New Records

Beethoven: Concerto No. 4 (Robert Casadesus, pianist, with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy conducting; Columbia, 8 sides). Pianist Casadesus goes up against tough competition--Schnabel, Backhaus--in recording one of Beethoven's greatest works, comes off a strong third. Recording (on Vinylite): excellent.

Berlioz: Fantastic Symphony (Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eduard van Beinum conducting; English Decca, 12 sides). Berlioz' blend of bombast and beauty is hard to resist in the performance of this great Amsterdam orchestra. Recording: excellent.

Handel: The Faithful Shepherd Suite (National Symphony Orchestra, Hans Kindler conducting; Victor, 4 sides). Conductor Kindler misses much of the warmth and grace of this fine music. Recording: fair.

Berg: Lyric Suite (Galimir String Quartet; Vox-Polydor, 8 sides). In this suite, one of his last works, the late Alban Berg (TIME, May 31) put his teacher Arnold Schonberg's theories to test, came up with perhaps the best work yet composed in twelve-tone technique. That still doesn't make it very listenable to ordinary unpracticedears. Performance: excellent. Recording : excellent.

Vaughn Williams: Concerto for Oboe and Strings (Mitchell Miller, oboist, with the Saidenberg Little Symphony, Daniel Saidenberg conducting; Mercury, 5 sides). England's Ralph Vaughn Williams composed this well-made, sweetly pastoral music during World War II. Vaughn Williams (with the expert help of Soloist Miller) makes even five sides of oboe pleasant to take. Performance: good. Recording: good.

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