GRAMOPHONE NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 1 May 1926, Page 3

GRAMOPHONE NOTES

TCHAIKOVSKY SYMPHONY If anyone has any' doubts about the recent advance in reproduction let him hear Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36 (Tschaikovsky) on one of the new H.M.V. machines. The statement of the “motto” by the brass at the beginning should convince him, and the crescendo in the last movement leading up to the restatement of the “motto” should turn conviction into admiration. The tubas conic out wonderfully. This performance is well up to the stanadrd of Conductor Sir Laudon Ronald, who gets an infinite amount of. delicate detail from Tchaikovsky. The work contains some of the most charming music the composer ever wrote. The first and last movements are. of fiery energy and glittering splendour, and all through there is a strong flavour of the Russian folksong. There is a prevailing lightness and gaietv, and little to show that 'Tchaikovsky was passing through avery dark period except in perhaps the “motto” theme, which mav be taken to represent something of the tragedy of the composer’s life. The. symphony is being issued in five records. DE PACHMANN One must, withdraw remarks recently made about pianoforte tone on the gramophone, for the H.M.V. Comnany have just issued: Nocturne in D Minor, Op*- 27, No. 2. (a) Etude in A Minor, Op. 25, No. 3. (b) Valso in C Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2. A Trio by Chopin. Played by Vladimir de Pachamann. These are favourite Chopin pieces played by Pachmann, who has so completely identified himself with -Chopin's music that it is Chopin himself who speaks to us. The pianist not only reproduces the remarkable phrasing, but gives us at last almost perfect grand pianoforte tone. The entire absorption of the executant in the composer is curiously shown in the record, and' one sits entranced by the gentle, yet compelling eloquence of the greatest of all masters of the piano. IN lighter VEIN There are some welcome additions to the light instrumental music'm the May issue notably by Dee Groot and the Kcadilly Orchestra and the Salop Orchestra. . De Groot has two narticularly charnfmg pieces, “Indian Love Call” (“Rose Marie ) aii d“Until’ 5 fW. Sanderson). Ue plays them with inimitable grace The two little pieces bv tbe Saion Orchestra, “Nola” (F. ' Arnold! and The Glow Worm Idvll” (F. Lincke) are bright and tuneful and ulaved with splendid finish and clever effect. CHALIAPINE THE GREAT Chaliapin 6 ig unapproachable in Russian Opera, for it is there that big magnificent voice and wonderful aotin" find their true environment. His latest disc two arias from “Prince Igor (Borodine). They are: “Nor Sleep nor for mv torThe an of Khan Konchak shows the singer s extraordinary powers of charaetensation, and the great beauty and flexibility of his voice. He holds his h! 'fir°f eS ,n ! the man!iei ' ">f a tenor. In 1* lost cliak comes upon his disgruntled to alleviate hi. m £„ h , phonv Orchestra n n/ i pi, bert Coates. d Chorua under AlA NEW SOPRANO SINGER Madame Imella Melius, rerordhm for M^> r jg** twoVias Parmna’s “Ah' i„ ,? IC Flute nf . «io Night” S ° Aria -Olid has bot h i’ Sari 8 H WS powers of characterisation '“ "a? music bristles with Mozart’* dame Melius sings in hut Maone forget that they JlhW m/ at m * keß doubt that she hie Ji,o, ' e ,s "o debut, and one hints r ‘ ° n , SUcc 'cssful Records from t5 1 i1°3?4; rw fut “- Mozartian number*; 7, ' n *'°ice of one, as this composer ;" 5 H So ' a ,ln Pnv to favour. P °‘ el ,s now coming i„.