One of bart¢k"s most popular symphonic works is his concerto for orchestra; rafael kubelik"s fabulous recording of it has long been out of the catalogue and is now restored to circulation at budget price. What"s more, it"s the first recording of the piece made by the orchestra for which it was written. Koussevitzky and the boston symphony premiered the work in december 1944 and it wasn"t until nearly 30 years later, in november 1973, that the orchestra recorded it for the first time - in boston"s symphony hall, with kubelik conducting. The viola concerto was commissioned by william primrose, who did much to advocate the piece. Sadly, bart¢k died before he could complete the work or meet with primrose at a sufficiently advanced stage of the concerto"s composition in order to discuss it. Tibor serly completed the work and primrose premiered it in 1949. This is the first release on cd of the deutsche grammophon recording of the piece with daniel benyamini, for long leader of the viola section of the israel philharmonic as soloist, and daniel barenboim conducting.