DOWN MEMORY LANE

Listening to your September CD of Sibelius’s Kullervo took me back to my first orchestral concert in 1958 when, aged 13, I heard Charles Groves conduct the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in the composer’s

En Saga. I was hypnotised by the cross-rhythms of the strings, and soon afterwards I persuaded my parents to buy the Anthony Collins Early Masterpieces of Sibelius (HMV) with the Royal Philharmonic. I still have the LP and it has been a great pleasure to listen again to that fine performance. Although it’s 60 years old the sound remains superb, even though it is a prestereo monaural recording. We always enjoy reading readers’ accounts of excellent recordings and concerts. Keep them coming!