BEETHOVEN. Symphony No. i in C major, Op. 21. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93. L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande conducted by Ernest Ansermet. Decca LXT5232 (52 in., 39s. 7d.).

Coupled as above

V.P.O., Schuricht(l), Bo:hm(8)(10/53) LXT2824 Berlin P.O., Fricsay (1156) DGM18100 Symphony No. I

V.P.O., Schuricht

N.B.C. S.O., Toscanini V. Op., Schercheii lielg. Rad. SO., Andre Philhartnonia, Rarajan Vienna P.M., Perlea

V. P.O., Furtwaengler Symphony No. 8 Conservatoire, Munch R.P.O., Beecham

N.B.C. S.O., Toscanini Los A. P.O., Waflenstein

Berlin P.O., Kempen (9/52) LX3084 (4153) (H)ALP1040 (10153) WLP6208 (4/54) LGM65020 (10154) 33CX1136 (12155) PL9120 (4/56) (H)ALP1324 (11/51) LX6053 (6/53) 33CX1039 (3/54) )H)ALP1I08 (1155) AXTLI058 (4/55) ABL3030

Pittsburgh SO., Steinberg (7/55) CTL7083

L.P.S.O., Scherchen (8155) WLP5362

V.P.M., Perlea (9/56) PL8740

Philh rrnonia, Karajan (11156) 33CX1392

The first copy I had of this record was defective in the recording of the last movement of the Eighth, as was also a copy which the B.B.C. happened to send me. A great deal of wavering of pitch was the trouble and I noticed that a writer in a contemporary also complained of the same thing. Decca then supplied a copy that was perfectly all right and the assurance that copies in the shops were also in good condition. I report this, then, only because accidents can happen (it must be an accident to send a reviewer, of all people, a bad copy) and so intending purchasers should test this movement before they buy their copy.

Ansermet in Beethoven is something of a surprise and Decca have hitherto recorded him only in the things he is known to do supremely well. These two symphonies are not the supreme test of a Beethoven conductor, of course, but his habit of slightly slowing cantabile tunes in the Eighth, especially in the finale, suggests that lie might not be an ideal choice for the Eroica, say: the rhythm and "spin" are slightly lost. But the First Symphony comes off admirably, especially as he gets extremely neat playing and a very good recording. And, with that one slight reservation, so does the Eighth. For a pairing of these symphonies this is a recommended disc. And if you want the really outstanding performance of either, the trouble is that they are tied up with three sides of the Ninth Symphony—Toscanini's First and Karajan's Eighth (reviewed in this issue). Though for the Eighth there are two more to hear—Beecham's and Scherchen's. With these, however, this most recent issue at least comes into competition. T.H.