Christiné: Phi-Phi (Soloists and orchestra of the Champs-Elysées Theater, conducted by Franck Pourcel; Westminster). This is a French operetta, vintage 1918, of the no-nudes-is-bad-nudes school. "Phi-Phi" is Athens' famed Sculptor Phidias, who as the curtain rises is out looking for a model for his new statue of Virtue. The action calls for everybody to take off his or her clothes, and even the highest hi-fi sets cannot yet reproduce that effect. But there is some pleasant singing.
Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp (Julius Baker, Lillian Fuchs, Laura Newell; Decca). This is one of the sonatas for various instruments that occupied Debussy in 1915, just before he learned that he was dying of cancer. It is a beauty. Its outlines are firmer than usual, but the darkling tones of the viola, the haunting, woody quality of the low flute, and the romantic harp are as ecstatic as ever. Performance: hard to beat.
Griffes: Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan (Eastman-Rochester Symphony conducted by Howard Hanson; Mercury). Gifted U.S. Composer Charles T. Griffes (1884-1920) here gets the first LP of his biggest orchestral effusion. Like his better-known White Peacock (also on this record), it proves him to be the American Delius; the style falls somewhere between French impressionism and German tone poems.
Ravel: Schéhérazade (Suzanne banco, soprano; Suisse-Romande Orchestra conducted by Ernest Ansermet; London). Three lovely songs with luxuriant orchestral accompaniment: Asie is an extended sigh for the exotic pleasures of the Orient; La Flute Enchantée is played with caressing delicacy by the beautiful slave-girl's lover; L'Indifférent subtly describes a handsome stranger who bypasses some unspecified hospitality.
Revueltas: Sensemayá (London Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Argeo Quadri; Westminster). Composer Revueltas was a tragically short-lived Mexican (1899-1940) who wrote a few large and richly tinted works. This one is a fascinating, grunting, growling number that sounds like a bolero by Tarzan in bobbing ⅞ time. It is presented in Westminster's hi-fi "Laboratory Series," wrapped in a fancy plastic zipper bag, and accompanied by a second-by-second description that is good for testing ears and playback equipment. The disk includes Soviet Modernist Mossolov's once notorious Iron Foundry.
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 8 (French National Orchestra conducted by the composer; Angel). The eighth of Villa-Lobos' nine important works inspired by Bach and flavored by Brazil in its first recording. The music is mellow, slightly warmer than body heat, touched with musical humor in the paso doble part of the second movement, and generally more relaxed than the music of temperate climes.
Rosa Ponselle Sings Today (Victor). Sixteen songs recently recorded by the famed Metropolitan Opera soprano who retired while she was on top in 1937. The bloom is gone from her voice, but it has moments of velvety smoothness, and its tone quality is even from bottom to top. Diva Ponselle still has a masterly command of expression that warms up even the oldest chestnuts. Among her selections: Schubert's Erlkönig, Brahms's Von ewiger Liebe, Sadero's Amuri, amuri.