Record Reviews

By John M. Conly

by JOHN M. CONLY

Bach: Cantata No. 63, Christians, Engrave Ye This Day (Michael Gielen conducting soloists, Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Chamber Choir; Bach Guild: 12" LP). This is really a miniature oratorio, a companion piece to the Magnificat, and just as dramatic. Gielen plays it all-out, wonderfully abetted by Hilde Rossl-Majdan’s heartful alto and Helmut Wobitseh’s terrific trumpet. Fine sound.

Beethoven: Symphonies No. 2 and No. 4 (Bruno Walter conducting Philharmonic-Symphony of New York; Columbia: 12" LP). A technique Columbia calls “ variable pitch,” which apparently means closer margin-control, has enabled them to fit these two works on one record without noticeable loss of dynamic range. This is a great bargain, since it offers incidentally the best Beethoven Walter has put on disks, inspired playing and magnificent sound.

Bizet: Petite Suite,Jeux d‘Enfants, with Chabrier: Suite Pastorale (Warwick Braithwaite conducting Royal Opera House Orchestra; M-G-M: 12" LP). In its first twelve-inch issues, M-G-M has attained hi-fi, much to the benefit of Braithwaite and his Covent Garden crew in their presentation of these playful and melodious pieces.

Brahms: Quintet in F Minor (Joerg Demus, piano; Vienna Konzerthaus Quartet; Westminster: 12" LP). The balance of instruments here is not quite perfect, and there may be occasional rough spots in the playing, but it doesn’t matter at all. There is also such delight and absorption in the music that it cannot fail to be contagious. Masterly.

Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor (Arturo Toscanini conducting NBC Symphony; RCA Victor: 12" LP). This performance seems practically faultless. Yet, to this reviewer, it is less enjoyable than the London Krips version from almost every aspect. No explanation offered.

Dvorak: Concerto in B Minor (Zara Nelsova, cello; Josef Krips conducting London Symphony; London: 12" LP). After the dancing zest of the antique Casals-Szell, this sounds massive, but it has fine sonority.

Foote, Arthur: Suite in E Major, with Canning, Thomas: Fantasy on a Hymn by Justin Morgan and Mennini. Louis: Arioso for Strings (Howard Hanson conducting Eastman-Rochester Symphony; Mercury: 12" LP). This is one of two records with which Mercury has initiated an American music series (see below: Thompson). The Foote suite is deep, tender, and tasteful; the other items pleasant trivia. Superb reproduction.

Mozart : Piano Concerto No. 25 in C, with Bach: Concerto No. 2 for Three Pianos (Edwin Fischer, piano; Josef Krips conducting Philharmonia Orchestra; Fischer, Denis Matthews, Ronald Smith, pianos; Philharmonia Orchestra; HMV: 12" LP). The technical fidelity isn’t high, but the musical fidelity is, especially in Fischer’s flowing Mozart.

Nielsen, Carl: Symphony No. 1 in G Minor (Thomas Jensen conducting Danish State. Radio Orchestra; London: 12" LP). Nielsenites, an articulate minority, will greet this with glee. To others, it will sound like Sibelius taking himself a little less seriously than usual.

Schumann: Fantasiestücke. Op. 12, and Fantasie, Op. 17 (Joerg Remus, piano; Westminster: 12" LP). Westminster really can pick artists — Badura-Skoda for Mozart and Schubert, Demus for Schumann. This is truly alive, heart-touching. Fine piano sound.

Thompson, Randall:Testament of Freedom, with Hanson, Howard : Songs fromDrum Taps (Howard Hanson conducting EastmanRochester Orchestra, Kastman School Chorus; Mercury: 12" LP). The Testament, still pretentious, still sounds good. The Hanson — musical settings of Whitman Civil War poems — stands up well.

Verdi:Don Carlo (Fernando Previtali conducting Radio Italiana Orchestra and Chorus, with Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, bass; Maria Caniglia, soprano; Ebe Stignani, mezzo, and others; Cetra-Soria: four 12" LPs in album with libretto). An almost unmanageably clumsy plot coupled with some of Verdi’s most compellingly dramatic music. A fine record debut for the fabulous Mr. Rossi-Lemeni, who could sound kingly hawking roasted chestnuts.