New Records

Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 (the San Francisco Symphony, Pierre Monteux conducting; Victor, 8 sides, 45 r.p.m.). This happy early work is the least heard of the nine symphonies; the nicely adjusted performance of the San Francisco, under happy Pierre Monteux, will make listeners wonder why. Recording: excellent.

Beethoven: Sonata No. 2: (Claudio Arrau, pianist; Columbia, 2 sides, LP). One of Beethoven's better middle-period sonatas (the "Waldstein"), played with great energy, eloquence and understanding. Recording: good.

Brahms: Sonata No. 3 (Julius Katchen, pianist; London FFRR, 2 sides, LP). Composed when Brahms was only 20, this is the romantic best of his three piano sonatas. Performance and recording: good.

Britten: A Ceremony of Carols (the RCA Victor Chorale of Women's Voices, with Laura Newell, harpist; Robert Shaw conducting; Victor, 6 sides, 45 r.p.m.). Benjamin Britten's settings of these Old English verses, some of them anonymous, are ingeniously simple and tonally beautiful. Performance and recording: excellent.

Prokofiev: Concerto No. 3 (William Kapell, pianist, with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati conducting; Victor, 6 sides, 45 r.p.m.). One of Prokofiev's earlier and better works; powerful and percussive, it is just right for hammer-handed young (27) Pianist Kapell. Recording: excellent.

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 (the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner conducting; Columbia, 2 sides, LP). The Sixth illumines little of the musical method of Shostakovich that the Fifth did not highlight as well or better, and adds a little circusy trash at the end. Performance and recording: good.

Schumann: Fantasia in C (Rudolf Firkusny, pianist; Columbia, 2 sides, LP). One of Schumann's greater works, played with poetry and power by a 37-year-old Czech pianist who is one of the best of his generation. Recording: good.

Schumann: Quintet in E Flat (Rudolf Serkin, pianist, with the Busch String Quartet; Columbia, 2 sides, LP). Quieter, more flowing music than the Fantasia. In this performance the first movement has some of the innocuous quality of Muzak, but it finishes strongly. Recording: good.

Wagner: Die Walkuere, Duet from Act I, Scene 3; Act III complete (Helen Traubel, soprano; Herbert Janssen, baritone; Emery Darcy, tenor; vocal ensemble of the Metropolitan Opera; the New York Philharmonic-Symphony, Artur Rodzinski conducting; Columbia, 4 sides, LP). Great music sung by great singers. Conductor Rodzinski gives it the pace and force to make it an exciting performance. Recording: excellent.

Wagner: Siegfried, Act III, Scene 3 (Eileen Farrell, soprano, Set Svanholm, tenor; Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf conducting; Victor, 10 sides, 45 r.p.m.). The great music again, with not quite so fine a cast, conductor and orchestra to go with it. Recording: good.

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