MUSICAL RECORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20922, 11 July 1931, Page 9 (Supplement)

MUSICAL RECORDS.

Torumaso Alcaide, a newcomer to the recording studios, and a star of meteoric rise, lias sui)g .for Columbia" " Spirito Gentil " from' Donizetti's "La Favovita," arid '' Mi par d'udir. ancora " (I Still Seem to Hear); .from Bizet's opera, " The Pearl Fishers." This record should be heard for it heralds-the advent of one the most'amazing tenor voi.ees of 'the century, having in it, all the qualities that grace one of the greatest tenors that over lived. Donizetti's; touching song and Bizet's sweet, yearning aria stand forth enriched by the- magic of TommaijcT xYlcaide's singing.

would bo unfair to say that Chopin's tirst Ballad® in G Minor, op. 23, is the most imaginative or -poetical of the four, for tho same claims could be made in regard to the third and the fourth, but - certainly ,it has an indefinable charm ail. its own, while its beginning is pervaded with sorrow and wistfulness, typical of many of the composer's works. Alfred Cortot plays \th® G Minor Ballade with' beautiful poetic feeling. His technique is brilliant, and the recording is good, the ascending passage and the chords at tho end being very clear: The recording is by His Master's Voice.

Mischa .Levitzki 'has made a, notable record for-His Master's Voice of Chopin's " Scherzo\No. '3" in C Sharp Minor, Op. 37." Strictly speaking a scherzo should bo a playful, jesting piece, but. phopin, as he did with His nocturnes and ballads, raaldq his - scherzos veritable tone poems. Toward the middle, of the work there is a lovely choral-like' tune,, over which descending passages in. the treble fall like gently rustling-leaves around the trunk of some noble tree. Levitzki, who is touring New Zealand at the present, .time, must rank as ono of / .tlie most poetic of Chopin interpreters, 'and -his touch a seems to bo peculiarly suited to recording. As a result the gramophone reproduces realistically every subtlety and gradation of tone. 'i. his is a record that must rank with his 'superb recording of Liszt's " Hungarian Lihapsody, i No. 6."

A medley of. Leslie :■ ■ Stuart's . Songs, sung by the Light Opera Company, makes an attractive -record and will no doubt awaken many, pleasant memories "of- tho pre-war vaud-aville and music hall days. If any of the lighter musical fare deserves to live, these songs certainly do. No man can gainsay their charnf. They create an' atmsophere all their own. , There is always a lilt in the rhythm and an infectious melody. The song? on" this record include " I May be Crazy," " The Shade of tho Palm," " Sweetheart May," ." Lily of Laguna," " Silver Star of .Love," Jjittle Mblly Daydream," "Tell Me, Pretty Maiden,:" and "Soldiers of the King." This is certainly a representatives' collection, and both soloists and chofuS enter into the spirit of their - numbers. Tho recording is by .His Master's [Voice. ■ ' 1 ' tv" . . s4 V-" • . *< •- , • , .

A collection-.of. gems from two sudcessful. N Loridoi\ : ' : musical comedy . productions lias been grouped on to a T2in. His Master's Voice record by the .Light Opera Company. Both productions, Sweethearts'" and " The Red Mill" abdund in bright., "and fttchy solos and choruses.- From "Sweethearts" is heard ''While on Parade,"., "Every Lover Must -Meet His I 1 ate," " Angelusi" " She's . Pretty, a£ a Picture," " Jeannette and Her Little Wooden "Shoes,!' and " Sweetheart Waltz." The excerpts from, " Tho Red Mill"' include" " Fo£ Every ' Day is Ladies' Day for Me," .'-Isle of .My Dreams," " When You're Pretty "and the World is 'Fair,"Whistjing Song" (dance), " Moonbeams Shining," " Because : You'ro You," and ''" The Streets of iNew York." Not only have those responsible for'the arrangenffent of these extracts carried out their task artistically, but the singers have also 'played their part excellently.