GRAMOPHONE NOTES
PRIDE of place among recent recordings must be given to that of Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas, edited by Prof. Dent, under the auspices of the British Council, in fourteen parts, conducted by Constant Lambert, with the Philharmonic String Orchestra and chorus, soloists Isobel Baillie, Joan Hammond, Joan Fullerton, Edith Gaates, Edna Hobson, Gladys Ripley, Sylvia Patriss, Trefor Jones, Dennis Noble, and with Boris Ord at the harpsichord (H.M.V. C3471-7).
This is a worthy recording of England's greatest contribution to the art of opera. Purcell's masterpiece is a work which has never been equalled in this country since its composition, and great pains have been taken to give a worthy and authentic performance which does honour to all concerned.
It is fitting that in the tame month we should see an extract from Berlioz's great opera Les Troyens. It is only an orchestral inter- lude of " Royal Hunt and Storm," but it is a superb piece, and is brilliantly played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Thomas Beecham (H.M.V. DB6241). As an interesting contrast in quite another but equally inspired style is a recording of Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream "Overture " and " Wedding March " by the B B.C. Symphony Orchestra under Sir Adrian Bonk. I strongly recommend both these recordings.
After music of such superlative quality it is a bit of a drop to the vocal recordings of Leoncavallo's La Martin= and the aria " None Shall Sleep " from the third act of Turandot, both sung by that excellent tenor J. Bjorling with orchestra (H.M.V. DA1841). Two songs sung by John McCormack must also be mentioned (H.M.V DA185I) ; also the much over-rated Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin, played by Oscar Levant with the Philadelphia Orchestra, under E. Ormandy (Col. DX 1212-3). From this we step up a bit in quality to the Rumanian Folk Dances, Nos. 1-7, by Bela Bartok, played by the Philharmonic String Orchestra under Constant Lambert (Col. DX 1221).
A welcome novelty is the recording of Britten's " Serenade " for tenor, horn and strings, Op. 31, sung by Peter Pears, with Dennis Brain and the Boyd Neel String Orchestra (Decca K1151-3). These
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