MUSICAL RECORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21136, 19 March 1932, Page 10 (Supplement)

MUSICAL RECORDS.

Tho Columbia Light Opera Company have a host of successful discs to their credit, but few have been more popular thun their musical comedy and operetta " selections." This disc-ful of vocal gems from " Floradora " is particularly line: the healthy and happy tunefulness of tho airs, tho crispness of the singing and the amazing success of the more " cho/al " sections of the recording.

Beniamino Gigli sings two popular songs in English with admirablo legato and ringing high notes on a recent His Master's Voice record. Sullivan's " The Lost Chord," with organ accompaniment, is dramatically sung, and the final climax is impressive. The tenor's singing is effective, and his English enunciation surprisingly good, especially in Tosti's " Goodbye." Tho orchestral accompaniment is conducted by John Barbirolli.

A recording of (he Schumann piano quintet by His Master's Voice, is a welcomo addition to the recordings of chamber music. Such a work is deserving of the utmost care, and in tho hands of tho Flonzaley Quartet and that talented pianist, Ossip Gahrilowitsch, none of its attractive points have been missed. In the first movement, one of the happiest inspirations in tho realm of chamber music, the 'cello tone is remarkably pure, and light and shade is brought to the scherzo, (he movement that generally fails lamentably when left in tho hands of players of anything less than virtuoso technique. These records take their place alongside the " Trout " Quintet, among tho gems of recorded chamber inusic.

A recent popular Columbia recording comprises " Aloha Oe " and " Suwanee," a fantasy on Stephen Foster favourites, played by the Gil Dech Ensemble. The Gil, which as a small orchestra, bids fair to outrival the Squire Octet! Their choice of items is pre-eminently a popular one, and the Hawaiian melody on side one receives an extraordinarily interesting treatment. " Suwanee " is a fantasia on the following ever-green and ever-loved melodies: "Old Folks at Home," " Massa's in de Cold, Cold Ground," Old Black Joe," and " Old Kentucky Homo." The scoring and harmonisation of these items is a revelation of what can be done with pentatonic tunes and a handful of players. This should prove to be one of tho most popular discs of the month.

Columbia are to be congratulated on having persuaded the famous Gieseking to record the lovely Sonata in D Minor (Beethoven, Op. 31, No 2), one of the most " accessible " of the Beethoven sonatas. Walter Gieseking is not so well known on this side of the world—at least to the ordinary music-lover—but he is considered in Europe to he one of the greatest Beethoven exponents of this generation. The empty virtuosity of so many touring pianists finds no reflection in Gieseking's art. He is first and foremost a musician; his technique, brilliant as of course it is, is a means to an end—not an end in itself. Overseas critics have been unanimous in considering this D minor Sonata the finest Beethoven piano recording yet made. It is not likely that many hearers will disagree with this verdict. The recording is on standard price labels.

Tho English tenor, Derek Oldham, who has played a prominent part in the complete recordings of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and who, it will ho remembered, has recorded a number of duets with Winnio Melville, is heard this month in two old songs which have stood the test of time. " Thora," bv Adams, and " Killarney,' by Balfe. " Thora " has long been a favourite number with tenors, because not only £ias it an attractive melody, but it also gives wide scope for expression. Oldham brings to it all his artistry, and sings with sincere feeling. " Killarney " comes from Ireland, but it belongs to everybody, and on this record it is sung .with beautiful light and shade effects. The tenor is one of England's finest singers, and whatever his subject ho is always well worth hearing. In these songs he is on congenial ground, and he is supported by excellent piano accompaniments. Tho recording is by His Master's Voice.

A brilliant performance and recording of Beethoven's Septet in E flat (Op. 20), is given by the Lener Quartet on a Columbia record. The players are Lener, Roth and Hartman (of the Lener Quartet), Hobday (bass), Charles Draper (clariohet) E. W. Hinchcliffe (bassoon), and the famous Aubrey Brain (horn). This Septet was completed in 1800, the year that saw the publication of the first string quartets and the third piano concerto. It was dedicated in advance to the Empress Maria Theresa and made a tremendous impression at its initial performance, an impression that has since grown in strength, until to-day it is an established favourite. Its glorious melodies and serene, carefree spirit appeal as much to musiclovers to-day as they did in Beethoven's time, and small wonder. The theme of the variations alone—said to be based on a Rhine folk song—are a sufficient justification of the praise lavished on this great master-work. Infinitely expressive also are tho slow movement and the cheery menuetto, while the Scherzo is an exhilarating little movement all on its own.