MUSICAL RECORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20560, 10 May 1930, Page 10 (Supplement)

MUSICAL RECORDS.

An exceptionally fine recording of the prelude to Wagner's " Tristan and Isolde " lias been issued by Ilis Master's Voice. Under Otto Klemperer the Berlin State Opera orchestra plays with clarity and precision and gives a stirring and emotional love tragedy. The prelude terminates on the third sido and the fourth gives " Isolde's Love-Death Music."

A novel record which lias been produced by His Master's Voice, is a dramatic presentation, " The Safe," by Angela Baddeley and Company. It is a perfectly written story, presented in a most thrilling manner, providing some vivid sensations, which grip the attention from start to finish. The record is well worth its addition to any collection for it is an outstanding example of dramatic elocution.

Ono of the most pleasurable vocal records of tho month is a pairing of two Italian songs, " Luntanzana " and " Sto Penzanno a Maria," sung by Riccardo Stracciari to Columbia recording. Tho songs, tuneful and appealing, are written by Do Curtis, and Stracciari brings a voice full of power, admirably controlled, and full of subtlo thought ard nicely shaded tone, to their rendering.

Paderowski has very successfully recorded ono of his most popular concert numbers, Rubenstein's " Valse Caprice." His refinement and poetical handling of every beautiful idea are just as evident in tho " Valse Caprico " as in Chopin's early " Valse in E Flat Major." The old His Master's Voice recording of the Rubenstein number was perhaps tho best of Padorowski's earlier performances. The difference in volume and clearness is astounding.

Tho famous trio, Cortot, Tibaud, and Casals, appear in a new permutation for His Master's Voice, the last two playing find tho first conducting (with Casals' /Barcelona Orchestra) the famous Brahamsl J" Double Concerto in A Minor." Tho tlireo artists havo lavished all their virtuosity and caro upon upon Brahms' last orchestral work, upon which he, too, has been lavish in his pains. Tho result is a pieco of technical perfection. But that is the least thing about it. It is full from first to last of that strong, deep interior beauty which is Brahms at his best.

Dame Clara Butt's programmo of rerecordings would hardly bo complete without her singing of " My Ain Folk " and " Eileen Alannah," which constitute her latest disc for Columbia. This is one of her old favourites, and' tho electric recording is obviously far ahead of tho old acoustic one, Sho evidently relishes tho two homely tunes, and seems to endow them with'real musicianship. Her many admirers will thrill as of yore at her wonderful contralto notes and her incomparable easo of production.

Opera lovers who have seen Strauss' witty and tuneful opera, " Der Rosenkavalier," will rejoice at the issue of two great artists who made history at Covent Garden in tho roles which they portray on a new record. Richard - Mayr, the great Austrian bass, and ono of tho world's greatest character actors, shows subtle humour in tho part of Baron Ochs. His voice is altogether unique in its rich and homely tones. Anni Andrassy, an expressive soprano of wide range and purity, supports him admirably. Tho orchestra, under Bruns Walter, giives the lovely RoSenkavalier Waltz as a colourful background, for this Columbia record.

Sigrid Onegin contributes two fine contralto solos in her latest recording for His Master's Voice. The first of these, " 0 Don Fatale," from Verdi's " Don Carlos," is a superb piece of'vocal work, in which the singer. exhibits a beautifully sweefc tone throughout the whole of the astounding range. On the other side is " 0 Mio Fernando," from Donizetti's " La Favoritu." Although written for a mezzosoprano, the song is very capably handled by Sigrid Oncgin, who shows no signs of the contralto's usual harshness in that awkward stage between the upper and lower registers. Splendid apcompanying adds to the artistry of the recording.

Apollo Granforte, the Italian baritone, who visited New Zealand a few years ago, lias recorded for His Master's Voice a duct from " Aidfv" with Hilda Monti, and the blending of voices is particularly fine. Tho duet» is from tho third act. Aida awaits Rhadames on tho banks of tho Nile', but her father,, Amonar.ro, happens to intrude, and in " Riverdrai lo Foreste " depicts her return to her native land. Presently Amonasro requests Aida to betray her lover's honour by finding out the secret passage of tho Egyptian, Army. Tho second part of tho duet "Su Dunquo" is dramatically sung by both artists and Amonasro's final warning that ho shall wait by and hear everything is particularly realistic. >

The His Master's Voice, gramophone record of tho historic speech made by the King in the Royal Gallery of House of Lords at tho opening of tho Five-Power Naval Conference is now released. Thi3 record was made by the use of a unique recording van, an assemblage of electrical appliances, which, for tho occasion, ♦was- connected by wire with tho microphone used by His Majesty. Tlig recorded wax surfaces were sent to the gramophone company's factory at Hayes, Middlesex, where within threo hours tha sound waves on the >vax were transformed into metal matrices, from which records were pressed and taken for the approval of the King's representative. Although this was the first endeavour to record in tile House of Lords, the result was so perfect that immediate permission was given to have the gramophone reproduction broadcast to tlio world the same evening, and the effect was exactly as though the King were speaking in .person. For this unique record a special decorative label in royal purple, gold and scarlet has- been prepared, with the Royal Arms of the King at the top. This record, R. 8.,3290. is sold entirely for charitable purposes, tho proceeds, at tho suggestion of His Majesty, being devoted, to tho wireless for tho blind fund.