Music: New Records, Apr. 25, 1955

Blacher: Orchestral Variations on a Theme of Paganini (RIAS Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ferenc Fricsay; Decca). The same theme (for solo violin) used by Brahms for his famed Variations gets some plain and fancy going-over by one of Germany's most successful living composers. Boris Blacher uses a big orchestra in opulent style, with emphasis on suave clarinet murmurings, massed brasses in swing-band style and ingratiating melodies. The disk is Vol. I of Decca's New Directions in Music and Sound. Debussy: Pelleas and Mélisande (Janine...

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