoting both modern Soviet works and French neoclassical compositions to American audiences.