Records

Wagner and Stravinsky Lp's

By Don Hewitson

Richard Wagner: Orchestral Masterpieces From The Ring Of The Niebelung (PFSM 34116) shows Stokowski and Phase Four Stereo in a beter light. This time the recording is right up to the series' highest standard.

The London Symphony is in much better form and relish the opportunity to crash their way through extroverted Wagner war-horses—"the Ride of the Valkyries", "Entrarnce of the Gods into Valhalla", "Siegfried's Death and Funeral Music" etc.

Raphael Frubeck de Burgos has made quite a name for himself in the past few years; so far his recording career has concentrated on the more neglected composers— Carl Orffs "Carmina Burahae", de Falla's "Three Cornered Hat" and opera "La Vida. Breve".

Now he has recorded Stravinskys The Rite of Spring and Prokofiev's Classical Symphony with the New Philharmonic Orchestra (Hmv Asdm 2315 Stereo). In all his recording with the Philharmonia de Burgos has managed to obtain quite an exceptional orchestral tone and this new one confirms my belief that the young Spaniard has done a lot for an orchestra that was facing financial, artistic and moral decay two years ago.