MUSICAL RECORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

MUSICAL RECORDS.

Eva Turner, returning to tho United States for her second season with tho Chicago Opera Company, was recently feted for her performance of tho title role of " lsabenu " (Mascagni) at tho old Roman arena of Verona, Italy. With Miss Turner in tho cast was the tenor Lazaro, as Folco. Eva Turner is ono of tho very few English sopranos who carried Italy by storm before reaping the harvest of her fame in London. She has made a wonderful Columbia record of two numbers from " Turandot," Puccini s, in whic'h she tool; tho part of Piu .in the Italian premiere.

Nothing could be more refreshing in tho field of light music than Sir Edward German's " Nell Gwynno" dances—tho Country Dance and the Pastoral Dance, played for His Master's Voice by the New Symphony Orchestra, under Dr. Malcolm Sargent. Here we have a faithful picture of tho English countryside at play. The playing of the orchestra is always clear and defined and the rhythm of tiieso dances is fascinating and irresistible. Sir Edward based his compositions on old folk dances and in his work in this respect deserves tho gratitude of tho musical world.

After a very long absence from records, Mischa Elman, tho famous Russian violinist, makes a welcome reappearance. in two short works: Drdla's "Souvenir" and Cui's " Orientale " Op. 50. Wo have had one, or two, records by Elman's String Quartet, but this is tho first electrical record for. His Master's Voice by Elman himself, who is by Raymond Bauman. The great violinist's wonderful tone is still as rich and expressive as in the past, and, needless to say, tho present standard of recording brings it out to a greater advantage than ever before. Cui's " Orientale?" is particularly fascinating in its 'atmosphere of dreamy yearning and mystery.

Tho andante cantabile, from Tschaikowsky's Quartet in D ( is one of tho accepted favourites of string quartets; and for those about to delve into the beautiful realms of chamber music, here is an ideal start. The time will captivate all who hear it. While Tschaikowsky -.sat. near an open window he heard a Russian workman singing beneath.. The lovely, folk-song haunted him at night, and next morning lie called the. singer in and set the turie on paper, later giving it to the world to become " one of the loveliest slow movements in all string quartet literature." This movement is recorded for His Master's Voice by the Elman String Quartette, and the playing is marked by smoothness of tone. The balance is perfect.

It is not often that a big voice is so flawless in tone as that of Frida Leider's. She is perhaps the greatest Wagnerian soprano of the day. Wagner demanded dramatic power as well as complete vocal technique from his soloists, and Leider is 1 perhaps as near an approach to his ideal as has been heard on the gramophone. This month sho Sings for His Master's Voice " Isolde's Narrative and Curse." from the first act of " Tristan and Isolde." and; one cannot detect a flaw in her rich tone. r l' ie musical construction reminds one of a grand specimen of cathedral architecture. The suave beauty of the. passages [that lead up to the intense denunciation of Tristan are magnificent examples of legato singing and the climax is gripping in its intensity. The glorious tones of the Berlin State Orchestra do full justice to Wagner's music.

It is fortunate indeed for the musical world that Paderewski has re-recorded for His Master's Voice some of his greatest concert numbers, and nothing'can bo more fortunate than his record of Liszt and Chopin. In Chopin he plays the dreamily lovely " Nocture in F Sharp Major " with a wealth of delicate poetic fancy. Every nuance of tonal colour and shade is revealed in the superb quality of the pianoforte recording. It brings us nearer the real Paderewski than anything else. You can close your eyes and imagine yourself almost at his elbow, so exquisitely natural and full is tho reproduction. Turn over the disc and you get Paderewski, not only as a great interpretive artist, but also as a master of technique in his brilliant playing of the Liszt arrangement of Pnganini's "La Campnnella." It is a dazzling affair, in which the treble recording is ? revela-, tioh.

From His Master's Voice comes a Wagner Album concerned with " The Rhinegold" and " Siegfried," and principally with the third act of the latter section of the great " Ring" cycle. There are eight discs in all; Alwin, Blech, and Coates are the conductors; Berlin London and Vienna supply the orchestras; and the singers are English and German who have been prominent in Wagnerian roles in Berlin and Covent Garden during the last two years. Choosing is unnecessary, for both performance and recording arc of a high standard. Suffice it to say that the Entrance of the Gods into. Valhalla can be heard with Schorr singing the music for Wotan; Frida Lcider and Rudolph Laubenthal in the ecstatic love duet for Brunhildo and Siegfried; and Sehipper and Olczewska in the wondrpusly imaginative scene in which Wotan calls up Erda, the all-know-ing.

lJusolina Giannini is the star of a new complete recording of Verdi's ■'• Aida" on 19 records, with two albums, issued by His Master's Voice. The cast is a famous one, and includes Aureliano Pertile, the eminent Italian tenor, us Radames. - • Miss Giannitii sings her part with intense feeling, and has some fine dramatic moments, as, for instance, in the duet with Amonasro. Her .phrasing of "0, patria mia" is very artistic. Pertile is a tower of strength, particularly in " Celeste Aida," in the lovo duet and in tho final, " 0, terra addio," which is very well done. Irene Minghini-Cat-taneo, as Amncris, possesses a voice of very rich qaulity, and sings with great feeling. Ingilleri (Amonasro) has a fina voice, with a beautiful register. Tho opera was produced in Milan, with the co-operation of members of the La Scala Orchestra and chorus, conducted by Carlo Sabajnu. The choral passages are admirably sung.. and the orchestral support is excellent throughout. The triumphal march is most impressive.

News comes to hand that Ivipnis, the great German basso, is paying a return visit to the United States, alter a protracted tour of Great Britain. Kipnis is much in vogue, lor he has already this year starred in the Berlin and Munich Summer Festivals. His early reputation rested largely upon his triumphs as a Wagnerian singer. He has made several appearances at Bayrcuth, where Wagner is produced regardless' of expense, and where the whole, world is scoured for the very best singers. Ho played ii big part in the brilliantly successful Bavreuth Festival Album recently issued by Columbia. But as his reputation has extended; so lias his repertoire.- He has been giving a series of ; particularly good Schubert songs, of which perhaps the finest is a pairing of Der Doppelganger" (The Phantom Double) with " Der Wegweiser " (The Signpost). A recent offering gives a lovely rendering of two of tho most charming lieder of Brahms. Ho. sings the famous " Sapphische Ode " with a wealth of power and deep underlying tenderness. His appeal is directly to our hearts, and his sheer artistry takes him straight there. On the reverse side is another well-known masterpiece, " Auf dem Kirchofe."