MUSICAL RECORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 34 (Supplement)

MUSICAL RECORDS.

Two of Dvorak's Slavonic, dances played by the Berlin State : Opera House .Orchestra .have recently been Released by Parlophone. Issai Dobrowen is ? tho .conductor,', and be places' a very fine, interpretation oil''these two fascinating dances. ' ' \ - / '

Two.tuneful and unusual waltzes,.introducing many novelty effects faro .played by tho International, Novelty; Orchestra to His Master's Voice recording.: They aro ""Carmen Sylva," -by Iyanovicj, and "Eva,'/ by Lehar. The rhythm Vis good and- the melodies '.attractive.!. ".

Thd pure; tone of John . Amadio's .flute and liiS amazing facility as : a technician makes his rendering of, the " Carnival of Venice," by Benedict, a splendid show piece for bis instrument. In ' tho companion plpce, " Hungarian Pastoral Fantasy,'' by ■ Doppleiy the tone is beautifully clear and sweet. - ~

Two "new pieces of Hungarian music have been recorded for Columbia by Dinicu, tho Hungarian violinist. They aro " An Hungarian Pot-Pourri," and one of Dinicu's own compositions, " Hora Staccato." There is plenty of fiddling fireworks in both numbers, but the former is very _ well put together, - . •*

Lovers of pianoforte music will.be delighted with a recording of the "Pastorale " of Scarlatti-Taqsig, playod by Alfred Hohn, which has been.released by Parloplione. The daintiness of the piece is excellently preserved and the tone is remarkably true. On the. other side two Chopin etudes are presented. ,

Two new 'cello solos b'y jW. . H. Squire, have been released- by Columbia.. The first is < the artist's ; own : arrangement of Bizet's Adagietto from the " L'Arle sienne " Suite. On the'reverse side is Popper's Tarantelle, and in this, rapid composition there'is some dexterous bowing -without any loss \of tonal quality.

Two new Backhaus pieces released by 'His Master's Voice are assured' of instant pdpularity. They are Schumann's " Dedicatton," and - the pianist's' own arrangement of Mozart's " Don Juan's Serenade." ' Backhaus is ' again . a poetic master of his instrument. His tone is always true and there <is plenty ?of dazzling playing... . , '

Alfred Ivetelby's new tone-poem, " In a Canlp *of the. Ancient' Britons,"' lias been recorded by Columbia. ' The piece seeks to .convey; the . of„a .pre-sent-day visitor'to .the ruin of the 1 camp. This is descriptive, music.of a high order. Ketelby • himself • conducts - his own orchestra in-the work, which'records keenly and;'brilliantly» v ' * •

A delightful: record recently released by Parlophone contains a contribution "from the Edith Lorand OrchestrC, ;The -first side has Schubert's " Ave Maria,". which is very finely; played. On the reverse side is - - Massenet's.- " Meditation," -from " Thais," and this is:« ? particularly attractive • item': Very ; " use of' the haip made in bpth selections. ' /J'

: JJinon Vallin is a. young French soprano „who ..has come... into » prominence lately" for s the • sweetness and' sincerity of! her - singing". "S?r latest "recording for ;Parlophone includes: The v King of Tfiule,"- from' " Faust," .and, " iDepHls.'lo Jour," from „the lesser-known opera, " Lotiise.V .Both songs. are. beautifully sung 1 with a fine sense of tfcne expression.

*"■ One of the "best, records froni the series of 1" Gems," released by His ' Master's Voice, is that containing selections from Wallaco's popular ballad ■ opera,' " Maritana." The. selection includes' " Angels that Around Us Hover," ".Let Me Like a Soldier-Fall," " Scenes that Are Brightest "oand " In the Name of -the King," which are charmingly sung by tho Light Opera' Company. ; i

• ;tTho " Grand; Toccata arid 'Fugue in D ' hy J? S; ,is .released as an •. organ" solo >byi Gr .T.' Pattmari for Columbia; -' j,s • Bach' at, his" best in thej loyely' i oi'gan/ l musie;-to iwhich ,he» almost': alone, could, give -warmth and deep •.interest,,, Pattman,{on'the'Liberal Jewish organ,;St John's H Wood, London, -presents this ;Bach prelude-in rich, !sonorous harmonies.' ■ , , .:. : ,..

• Rcjssini's delightful -."/ Barber of Seville" overture, has; been ' played by' tlie- Berlin State ,Opera House Orchestra to Parlophone .recording. Containing as •it does practically nothing- of ihe music of the opera proper, this overture is" one of the curiosities of operatic music, but its charm is; undeniable. The; recording is excellent and the -overture -is noticieable"- for. the gay'insouciance 'interpretation.

Fernando :Autori. r isas basSo who is particularly welcome ;to - gramophone loyei's.; .Two. numbers which, he has recently , recorded for Parlophone -are "tho Mephistoplieles 1 senata .from '''Faust," and the aria! "La ■ Calunnia," from the " Barber -of Seville." lAlthough :the latter is perhaps /. the more - colourful, both are"excellently aung,,and'one cannot'fail to- lßne technique displayed in the' senata. \ > ;