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Bartok: Viola Concerto (William Primrose, viola; the New Symphony Orchestra of London, Tibor Serly conducting; Bartok Records, 2 sides LP). Bartok sums up his own distinctive chromatic and rhapsodic language in this, one of his last compositions. A magnificent first recording of the concerto by the violist who commissioned it and the composer-conductor who completed it after Bartok's death...
Bartok: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta (the Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan conducting; Columbia, 2 sides LP). Bartok's best work attains one of the marks of a classic: varying interpretations. Karajan distorts the slow movement; in another performance Rafael Kubelik, conducting the Chicago Symphony (Mercury, 1 side LP), is overly fussy with the dynamics. The first recording by Harold Byrns and the Los Angeles Chamber Symphony (Capitol) is still the best. All recordings are good...
Beethoven: Sonatas No. 8, Op. 13; No. 32, Op. 111 (Solomon, pianist; Victor, 2 sides LP). Except for some affected stretching of the opening phrases of the "Pathétique," British Pianist Solomon's performances are just about perfect. Recording: good...
Dello Joio: Psalm of David (Crane Orchestra and Chorus of the Potsdam (N.Y.) Teachers College, Helen M. Hosmer conducting; Concert Hall Society, 2 sides LP). Talented, 39-year-old Norman Dello Joio (TIME, May 22, 1950) describes this first oratorio as "a 20th century treatment of early French and Italian music." His treatment is skillful, freshly contemporary without being harsh or clashing, altogether distinctly beautiful. Performance and recording: good...
Haydn: Six Quartets, Op. 17 (the Schneider Quartet; Haydn Society, 6 sides LP). These lively quartets are among the first three dozen of the 85 Haydn wrote. The performances are straightforward and sometimes brusque, short on nuance and beauty of tone. Recording: good...