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Records

In the first issues this year I will concentrate on reviews of the best discs released during the vacation.

Out on Decca in December was the first real challenge to the late Dennis Brain's status as "maestro of the French horn." It is ironical that his successor. Barry Tuckwell, also principal with the London Symphony Orchestra, is better known as the brother of the new Lady Harewood rather than as the most gifted young horn player in the world today.

On Decca SXL 6285 Stereo, are masterful performances of Richard Strauss's 1st and 2nd Horn Concertos E Flat Major and a bonus — father Franz's Horn Concerto Op. 8.

Tuckwell's best form is in the 1st concerto — right from the strident horn call which opens the piece through to the "last splendid outburst in place of the cadenza". The playing throughout is of such a uniform excellence that further comment becomes superfluous.

Of course this L.P. has the great advantage of an excellent modern stereo recording which successfully captures Tuckwell's splendid tone.

There have been many occasions in gramophone history when exclusive recording contracts have prevented recordings of concerts where artists from various labels have been performing together.