CD

Toscanini at the Queen's Hall: The June 1935 BBC Symphony Concerts (West Hill Radio Archives, four CDs). A newly remastered and immensely significant collection of live performances recorded when the greatest conductor of the twentieth century was at the peak of his incomparable powers. The BBC Symphony was also an extraordinarily fine ensemble in 1935, and Toscanini's leadership galvanized its superlative players and goaded them to new heights of excellence. The fare includes Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, Brahms' Fourth Symphony, Debussy's La Mer, Elgar's "Enigma" Variations, and Mozart's "Haffner" Symphony. Excellent notes by Christopher Dyment (TT).