PHILIP HOPE-WALLACE

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 pungently realistic. Joan Sutherland's singing in the latest version of La Traviata (Decca mono MET249-51: stereo SET249-51) is positively seraphic and in the second and fourth acts extraordinarily touching. There are Mr. Bergonzi's Alfredo and the conducting of John Pritchard on the credit side too. DGG's new 11 Trovatore on mono LPM 18835-7: stereo SLPM 138835-7 is most beautifully conducted by Maestro Serafin and the sound is full and exciting with the voices well forward in a way which Trovatore-lovers as a whole probably prefer. Not all of the singing is the purest bel canto but none of it falls below a high standard.

Two recital records have given me great pleasure. One is by the French soprano Régine Crespin (Decca mono LXT6075: stereo SXL6075) who brings to Italian arias from Verdi, Puccini and others the distinguished kind of singing that, in moments of depression, one is likely to think had vanished with Rethberg and Milanov. The other is by the Canadian baritone Donald Bell, accompanied by J. Wustmen (CBS mono BRG72076), singing songs by Loewe and Schubert.