DISC MUSIC

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 26, 31 May 1929, Page 3

DISC MUSIC

GRAMOPHONE NOTES SOMETHING ABOUT RECORDS, Six “Moments Musicaux” (Schubert —Op. 94.) Pianoforte Solos by Ethel Login ska. Columbia 41317-20. Ethel Leginska is a very enterprising musician. A few years ago she conducted symphony orchestras on the Continent and in America. Now she reappears under Columbia’s) banner with a ample offer of four 10-inch Schubert piano records. The melodious fragrants receive an impetuosity of treatment which you may not quvte agree they call for, but their brilliance is unmistakable and most exciting. The recording is superb —some of the best piano recording yet. XXX (a) “Wine, Women and. Song 75 — Waltz (J. Strauss); (b) “'Roses of the South” —Waltz (J. Strauss). Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Frederick Stock. (H.M.V.). This bright, tuneful waltz (a), which contrasts favourably with the tearful waltzes of recent years, opens with a sonorous rich-sounding introduction, and then the seductive tune rattles on to the joy of all who hear *t as it unfolds in its voluptuous measure. The string tone is very fine and the brass majestic. In (b) "he long, langorous beauty or tne introduction is in keeping with the title. In the waltz proper the melodies are well contrasted, bright and spirited, then cantabile, so that there is no lack of musical interest to its stirr ring coda. Two good records.

XXX (1) “Sailing Tip the Clyde”; (2) “Ye Can Come And See The Baby.” by Will Fyffe, Scotch Comedian. Columbia 02726. After a long absence Will F|yffe shows that he has lost none of his subtlety or genial humour. You can almost smell the whisky in his breath when he comes “Sailing up The Clyde.” The “patter” is excellent and the tunes just as good as he usually provides. Every word is clear, and every word is worth listening to. This is one of the few humorous records that will keep, xxx Puccini’s “La Boliommc/” with its v]vid stage life, does not suggest an opera ideal for broadcasting or for the gramaphone. It is a surprise, therefore, to find it “coming over” so effectively as it does on the thirteen H.M.V. discs, which present the music in its entirety. The forces engaged in the performance are those of the Scala at Milan. Carlo Sabajno is a .conductor who gets every ounce of effect from the score. Giorgirii, the tenor, are Padrfi, the bartone Marcel, are excellent singers. Terri, who sings Mimi, is in this music a soprano of the. first rank. Down to the humblest member of the cast ■everybody sings; the scene between Mustta and the old beau provides an object lesson in the arte of being deliciously funny a nd yet absolutely musical throughout. xxx “Symphony in E Flat (No. 39)” (Mozar). Felix Weingartner conducting the Royal Philaharmonic Orchestra. Columbia 02715-17. An exquisjteq work —generally acknowledged to be Mozart’s best, brilliantly played and recorded. From first to last the music is bubbling over with happiness. Delicious little melodies abount in profusion, and each one is developed and counterpointed ns only Mozart knew how. Columbia’s policy of issuing masterworks in their popular section should be the means of introducing thousands of the joys of Sclassical music. Nobody could ‘fail to respond to its artless merriment. 'jTho playing is neat and dapper, and full of bright tone. xxx (1) “Der Wegweiser” (Schubert). (2) “Der Doppelganger” (Schubert). Sung by Alexander Kipnis, Bass. Columbia. First and foremost, one is impressed with the tremendous sincerity of Kipnis. His vocal powers are not mean; be delivers his true round tone with extraordinary facility, and plumbs the lower register with flawless purity. But it is his art more fchan his methods we admire. There has surely been no better render ing of “Der Doppelganger” (The Phantom Double), with its eerie chords and tense drama. The Sign Post embodies in a beautiful melody a world of chilling sorrow which Kipms has admirably interpreted. A lovely record, xxx Maria, Olezewska, contralto (H.M. V.) Maria Olezwska, to the accompaniment of the Berlin State Opera Orchestra, has made a wonderful record of the great air, “Softly Awakes My Heart.” On the reverse side is an old Handolian air sung with an intensity of expression and a beauty of tone that should make the record one often to bo played, xxx For all-Jound excellence, commend me to the Temple Church Choir’s rendering of a noble motet by S. S. Wesley. Here wo have a conspicuously fine example of church music treated with abundant understanding

and recorded with impressive effect by “H.M.V.” ' "■ XXX To the well-recorded “Zonophono’* iseries of 'Gilbert and Sullivan “Vocal Gnis” are now added “tit-bits” from ‘Princess Ida’ and r They arc good enough to make one wish the selections n each case were sufficiently numerous to have a whole disc to themselves instead of a single side. Equally acceptable aer Foster Richardson’s renderings of the “Indian Love Lyrics.” His insight in recording for “Zonohone” has before been apparent. I XXX I “Kol Nidrei” (Bruch). ‘Cello Solo by Felix Salmond. Columbia 04190. Much good work as Felix Salmond has done, and few ’cellists are so respected by musicians, tin’s fs certainly his finest record by far. Never has the lovely singing tone of this instrument been so exquisitely recorded. , The plaintive, and moving strains of '• this old Hebrew melody, one of the . most appealing in all music, swell out '• with thrilling richness, well matched ! by the sonority of a gorgeous piano | accompaniment. Tin’s is a record, to be treasured.: