GRAMOPHONE NOTES
UNDER the auspices of the British Council another major English composition has now been recorded, Hoist's suite The Planets, played by the B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra under Sir Adrian Boult (H.M.V., DB6227-6233). These seven " Planets " are perhaps the best example of Hoist's gift for orchestral writing. Although not strikingly original they are full of life and colour and most happily varied, and the recording does them justice. Equally welcome should be a first recording of Constant Lambert's ballet suite Horoscope, played by the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under the composer (Col. DX1196-7). This is worth buying for the beautiful " Invocation to the Moon " it contains.
The enterprising Decca company, which first gave us one of Weber's sonatas brilliantly played by that excellent young pianist Noel Mewton-Wood, has now produced another novelty in Gabriel Faures Ballade for Piano and Orchestra Op. 19, played by Kathleen Long and the National Symphony Orchestra under Boyd Neel (Decca, 1(113o-1131). This, if it does not reach the level of Weber, is nevertheless a charming and interesting work well worth recording, and it makes a welcome change from the repetitions of compositions of the better-known composers. I commend to the attention of the Decca Company a young Polish pianist, Maria Donska, whose recent recital in London marked her as one of the best of contemporary Chopin players. There are many fine Chopin works still unrecorded, such as the Andante Spianato e Polonaise. Two excellent new record- ings by Solomon of the Waltz in A flat, Op. 42, and the Study in E major, Op. ro, No. 3, by Chopin, I can warmly recommend
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