New Records
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 (Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, William Steinberg conducting; Musicraft, 16 sides). Shostakovich's repetitive and bombastic tribute to wartime Leningrad gets its first U.S. recording. Performance: fair.
Bach: Mass in B Minor (RCA Victor Chorale and Orchestra, Robert Shaw conducting; Victor, 34 sides). For those who have waited patiently for Victor to replace its old, scratchy set of this momentous work, this one makes the wait worthwhile. Performance: excellent.
Bernstein: Facsimile (RCA Victor Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein conducting; Victor, 4 sides). First recording of the music of last year's hit ballet. Few would quarrel with Lenny Bernstein's own analysis of it: "Neurotic music." Performance: good.
Debussy: Preludes, Book II (E. Robert Schmitz, pianist; Victor, 12 sides). Schmitz paints in varying pastel shades, has little of the flashing color shown by Walter Gieseking in earlier records of the same pieces. Recording: good.
Humperdinck: Hansel & Gretel (Metropolitan Opera Association Orchestra and Chorus, Max Rudolf conducting; Columbia, 24 sides). First and happy result of Columbia's agreement with the Metropolitan to record two full operas a year at the Met. Sung in English, soloists include Rise Stevens, Nadine Conner, Thelma Votipka, John Brownlee, Claramae Turner. Performance: good.
Mozart: Quintet for Clarinet & Strings, K. 581 (Reginald Kell, clarinetist, with the Philharmonia String Quartet; Columbia, 8 sides). Kell, playing one of Mozart's most winning chamber masterpieces, does better with it than Benny Goodman. Recording: good.
Mozart: Concerto No. 4 for Horn, K. 495 (Dennis Brain, horn, with the Halle Orchestra; Columbia, 4 sides). Brain gets brightly through this exhilarating work, with an occasional overblown trill but nary a burble. Recording: good.
Schuman: Symphony for Strings (Concert Hall String Symphony, Edgar Schenkman conducting; Concert Hall Society, 4 sides). This is Manhattan's William Schuman, not to be confused with Clara's Robert. His fifth symphony, it adds little in ideas or execution to what he had to say in the other four. Performance: good.
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