Including “vital and inspiring performances”, here are 4 CDs containing William Steinberg conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which includes some of his “best entries in his discography, and the finest recordings of the works.” Mendelssohn’s own orchestration of the Scherzo from his Octet and Stravinsky’s Scherzo fantastique and Scherzo à la russe, coupled on CD 3 with formidable virtuoso renderings of orchestral showpieces by Dukas, Richard Strauss and Saint-Saëns, were originally prepared for release on LP LSC-3155 but remained unpublished – until now.

Rounding off this survey of RCA Boston Symphony Orchestra recordings from the Steinberg era are tapings of Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony and Carnival Overture made in 1970 under Arthur Fiedler, former BSO violinist and longstanding conductor of the Boston Pops.

William Steinberg was appointed music director of the Boston Symphony in 1969 as successor to Erich Leinsdorf, he attained the pinnacle of his career. No previous conductor had headed two top-ten US orchestras simultaneously. All recordings in the set have been newly transferred and remastered from the 3-track, 4-track and 2-track analogue tapes using 24-bit/192kHz technology.