PRIDE of place this month must be given to the exciting recording of the Tchaikovski Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Flat Minor by Solomon and the Philharmonic Orchestra under Issay Debrowen. Solomon, if he lacks something of the fire this concerto scents to warrant, has all the mastery it demands and some to spare. The eight sides are on H.M.V. C.3996-3999.
Another popular Tchaikovski piece, the " Capriccio Italien," is recorded by the Philharmonic Orchestra under Paul Kletzki. (Columbia L.X. 8736-8736).
A good investment for the collector of moderate means is the Columbia recording of the ballet music "Les Sylphides " (ChopinGretchianianov), played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra on the three 12 in. 4/S Columbia records DX 1682-1684.
The N.B.C. Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini gives us two Mendelssohn scherzos. (H.M.V. D.B. 21105). Other pianoforte records include: Cyril Smith playing the Bach Bourree in B Minor and the piano version by Rummel of the aria, " Mortify Us by Thy Grace," from the Cantata No. 22 (Columbia D.B. 2740); and Cortot's recording of the Chopin Valse No, 11 (H.M.V. D.B. 21094), The Royal Marines provide the military band and the bugles which give us the stirring arrangements of the familiar calls associated with " Prelude to Morning " and "Sunset " (Columbia, D.B. 3739).