BEETHOVEN. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, "Pastoral". Czech Philharmonic Orchestra con ducted by Karel Sejna. Parliament Q PLP105 (12 in., 16s. 1 lid. plus 5s. qd. P.T.). Imported pressing.

In fairness to hi-fl addicts I should make clear straightaway that this is not a new recording. Although it has not been issued previously in this country it appears to have come out originally on 78s some time before 1953. With this in mind you will hardly expect the most realistic sound that the gramophone is capable of giving -and in fact some of the passages involving the full orchestra are rather screamy; on the other hand the actual internal balance of the orchestra is very good, better than many more recent discs that sell at higher prices. While we are on technical matters I should also point out that the first quaver of the whole symphony (the violas' and cellos' drone) has been clipped off, that there is a slight break (which may even be the conductor's doing) before the tremolo D flat that begins the Storm, and an audible tape-join before the final movement.

When these things have been said, however, the fact remains that this is a very enjoyable performance, that succeeds particularly well in bringing out the rustic elements of the score. This is partly due to the actual instruments used by the Czech Philharmonic; their oboes and clarinets have a splendidly forthright and distinctive tone that by no means precludes delicacy of phrasing, and the horn-playing is also well above average. Partly too it is due to the conductor. Sejna really seems to know the folk-music (and above all the folk (lances) that underlie Beethoven's material in the first and third movements. He phrases them not only with point but with just that touch of rubato that shows a native's understanding of the music. He is not comparable as an architect to the greatest conductors who have recorded this symphony-Klemperer, Toscanini, Kleiber, Walter-but he gives nevertheless a very attractive reading that holds its own with its competitors in this price-range. J.N.