GRAMOPHONE NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6918, 25 May 1929, Page 10

GRAMOPHONE NOTES

“Cavalleru Rusticaua” recorded complete iu English.

“Cavallcria Rusticsna,” played by the British National Opera Company, on ten records. Columbia 5127-513(5.

First of all we may as well state the cast. May Bl.yth, soprano, is Santuzza; Marporic l’arry, mezzo-soprano, is Lola; Justine Griffiths, contralto, is Lucia; 1-Lcddle Nash, tenor, is Turiddu; Harold Williams, baritone, is Alfio. And lino singers they all arc, giving us a really splendid version of Mascagni’s melodious opera. The story of Rustic Chivalry” is 100 well known to need ar.y recapitulation here, and its lovely intermezzo is one of tho most popular pieces of lighter orchestral music ever written. Harold Williams, the Australian baritone, who became famous overnight in England after the war, and who is to tour Australasia in the near future, gives us a splendid interpretation of the revengeful Alfio. Heedlo Nash, one of England's most prominent tenors of the younger school, makes a most engaging scoundrel of Turiddu. Sunluzza, Lola and Lucia aro equally' well portrayed by the other principals, and even the chorus work is of an unusually high standard. Altogether, “Cavallcria” is a brilliant recording, and the whole album tf records with printed words costs no more than it would take the family to a single performance. And here arc hundreds of performances —when and where you will! A'Schumann Sympuony. “Symphony. .No. d in D. Minor” (Schumann). Played by the Mozart Festival Orchestra under Bruno Walter. Columbia 01244-47.

This is the first gramophone performance by this celebrated Paris orchestra, and a most successful dobut it is. Biunp Walter makes the most of Schumann's somewhat disjointed orchestration, and allows his lovely melodies to flow laughingly into our minds, rest for a while, and dissolve into imagination. The ordinary man who has no sympathy for “higli-brow” music will revel in Schumann’s lovely tunes, and the “high-brow” himself will forget Schumann’s inadequate instrumentation in Waler’s sensitive and poetic reading.

No one will cavil at this work from tho point of recording. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Mendelssohn.) Sir Henry Wood and the New Queen’s Hall Orcfiestrei, and the Scherzo from the same work by Mengelberg and the Concertgebouw Orchestra. . Columbia 0275081.

It seems hard to believo that this airy-fairy overture could have bcea written by a boy of seventeen. Yet Mendelssohn at this ago was in addition an all-round athlete, a brilliant pianist, and a writer of considerable ability. This new version of the overture by Wood and tho N.Q.H. is a delightful piece of work —as light and graceful as the scoro calls for; and tho delicious Scherzo by the Dutch Orchestra is equally brilliant. It is worth while noting that this splendid recording is issued on Columbia’s lowest priced labels. “Ballet Egyptian.” “Ballet Egyptian” (Lulgini). Played by the Orchestre Symphonique de Paris under Pierre Ghagnon. Columbia 02755-86. This popular ballet is one of the most delightful suites in tho repertory of light orchestral music. Tho four pieces that comprise tho suito arc full of colour, and sparkle 'with Eastern gaiety. The Paris Symphony Orchestra gives the fully scored version that Luigini originally wrote. Here, again, is fine music that the “man ia the street” will thoroughly enjoy.. Tho recording itself is a treat to listen to. The Chopin Preludes at a Popular Pricei “Preludes” (Chopin). Played by Robert Lortat. Nos. l-C, Columbia 02757; Nos. 7-13, Columbia 027 SS; Nosj 14-18, Columbia 02789; Nos. 19-24, Columbia 02790. At last wo have offered us tho 24 preludes at a price within everybody’s reach. Lortat is an eminent pianist of the French school, and his interpretations of Chopin are instinct with deep thought and understanding. Tho fifteenth (and longest) of the preludes is the only ono that the most ardent admirer of Chopin could take exception to. Friedman’s magnificent version on Columbia LIBO4 is still the finest record we have of this so-called “Raindrops” prelude.