MUSIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21021, 9 May 1930, Page 5

MUSIC.

NOTES AND RECORDS. By Alleged. ' Sweden has always been fortunate in tlie matter of royal patrons for its music. As far buck as 1521, Gustavus Vasa was great music lover, and- his successor, Erjk XIV, was V typical . Renaissance leader, loved the arts, played the' lute, and composed. John II also championed the cause of music, and Gustavus 111, a playwright, cultivated opera in his country. To-day opera is the chief musical attraction in Stockholm, and has in the reigning monarch, Gustavus V, a sympathetic patron. There are, in addition, of course, numerous other branches of music ,in which great interest is taken. One drawback is that the big. concert hall has considerable acoustic difficulties. | With all this musical activity, one looks ! for an outstanding composer, and in this respect Sweden (though Kurt Alter burg did win the Schubert Centenary Prize), is lacking, while her little and poorer neighbours, Norway and Finland, have produced a Grieg and a Sibelius. Cecil Gray says that “ musical genius is not the monopoly of any one race, however, and Sweden’s day is yet to come.” Vienna is already making preparations for the bicentenary of Hadyn, which takes place in 1932. It is proposed to hold an. international exhibition of music and of the theatre (this latter in honour of Goethe’s centenary) to last five months. Various Vienna societies, including the Opera, will take part and help to shoulder the responsibilities of the undertaking. _ Will the real orchestra come back again into the picture theatres, in spile of the “talkie” orchestras and electrovox ones? English musicians who have been displaced by these modern methods of music are finding comfort in the fact that one of London’s largest picture theatres is again to make a feature of its orchestra under a_ fine leader. “Lyricism,” according to one. critic, has so long been absent from music that many composers of the younger generation have almost forgotten its existence, according t» their works. Ho predicts that lyric music will come back into its own'. A “lyric” symphony by a Russian com.poser; M. Nabokoff, though not too musically important, has recently been performed successfully in Paris. There are some 3.017,023 wireless licenses in force in Britain. In January there was an increase of 68,000, which the British Broadcasting Company attributes to the endeavour made to catch new listeners in Radio Week. One of the twin daughters of Kubelik has inherited some of the violinist’s .genius, and gave a successful recital in Budapest recently. She intends to visit London this season. Berlin has decided to close one of its three opera houses down, but cannot decide which one it shall be. Kroll’s is the youngest, yet the most- active, and the Volksbuhne holds a contract running until 1949, so the question is a . worrying one to German musicians.. The His Master’s Voice gramophone record of the' historic speech made by the King in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords at the opening of the FivePower Naval Conference is now released. This record was made- by the use of a unique recording van, an assemblage of electrical appliances which, for the occasion, was connected by wife with tlie microphone used by his Majesty.' The recorded wax surfaces ’ were seat to the Gramophone Compa'hy’e factory at Hayas, Middlesex, where within three .hours the sound waves on the wax 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 the House of Lords, the result was .so perfect that immediate permission was given to have the gramophone reproduction broadcast to ‘the world the same evening, and the effect was exactly as though the royal orator 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.B. 3200, is sold entirely for charitable purposes, the proceeds, at the suggestion of his Majesty, being devoted ’to the “'Wireless for the Blind” Fund. A dainty violin offering is that of Mischa Elman, who • makes “ Vocalise,” by Raehmaninoff-Press, a thing- of lovely tone. At times, the accompaniment is too dominating and spoils the delicacy , of the playing. Wieniawski’s “Caprice in E Flat Major,” the contrastitig piece, is brilliantly given. “Higoletto” selection arranged by Tavau, sparkling, and played by Marek Weber’s Orchestra, is excellently recorded This record is superior to the last one by the (orchestra, and the piano playing is tastefully observed by all instruments For dramatic singing. Sigrid Ovegin has a power of her own. “O Don Fatale, by Verdi, gives her scope for atmosphere and feeling, both of which are present in her tendering of the song. From “La Favorita” of “ Donizetti, '‘ Omio hernando" is the extract chosen in which the singer is successful both from a recording point of view and a musical point of view, Percy Pitt, conducting an augmented symphony orchestra, has given a lively interpretation of “ Poet and Peasant ” Overture. • This is a popular number in picture theatres,- and is well .known 'to most people. The tone of the orchestra on the whole is good. _ Schubert’s “Ave Maria ” has been much recorded.- The version Toscha Seidel gives shows clear phrasing and pure tone. “ Hebrew Melody,” with its mournful melody, is the second piece. There is a rumour that Fraser Gance will repeat his Ngw, Zealand tour.in the near future. His most successful record is “On the Road to Mandalay,” which is coupled with “ The Two Grenadiers.” Other records are “ lavictus ” and “ The Blind Ploughman”’ “ O Star of Eve,” and “ Slumber On.” A Scotch disc holds “Annie Laurie ” and “ Lassie o’ Mine." “ Der Rosenkavalier,” by ■' Richard Strauss, provides an opportunity for sparkling reproduction to those who wish to take it. Richard Mayo and Annie Andrassy have chosen the final scene with the . waltz tunes. • Under the baton of Bruno Walter, the orchestra makes the music colourful and interesting. The rhythm is truly kept. A Clara Butt re-recording holds “ Eileen Alannah ” and “ My Ain Folk,” sung with sympathy. 1 ' Two De Curtis songs are the making of a good disc by Riccardo Stracciari, In operatic songs the artist is happiest, but he brings out the best of smaller and lighter selections. “Lintanzana” and “ Sto ( Penzanno a Maria” are his latest recording choice. . s From “ II Trovatore,” the finale of Act 1, a- trio is sung by Arangi Lombardi, Merli and Galem. The ' first artist has a pure soprano voice which dominates the record, and she has the good support of the other singers, both well known. From “Eigoletto ’’the duet “Quil Vecchio.Maledivani ” again engages Galefii,' who with Ernesto Dominioi makes a powerful recording. _ i Dr Albert SchVveitzer has chosen Mendelssohn's “Sonata No. 6” for his latest offering. His organ tone is more or less always successful when he is recording. It is an ambitious selection owing to the many failures of grand organ when it is reproduced, but with the improved recording apparatus many of the faults are disappearing. In <the singing portions of the sonata the instrument’s tone is shown to perfection. In the Fugue interesting effects are obtained, and the climax is artistically reached. The following is a list of some of the best sellers compiled from the latest returns by gramophone dealers;—“ Walther’s Prize Song,” from Wagner’s “ Mastersingers,” sung by Joseph Hislop; “Double Concerto in A minor’’ (Brahms), played by Thibaud, Casals, and the Pablo Casals Orchestra, conducted by Cortot;“Blue Danube Waltz” (concert arabesbues, by Schulz-Evler), played by Joseph Lhevinne; “Musical Switch” (Alfort), played by the Coldstream Guards Military Band; “Wings of Song” (Mendelssohn), played by Heifetz (violinist); kntl “ Boots,” sung by Peter Dawson. There is a wide variety of light records, such as “ Young Tom o’ Devon ” and “ Glorious Devon ” and “ Then You’ll Remember Me,” sung with sympathy by Barrington Hooper, a lyric tenor. The companion number is “ Alarguerite,” by White. Norman Blair, the possessor of a strong baritone voice, gives “ The Song of Shiraz ” and “ Could You Have Waited? ” A treat for the children is provided by Lewis James, whose “Songs for’ Little People” (a medley of nursery rhymes) are merrily sung. Boccherini’s “ Minuet,” and a pretty descriptive piece,, “ Sous Bois,” are nicely played by the concert orchestra. The tone is good. ’ Sylvester Ahola is heard in two cornet solos. “Absent ” (Metcalf) and “The English Rose” (German), and the orchestra accompaniment enhances the record; Two stirring marches. “ Belphogor March ” and “Forward March.” are vigorously played by the National- Military Band.