DISC MUSIC

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 86, 6 July 1928, Page 3

DISC MUSIC

CRAMOPHOME NOTES. SOMETHING ABOUT RECORDS. A piece tie resistance of the' July list is "The Valkyrie," issued as "a represent .tive' Series," on fourteen double-sided discs (black label), complete in a handsome The following is the cast of singers:—Bnmnhilde, Mms. Frida Leider and Florence Austral • Sieglinde, Goeta Ljungberg; Sdegmund, Walter Widdop; Wotan, F'riedrich Schorr; Hunding, Howard Fry; the Flight Valkyries, chorus, State Opera, Berlin. With the ' London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Albert Coates) and the Archestra of the Stole Opera, Berlin (conducted by Dr. Leo Blech). This set of records has been made with the intention of presenting for the first time in the history of the' gramophone a completely representative series of selected passages from Wagner's great music drama, "The Valkyrie." To a considerable extent these new records replace a previous and historic set 1 made a few yclirs ago, but they go farther and do more than that earlier 1 set could hope to do. The powers of the new electrical recording have made possible the crear tion of records of exceptional realism, volume, and clarity. No effort- has been spared to make these records the finest of their kind ever made. A cast of world-ihihous Wagnerian artists ha? been "used,' together with two of the finest conductors and orchestras in Europe. Half the total number of records'included in thip group were made in London, in Queen's Hal] and the Kmgsway Hall, and to make the'artistic scope of the) plan <v. wide as possible the remaining passages were recorded in Berlin. The Whgfierian" enthusiast should' weleome" these "-records, for they add notablv % the" repertoire of the gramophone. (1) "Mother Machree," (2) "The "Rosary." ; Sung ; by Alfred O-'Shea, tenor.' There is more to admire ' in o'Shea's voice "than' fine vocalism, though that is certainly not wanting; but, what makes all his records so interesting is the fervour and intensity; of feeling he 'infuses into everything he sings. Especially good is he when he approaches such wCu-lnowii U.i----f lads' -aV the "two'' under review. The way in.' which he teems to caress the familiar' notes charges them with meaning. And yet, hoAvever, tender his treatment, there is always the hint of tremendous reserves of power. He sings a particularly round and open noes, a*iid has a very line range. »■"*■•'*• Wiiixda Landowska (harpsichord), in "The Harmonious Blacksmith" ""(Mandel) and "Turkish'•March" (Mozart). Madame Wanda Landowska is one o'i the greatest performers on the harpsichord : the wWld has seen. This is her first record to be issued in this country. Her artistry is of such order that : its exquisite polish and finesse is readily apprecjUted by the least perceptive. Her gay and perperformances of the.e two little pieces are a sheer delight. ■ *-*"*#» ■• The Band of H.M. Coldstream Guai'ds, ;l ■ iri' "Zampa" overture (Herold). Herold's operas enjoyed a great vegue during Pari s in the first half of the nineteenth century. Of all Ins works, "Zumpa" is the only one which has survived the ravages of time, and its fine overture still delights concert audiences all over'the world. An exceptionally fine electrical re-cording. " : "■" '■' ' * * * fi I Light Opera Company, in "Lilac Time," introducing "Four" Jolly" Brothers," "The' Flower," "I Want to Carve Your - Name,'' ' 'When 'Sues are Blue," "Girlg and Boys," "I Ask the Spring," "Oh,- What is so Sweet as (a Golden Song," "Dearest, all Is Ours." It was a particularly charming idea to build a musical play around the life of Schubert, and to provide the music from the vast store of melodies he wrote. It will be scarcely necessary to describe the charm and grhce of the, music, partly because "Lilac Time-"' ha.s had a most remarkable success everywhere for a period of oyer four years, and partly because Schubert is Aveil known to have been the greatest of all melodies. This' delightful vocal selection conveys a pleasant recollection of some of the best moments in the production!

'"* * * V Peter Dawson, in "Song of the Ycllga Boatman t " !, "The Bear Home'latttl'" "'(daughter). Potter Dawson has made a. very wonderful record indeed of the "Song: of the Volga. Boatmen." Tt is as if he had heen inspired to great'things By the song, for he certainly sing s with astonishing volume and clearness of tone. * * * ■» 'Mischa Levitski (pianoforte), in "Hungarian Rhapsody, No. (>"■ (Lisss't). 'Mischa Levitski, who needs no introduction to' Australia or New Zealand, has made a most brilliant debut on records. This performance of the sixth of the "Hungarian Rhhpcodies" of .Liszt i<3 a> remarkable one in many'ways. The playing is of a very high order. and the reproduction' i« technically superb. Tn sonority and outstanding volume the record is one of the finest productions of modern times.