New Records

July record-buyers will be up to their ears in Gershwin (see above). Some of it: P:Rhapsody in Blue, two versions: Pianist Oscar Levant with the Philadelphia Orchestra (Eugene Ormandy conducting;

Columbia, 3 sides) is flashier and brasher but not as satisfying as Jesus Maria Sanroma's with the Boston "Pops" Orchestra (Arthur Fiedler conducting; Victor, 3 sides).

P:Levant, good friend and semi-official interpreter of Gershwin, turns out a workmanlike Concerto in F with the Philharmonic Orchestra of New York (Andre Kostelanetz conducting; Columbia, 6 sides).

P:The Philharmonic, going it alone, catches the playful bustle of An American in Paris (Columbia, 4 sides). P:Porgy and Bess, fancied up in a symphonic version by Fritz Reiner and the Pittsburgh Symphony (Columbia, 6 sides), and more glossily by Fabien Sevitzky and the Indianapolis Symphony (Victor, 6 sides), is best in its original operatic mold (Decca, 14 sides). P:Andre Kostelanetz spreads his corn syrup over The Music of Gershwin (Columbia, 8 sides).

P:Pianist Eddie Duchin lazy-fingers his way through The Music of George Gershwin (Columbia, 8 sides).

Besides the Gershwin glut:

Mussorgsky: Boris Godunoff (Ezio Pinza and the Metropolitan Opera orchestra and chorus, Emil Cooper conducting; Columbia, 10 sides). Most listeners will probably prefer Kipnis' fine Russian version (TIME, June 4) to Pinza's Italian. Performance: good. Recording: good.

Debussy: Selections (Artur Rubinstein; Victor, 6 sides). Shimmer music. Performance: good. Recording: good.

Wagner: Prelude to Act I of Lohengrin (NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini conducting; Victor, 2 sides)<<. An authoritative job which should discourage lesser conductors from trying. Performance and recording: excellent.

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