Record Reviews
by JOHN M. CONLY
Bach: Cantatas No. 140,Wachet auf,and No. 32,Liebster Jesu, mein verlangen (Magda Laszlo, soprano, Alfred Poell, bass, Wald cm ar Kmentt, tenor; Hermann Scherchen conducting Vienna Slate Opera Orchestra and Akademiechor; Westminster: 12" LP). This Wachet auf just barely nudges out another excellent new one, issued by Bach Guild, conducted by Felix Prohaska and graced by Anny Felbermayer. The Bach Guild also offers Christ lag in Todesbanden on the reverse. Hear both before choosing.
Bach: Partitas in B-Flat Major, C Minor, A Minor, D Major, G Major, and F Minor (Paul BaduraSkoda, piano; westminster: three 12" LPs in album with score). Here is something gorgeous, a treasure. Badura-Skoda’s Bach has the same loving brightness Kdwin Fischers had, without the wrong notes. Amen.
Beethoven and Brahms: Symphonies (Felix Weingartner conducting Vienna Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic: Columbia: thirteen 12" LPs). Age dulls the sound of this complete reprint series (originally recorded 1926-42), but nothing can mar the deep, unfaltering rightness of Weingarl ner’s playing. Lvery orchestra leader in the land needs these recordings and every real Beethoven and Brahms enthusiast. Try the Beethoven Fourth and Brahms Third.
Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor (Eugene Ormandy conducting Philadelphia Orchestra; Columbia; 12" LP), In new, scrumptious, hi-fi clothes, a near-perfect replica of the famous “while-hot 1934 Stokowski performance. Warning: a new Toscanini is already on tape.
Dvorak:Amid Nature, Car it aval, Otello,and Notturno for Strings (Henry Swoboda conducting Vienna State Opera Orchestra; Concert Hall: 12" LP). A melodic feast almost never set forth in concert halls. On one LP, a delightfully seasonal bargain.
Gold mark : Rustic Wedding Symphony (Henry Swoboda conducting Vienna State Opera Orchestra: Concert Hall: 12" LP). Lusty, lyrical, and everlastingly list enable (like the Dvorak Slavonic Dances), this strangely underexploited work is handsomely performed and recorded.
Haydn: Quartets Op. 17, Nos. 1—6 (Schneider Quartet; Haydn Society: three 12" LPs, analytical notes on request). People who think chamber music formidable should start with these utterly endearing samples. The Schneiders, who plan to do Haydn’s whole output, play with all the Gemiitlichkeit there is.
Honegger: Concertino, together with Milhaud: Concerto No. 1 (Fabiennc Jacquinot, piano; Anatole Fistoulari conducting Philharmonia Orchestra; M-G-M: 10" LP). A sprightly modern cocktail, easy to take; plenty of tonal tang.
Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A Major (Benny Goodman, American Art Quartet; Columbia: 12" LP). Benny, a fine Mozartian, here outclasses (by far) a new Westminster with Leopold Which and the Vienna Konzert bans and (much more narrowly) the older Lyrichord Sidney Forrest version.
Puccini:La Boheme (Toscanini conducting Albanese, Peerce, other soloists, and NBC Symphony; RCA Victor: two 12" LPs or 45 albums). Comments are obviously redundant, except that in this one the Maestro actually can be heard humming.
Ravel:Gaspard de la -Suit and Mimirs (Leonard Pennario, piano; Capitol: 12" LP). Still too young to be quite another Gieseking, Pennario does an impressive job, abetted by some of the best piano tone (“Full Dimensional Sound”) on records. Listen also to his 10" Liszt-DcbussyChopin “war-horse” disk.
Weber:Grand Duo Concertanteand Variations on a Theme fromSilvania (Sidney Forrest, clarinet, Leonid Hambro, piano; WCFM: 12" LP). Florid but graceful music, wonderfully lush clarinet sounds, somehow very fetching.