Records

Bruckner. Symphony No 8, in C Minor. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan. World Record RZ 603½ (Mono and Stereo).

The first thing one notices about this set Is the superlative playing by The Berlin Philharmonic and the happy way in which the balance of loud to soft passages and the internal balance of the orchestra as well has been managed b> the engineers.

Karajan's interpretation is one in which he tends to linger a bit, something that is fatal in Bruckner ("who always tends to sag anyway," do I hear the comment?) He emphasises the "noble" aspects at the expense of liveliness—especially in the Scherzo, which could be a lot more exciting, but the overall effect is magnificent.

Bruckner addicts should not hesitate to rush this issue, not only because the Eighth was the composer's own favourite, but because out of all the recorded versions (admittedly few) It uses as nearly the original edition as possible, so that there are no cuts as in the later revised edition. It is not likely t that such a fine performance will be matched for quite a long time; the sleeve note is excellent.

(The stereo version is not available yet; a pity, for Bruckner is the one composer above all who needs it.)

Silhouettes. A Selection played by Virgil Fox (Organ), The Swan (Saint-Saens), Elegie (Massenet), To Spring (Grieg), Evening Star (Wagner), etc. World Record TZ 168 (Mono and Stereo).

A fine demonstration disc for low organ notes—guaranteed to startle even the most blase woofer—but the whole selection is played at such a funeral pace that saturation point is soon reached and the treacly mixture (at the best of times) cloys.

Concert Waltzes. Naila Waltz (Delibes), Fete Polonaise (Chabrier), Various waltzes by Tchaikovsky, etc. The Philharmonia Promenade Orchestra conducted by Henry Krips. World Record AZ 51 (Mono and Stereo.)

After having had the misfortune of attending a National Orchestra promenade concert at which Krips made an ass of himself and a mess of the music, I didn't approach this record with much enthusiasm. The faults displayed at the concert are repeated here — the overemphasis on rhythm, lack of subtlety and no delicacy of phrasing. On the credit side, however, there is gusto and vitality and fine recording.

If you want the selection, it is good of its kind and the sleeve is nicely designed.

Opera Intermezzi. Barcarole from Tales of Hoffman, Prelude to Act 3 of La Traviata, Intermezzi from Manon Lescaut, Cavalleria Rusticana, I Pagliacci, L'Amico Fritz, inter alia. The Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan. World Record AZ 52 (Mono only).

Karajan makes a judicious selection of familiar and lesser known pieces for this collection and they are all well played and recorded, though I would question the slowness of the Entr'acte to Act 4 of Khovantschina. It sounds far more exciting on the old Stokowski black labelled HMV 78 even than here

An interesting oddity is that the late Dennis Brain plays the organ in the Intermezzo from Cav.

Brahms. Symphony No. 3, In F Major, Variations on The Saint Anthony Chorale, Op. 56a. The Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Erich Leinsdorf. World Record TZ 167 (Mono and Stereo).

A disappointing issue. From the very opening chords the performance of the Third is devoid of any kind of nervous excitement or energy and in the later movements things bog down miserably. The fillup is a lot better, even if there is still nothing to excite, and the recorded sound of both sides is adequate. But who would have expected the Philharmonia to have such an off day?

Bach Organ Works (Volume One of a Three Volume Set): Four Preludes and Fugues; A Minor (BWV 543), B Minor (BWV 514), C Major (BWV 547), C Minor (BWV 546). Fernando Germani on the organ of St. Laurens Church, Alkmaar, Holland. Record Society RZ 6031 (Mono only).

What a magnificent instrument the Schnitzer organ that Germani uses is. Built originally when Bach was still alive, it still has superb tone with a welcome absence of incidental mechanical noises. (It has been overhauled a few times since then, of course.)

This selection contains works that surely must belong in the top rank of those for organ. Germani has beautifully rhythmic control and the music surges forward smoothly and without pomposity on the one hand, or over-sentimentality on the other. BWV 546 and 547 are particularly well done, but the whole disc is well played and cleanly recorded. I am hoping that the next two records of the set are as well presented as this one. (Special credit should be given for the excellently Informative sleeve note.)