Ungarische Fantasie · Ungarische Rhapsodien Nr. 4 Und Nr. 5 / Ungarische Tänze Nr. 17·18·19 Und 20

Released in 1980 under Deutsche Grammophon’s mid-price 'Privilege' series, this record serves as a compilation of previously recorded performances featuring the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert von Karajan and soloist Shura Cherkassky. The collection brings together Romantic-era staples by Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms, reflecting the label’s strategy during the late 1970s and early 1980s to repackage high-fidelity archival recordings for a wider audience. By coupling Liszt’s Hungarian Fantasia and Rhapsodies with Brahms’s Hungarian Dances, the release provides a thematic exploration of the 19th-century fascination with Hungarian folk music, a genre that deeply influenced both composers' orchestral output.

The recording benefits from the technical standards of Deutsche Grammophon during the late analog era, characterized by a lush, expansive soundstage that became a hallmark of Karajan’s collaborations with the Berlin Philharmonic. Shura Cherkassky, known for his idiosyncratic and virtuosic keyboard style, provides the soloist work for the Liszt pieces, offering a nuanced counterpoint to the orchestral gravity of the Philharmonic. The sleeve design adheres to the classic, austere aesthetics of the Privilege line, prioritizing clear typography and authoritative branding to appeal to classical music enthusiasts seeking reliable, high-quality interpretations of the central repertoire.