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Many years ago a member of the Vienna Philharmonic was asked how he rated certain celebrated conductors. He is said to have valued Bruno Walter at £500 a concert, Weingartner at £200, and a certain hapless Herr X at £50. Values have inflated since then, but using the old...

Ashkenazy, Chicago SO, Solti (9/73) (3/75) (R) SXD3655 Lill, Scottish National, Gibson (10/74) CFP40087

SAINT-SAENS. Le carnaval des animaux.. Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Alexander Gibson, items marked • with Peter Battu, Philip Fowke (two pianos). Classics for Pleasure CFP40086 (1-25j.

When reviewing Symphony No. 1 TH thought it was the best of Boult's Brahms symphonies so far. In addition he was of the opinion that the playing of No. 2 was always good and so was the recording. Of its coupling, the Alto Rhapsody, TH wondered how anyone could resist Janet Baker's superb singing...

® Avow Schnabel (piano), London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by George Szell. World Records Q SH223 (£1:60). Matrix numbers 2EA5963/64, recorded January 1938. From HMV DB3712-7 (4/39).