MUSIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21359, 12 June 1931, Page 5

MUSIC

NOTES AND RECORDS By Allegro. Cabled information from Queensland is to the effect that the Peter Dawson-Mark Hambourg tour in that State has proved a great financial-success. The final concert in Brisbane was “ sold out,” and there was a like experience in Toowoomba and Newcastle, while there is heavy booking for the artists’ forthcoming Sydney season. Speaking of music in Australia, Mr Larsen, under whose auspices Mark Hambourg and Peter Dawson are visiting the Dominion, says that Australia is essentially a music-loving country; Its great distance from the music centre of Europe has caused its musical development to be slow, but it is visited by numbers of great artists and has produced some. What is needed is initiative and the rousing of leading Australians to an appreciation of what art means to any country. Many impresarios are needed who will contrive to bring the world's best in music to Australia, Musical Auckland has lately benefited from the return from Europe of one of its prominent professors of music and solfeggi. He has been giving a “ lec-ture-recital,” and the programme consisted of a series of concise and interesting accounts of his interviews with some of the leading composers, with their views on matters musical in general and comments on their own work in particular. The lecture was punctuated by two or more examples of the wo'rk of each composer rendered by local artists of standing, the whole constituting a very interesting function. This month sees the issue of the symphonic suite from Ravel’s ballet “ Daphnis and Chloe.” This work is acknowledged to be his finest for the orchestra. The record contains “ Dawn of Day ” and “ Pantomime,” the second continues the “ Pantomime,” and includes the “ Danse.” In “ Dawn of Day ” we hear shimmering melody with faint flute notes in the background. The melody grows in strength until we are plunged into the whole panorama of the scene. All the time there is a sense of life, activity, and joyous freedom. “ Pantomime ” opens with terrific animation, but quietens almost immediately as the wood-wind insists on repeating a little bird-like phrase. Now comes a wonderful flute solo against an orchestral background. The third part opens with a scurrying in the orchestra. The oboe takes the air from the flute by uttering a few notes; the tone-colour becomes a vivid blaze; there are upward runs in the orchestra. “ Danse,” as the title suggests, is a breathless revel. Wood-wind, brass, and strings fight for supremacy, while a faint melody is in the background. Philippe Gaubert has conducted the Walther Straram Orchestra pf. Paris in this work, and the recording is so fine that even the unobtrusive side-drum passage in ( the fourth side has come out clearly. The famous Dutch conductor, Dr Willem Mengelberg, who last season was the conductor-in-chief to the London Symphony Orchestra, gets some strikingly realistic spinning wheel effects from Le Rouet Omphale” of Saint-Saens, of which the players are the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. After some wood-wind passages the principal theme is given out and carried on to the close. The orchestra’s work in this is smooth, and the strings are especially attractive. Rosa Ponselle may be heard on two arias, “ Oume Tutelar ” and Tu che Invoco,” from Spontini’s opera, La V estate.” This record furnishes a fine reproduction of her voice, and her legato singing is a charming feature of it. “A Summer Night,” by Marzials and Goring Thomas, and “My Dearest Heart, by Sullivan, sung by Miss Dons Vane, Lave been recorded. They have a cello obbligato. The songs are popular ones, and the singer a gramophone favourite. A new record comprises 1 travel the Road,” by Parsons and Thayer, and The Song of the Tinker.” sung by Raymond Newell, baritone. These have swinging melodies, and are rhythmically sung. The singer seems to be enjoying jus songs, and this has much to do with the enjoyment of the audience in listening to him. After a lengthy absence, the famous Choir of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, returns to the gramophone with Sir Wolford Davies as conductor, in Tchaikovsky’s lovely “ Angel Spirits Ever Blessed ’ (from the “ Cherubic Hymn ”) and O That I Knew Where I Might Find Him, by Sterndale Bennett. The first is in Christmas carol style, and has an effective ending. The choir’s' rendering is a smooth and well balanced one. The second side, a hymn-like composition, is perfectly given.. From “Frederica," by Lehar, the following selections have been recorded: — “Wayside Rose," “Wherever Woman Holds Her Sway,” “ Wonderful,” “ I Live for Your Love,” “ Maid of Alsace,” “ Why Did You Kiss My Heart Awake? ” “Rhineland Dancei” “A Heart as Pure as Gold,” “ Student’s Chorus,” “My Heart Lies in Your Hand,” and “ O Maiden, My Maiden.” “The Mikado," one of the most popular of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas, is now at last available almost in *its entirety. Sixteen solo and concerted numbers, including every single one of the popular tunes, are packed on to six 10-inch discs. The singers are Dan Jones, Appleton Moore, Alice Lilley, Joan Cross, Nellie Walker, Randell Jackson and Robert Carr —all well known in- England for their successes in Gilbert and Sullivan roles. The concerted items are by the Light Opera Company, conducted by Joseph Batten. At no extra cost there is also a 20-page book _ of words and an art portfolio to contain the records. From “ I Pescatori di Perle,” by Bizet, there has been recorded “ Siccome un di caduto il sole” (A, Fugitive One Day), from Act 11. In this the orchestra, is conducted by Carlo Sabajno. In “ Brahma, gran Dio ” (Brahma, Great Deity), from Act 11, the orchestra is conducted by G. Nastrucci. Toti Dal Monte, with members of La Scala Orchestra, Milan, has made an effective recording. The trio in the third act is by Godard and not Bizet. The opera was first produced in Paris in 1863, in London in 1887 and 1889.

An interesting disc is that of the Milan Symphony Orchestra in Auber’s “ Masaniello ” overture. Under Lorenzo Molajoli the orchestra’s work is careful and finished Herman Finck’s offering is “Melodious Memories.” His orchestra gives several well-known tunes, among which are: “ The Trumpeter,” “ Company Sergeant-major,” “My Old Shako,” “Drake’s Drum,” “ Bird of Love Divine,” “ Wheel Tapper’s Song,” “ Uncle Tom Cobleigh,” “ The Midshipmite,” “ Gendarmes’ Duet ” (Genevieve de Brabant), “The Glowworm,’’ “Even Bravest Heart” (“ Faust ”). “ Kerry Dance,’ “ Nancy Lee,” “ Yeoman’s Wedding Song,” “ Love the Pedlar,” “Up from Somerset,” “I Hear You Calling Me,” “ She Wandered Down the Mountain Side,” “Valse Septembre,’’ “ Nights of Gladness,” “My Ain Folk,’ “ Parade of the Tin Soldiers,” “ Cherry Ripe,” “ Down South,” “ Kashmiri Song,” “ Love’s Old Sweet Song,” “ Here Comes Tootsie,” “1812” overture, “Entry of the Gladiators,” “ Boccaccio March.” “Land of Hope and Glory,” and “The Lost Chord.”

Quentin Maclean’s record continues to be popular. It is of Liszt’s second “ Hungarian Rhapsody,” his most wellknown one. To atlemnt this on a kinema organ shows that the player must be well acquainted with his instrument. Indeed, he seems to be a virtuoso. The “ Song of the Volga Boatmen ” grows more popular with each new recording. It may be had as sung by Chaliapin, or by Peter Dawson. The Petrograd Quartet have also recorded it, and Kibalchich's Symphonic Choir. An orchestral version is provided by Kirilloff’s Balalaika Orchestra.

Chaliapin’s singing of “The Calf of Gold,” from “ Faust,” is magnificent. With him is Cozette. On the reverse side is “ Mephistophele’s Serenade.” In this he portrays the evil, singer with artistry. .Henri Busser is the conductor of the orchestra. Elena Danieli, an American soprano, who was a member of the last Melba Opera Company in Australia, has recorded “Rosein Bud,” by Dorothy Wood, and “Garden - of Happiness,” by Haydn Wood. Her head notes are especially clear.

The National Symphony Orchestra has made a vivid rendering of “ Causasian Sketches,” by _ Ippolitoff-Twanoff. The two pieces, which are played with good tone, are “In a Mountain Pass” and “In a Mosque.”

A Harry Lauder disc holds “ Stop Your Ticklin’ Jock” and “Sound Advice.” The artist enjoys himself thoroughly in these.