Contents

Karajan's monumental album of the nine Beethoven symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic (DGG mono LPM1890I-8: stereo SLPM138901-8) takes an obvious first place, by itself more than a year's choice. Apart from his rigid account of the Pastoral the interpretations completely belie the rather...

Barbirolli's two Elgar records head my choice, not merely because I am an Elgar partisan (I can hardly deny that in these pages!) but simply because the music is played and recorded so gloriously. The First Symphony is with the Philharmonia Orchestra on HMV mono ALP1989: stereo ASD540; the...

The bulk of my selection this year seems to comprise complete operas. The new Carmen under Thomas Schippers (Decca mono MET256-8: stereo SET256-8) is a very strong competitor to the superb Beecham set (with Los Angeles). But Miss Resnik is a very striking protagonist too and the drama is...

Nova Brazil" (Parlophone mono PMC 1200) presented excellent and contrasting Brazilian examples of the style by Brazilian artists of the calibre of Joao Gilberto and Luiz Bonfh, and provided a useful yardstick by which to judge the output recorded outside Brazil. Quincy Jones in "Big Band Bossa...

Two versions of Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra must both be mentioned: Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on RCA-Victor mono RB6518: stereo SB6518 for their splendidly fiery sound; and Maazel and the Philharmonia on Columbia mono 33CX1823: stereo SAX2467 for their refinement and beauty...