''Classic recording of Symphony No. 1'' proclaims the sleeve of this super-budget Belart CD. That assessment is, of course, absolutely spot-on. Fond as I am of Boult's own 1968 stereo remake for EMI, this 1953 Decca performance undoubtedly surpasses it in terms of sheer fervour and concentration: no one before or since has held the finale together with quite such effortless mastery. As is well known by now, the composer himself lent his supervision to the sessions, and the mono sound remains remarkably full-blooded, if inevitably rather lacking in range. Notable budget competition comes in the shape of Richard Hickox's fine, if altogether bluffer Virgin Classics version (excellent value at Virgo price), but no VW enthusiast can afford to overlook the present reissue: if you missed out on it first time round on Decca's sadly defunct British Collection series, you've no excuse now. The singular lack of texts is, however, an irritating oversight.'