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Bartok: Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Opus I (Andor Foldes, pianist, with the Lamoureux Orchestra, Roger Désormierė conducting; Polydor-Vox, 1 side LP). Composed in 1904, Bartok's first published piece echoes some early influences, e.g., Liszt and Richard Strauss, but there is striking, youthful originality too. Hungarian-American Pianist Foldes plays' it (and the Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs and Sonatina on the other side) in a clean and fresh style. Recording: good...
Chopin: Ballades (Robert Casadesus, pianist; Columbia, 2 sides LP). Chopin composed only four ballades, but they contain some of his most passionate and enticing music. Pianist Casadesus, playing with beauty of tone and taste, proves it. Recording: good...
Mozart: Idomeneo, Rè di Creta (soloists and chorus of the Vienna State Opera, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Meinhard von Zallinger conducting; the Haydn Society, 8 sides LP). The 13th of his 22 theater works, Idomeneo was Mozart's favorite-if no one else's; it has only had one U.S. production, at the Berkshire Music Center (TIME, Aug. 18, 1947). Although there is much to marvel at, most listeners will find Idomeneo loaded with tiresome recitative and lacking in the sparkle of Don Giovanni or The Marriage of Figaro. Performance and recording: good...
Mozart: Symphony No. 41, K. 551 (the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham conducting; Columbia, 1 side LP). Doughty Sir Thomas has never been exactly reticent about his podium prowess with Mozart. Here (and with the "Prague" Symphony on the other side) he makes good his boasts. For beauty of phrasing and tone, this deep and glowing performance of the "Jupiter" is hard to beat. Recording: excellent...
Puccini: Tosco (Love Duet, Act I) (Ljuba Welitch, soprano; Richard Tucker, tenor; the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Max Rudolf conducting; Columbia, 1 side LP). Some of Puccini's most heart-pulling music, beautifully sung. Although her voice is thinner, the Met's flaming new Tosca, in Vissi d'Arte, which completes the side, stands up mighty well with her Golden-Age counterpart, Claudia Muzio...