GRAMOPHONE NOTES
THE most important of the month's recordings is Elgar's Symphony No. 2 in E flat, played by the B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra under Sir Adrian Boult (H.M.V., D 86910-5). I have always contended that Elgar's two symphonies did not show him at his best, and this recording of the E flat symphony does nothing to change my opinion. Perhaps it is less blatant than the A flat symphony, but it is an uninspired work and has no compensating technical interest or novelty of design. An effective new recording of the Master- singers' Suite, consisting of the Prelude and the Dance of the Apprentices, Procession of the Masters and Finale by the Halle Orchestra under John Barbirolli (H.M.V., C 3416-7), will be wel- comed by many.
Of the vocal records, the most inviting are two arias from Verdi's I! Trovatore (unfortunately in English), well sung by Joan Ham- mond with the London Symphony Orchestra (II.M.V., C 3419), and Balfe's " Come Into the Garden, Maud," and R Strauss's Morgen (H.M.V., C 3418). I can recommend warmly the new item of the Old-Time Dances series: The Valeta and an excellent Barn Dance (Down South), played by Harry Davidson and his orchestra
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