Ungarische Rhapsodien Nr. 2 Und 12 / Ungarische Fantasie Für Klavier Und Orchester

Released in 1956 by Deutsche Grammophon under the catalog number LPE 17 010, this recording captures the virtuosic Hungarian pianist Julian von Karolyi performing Franz Liszt’s iconic compositions. The record features the Second and Twelfth Hungarian Rhapsodies alongside the Hungarian Fantasia for piano and orchestra. This release emerged during a mid-century period when Deutsche Grammophon was aggressively expanding its catalog to showcase the technical prowess of European concert pianists through the burgeoning high-fidelity medium.

The design of this release reflects the minimalist aesthetic favored by Deutsche Grammophon during the mid-1950s, prioritizing clean typography and clear identification of the soloist and repertoire. Julian von Karolyi was highly regarded for his sympathetic and idiomatic approach to Liszt’s complex, nationalistic scores. The performance was received as a definitive interpretation at the time, helping solidify Karolyi's reputation as a masterful interpreter of Romantic-era piano literature within the postwar classical recording industry.