GRAMOPHONE RECORDS
THE- most important of the month's recordings is that of Schubert's early C major Symphony No. 6 played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Thomas Beecham (H.M.V. DB 62oo-3). This lyrical work is beautifully played and all lovers of Schubert's later great C major Symphony ought to possess it to compare with that work. There is also a good recording by Decca of Schubert's B Minor Symphony, "The Unfinished," by the National Symphony Orchestra under Anatole Fistoulari (Decca K 1114-6) which I recommend.
An excellent vocal recording is by Joan Hammond of two arias from Puccini's Turandot, with the London Symphony Orchestra under W. Susskind. These typical and most effective Puccini arias are among the best of recent vocal items and I recommend them strongly (H.M.V. B 9407). Quite different in character and appealing to a different taste are the two famous contralto arias from Messiah, "He shall feed his flock" and "He was despised," but Miss Grace Ripley is free from the blemishes of most contraltos and gives a most attractive and musicianly performance of both arias (H.M.V. C 3424). The best of the other recordings are" The Pastoral Symphony," the " Overture " from Messiah played by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maurice Miles (Col. DX 1182), Howard Ferguson's Five Bagatelles for pianoforte played by Myra Hess .(H.M.V. C 3423) and, of the lighter music, " Valse Cotillon " in the Old Time Dance Series played by Harry Davidson and his
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