DISC MUSIC

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 77, 27 June 1928, Page 2

DISC MUSIC

; ' ' GRAMOPHONE KOTES. ' . ' I ' . .. ' ' - " something about bfcobds, I A new; recorded edition 1 cif the "Val- ] kyrio' 5 was issued recently in London, and will bediere in due course. (Interest io this edition in [that the issue represents Frida Leiui'evKs first appearance on rc;-ords., She |is 'considered to be one of the great- ! est- dram;) tie singers Ui the present ; iy. and has exceptionally wide exJperience. She possesses a voice of i superb ringing quality, and uses it j frith great intelligence. Friedrich ! Schorr, who makes his debut as aw j artist in the parti of "Wotan," has ! been hailed as the greatest -Wagneriian baritone since Van Rooy- In his performance for this set of records ■(says a reviewer), he shows that he l.has a voice of wdxle range, unusual j flexibility, and rich cclcrar. Tho other i singers W'ho have taken part are well | known to the gramophone public: through the medium of their records. Gota Ljungberg makes an effective st Sieglinude," and shows herself to be a finished actor and a sing© l " capable of powerful dramatic intensity. But superlatives can be written of every artist in the cast. Walter Widdop is now regarded—and deservedly so—■ as one of the finest living "heroic tenors'" ;. and the voice and artistry of Florence Austral are, of course, world famous l , * *' * ." "Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral in F Major" (Beethoven). Felix Weingartner conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. "(Five records in al'b'um, with descriptive notes). Beet(hoven tells us that he did not intend | this as . "programme music," but as* it depicts a nightingale, a ouail, and ;a cuckoo, to* say nothing of a stjorm 'of thunder and lisrhtning, and the trickling of a brook, mast of us will fread a picture into it- Felix Weill■gartner mis canglit the "atmosphere" ]to perfection. His reading of the storm music is surely one of the j most vivid things recorded. In tlie [wild cresendo of rain and wind the 'shattering bursts.of thunder and the flashing cif lightning . hie wonderful ( control of the orchestra, never re[laxes, and he rises to heights' of serene beauty in the quieter country scenes. The whole work is like a ,breath of Bweet country air.- "" I- ■' * # * * There are same excellent records in .| most issues for the youngsters. Haye you heard Charles Penrose in "Land «of •'Nod,'-.; '{Laughing Jazz Band," \ Tslnnd," "Popular Jocular. Dr. Brown;'' , "Bainhow Fairy," and, "Tsdo-.cf Tippity Witchit" (on discs)' i. • : , : '■?' '''"''.. - ■ j It will be ,hard to find a more .•! siitis l*yin<r affair ''than' Oota Liunbcrg | makes of T'Yaock's "'Panis 'A'npelicus'?:' and the Bach-Gounod' "Ave Maria." This i s emotional, shifting at iW. best,' arid as. a demonstration of what the graniophone' can do/nowadays it' is a triumph for 'recordinc. ■.• ■-. *'. * * '.. • (J). .."Ca.rineu"—- Flower Song (Bi&-. ■fit):' ' (2).;"Tosoa'* —13. Luceva.n Ip Stelle;'• ■ S"iig bv Ulysses Lappas, . tencr. The siiigintr of both :+liese .popular- extract;..': .from Grand Opera Jsf very fine. Tlie full; round "tone !<)f the Greek tenor (who' made his i'Knctlish dfbiit in 1910) never' cam« loot; fjoi cleai'lv and stronjjly, so i'croinisect't 6f the Caruso richness, beI Fore. His \i flat Is not Phenomenal, ij'mji rip |:o A hatbfal he has asplen-I-did- scale, and his breath-control is The recording of both airs 'ia exceptional. T hope we shall hear ; more from Lappas as time goes on, for he reveals great promise. J. : ,■■ ■'. # * * • ''■:■" j Armand Crabbe (baritone), with orchestra: <%> Caieta" ("Ay, Ay, I Ay," Bresilien) (Sobrinho), sung in (■'Portuguese,- and "Chant de Berger" C"Le Temps s'envile, ."The Shepherd's. Song," from Gounod's "Mireille"), sung in French, with piano. For full-bloodedness it would be very hard indeed to beat. Crabbe has a very big, very rich voice, and uses it excellently in every way. Tho Portuguese song is; not to be confused with the Spanish "Ay, Ay, Ay," so well known, but it i s a still more exhilarating piece. The orchestra is superb* for flat tone in the Portuguese, and for quaint colour in the Gounod., Incidentally, Crab he's rendition . of "Largo Al Factotum'.'. from "The Barber of Seville," is the most artistic . presentation of that famous .air) I have yet heard. * * * ( "Tho Carnival of Animals" (SaintSaens). Sir Hamilton Harty (conducting the Symphony Orchestra. Sir Hamilton- Harty and his orchestra are in 'merry, mood as they give us what remains one of the ino»t delightful burlesques in musical literature. The humour of this jolly suite keeps fresh and roguish throughout. Sain t■Saens's pretty wit is well shown by 'the inclusion of "Pianists' among hi s Animals' Carnival—they are made to play exercises "clumsily," as if by beginners. "Fossil," too is a dry •bit of fun, that comes off very well, and the Longr-eared "Personages" is given out as realistic brays by two violins. .But there are also moments of rare tunefulness, and on all counts I this is a" set of records to be heartily recommended.