NEW RECORDS

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17927, 1 July 1930, Page 2

NEW RECORDS

A WEEKLY FEATURE.

A WEBER CONCERTO.

Clarinet Concerto (Weber), Played by the Band of the Garde Republicaine cf France. (Columbia 02879). This is gcod direct music frankly designed to please and charm. It is typical of the airy, (aristocratic romantic who wrote it. Written originally for one Bainnann, the finest clai'.'net player of his time,. it gives to the soloist of the Garde RepubliGuine a chance to revel in the deliciou.s/y piquant melodies. The soloist has taken hi;S chances with both hands, and the result is a recording of delightful charm. The clarinet tone is mellow and beautifully rounded and the orchestral background gleams with bright lights and shades. This famous band, perhaps the finest military band in the world, give a splendid account of themselves.

GUGLIELMETTI

Variations' on a Theme by Mozart (Adam). Sung by A. M. Guglielmetti, soprano. (Columbia 03641). These Mozart variations add another triumph of brilliant execution to this soprano's collection. Usually one listenso to this kind of singing with a sense fear afraid the next glissando, the next stupendous leap to the unper register, will prove too much for the singer. But Guglielmetti brings it off with such superb easu that our pleasure is unalloyed. The loveliness of her middle register is irresistible. Of course, the work is r ithc-r in the nature of a show piece, but the Mozartian melodic genuis redeems it from banality.

MARIA KUKEJNKA

(1) "Cradle Song" (Tchaikowsky); (2) "None But the Weary Heart"— (Tchaikowsky). Sung by Maria Jvurenka, soprano. (Columbia 03576). Maria Kurenka, one of the younger Russian sopranos, is ideally equipped to sing songs by Tchaikowsky. All of her records are sung most artistically, displaying wonderful agility, and a perfect technique. She imbues these numbers with great feeling.

PREMIER VIOLINIST

(1) "Elegie." (Massanet). Played by Albert Sammons. (Columbia U 2687). It has always been said of Sammons thai: he records better than any other violinist, and now that we are losing our prejudice in favour of foreign names" some London critics are even venturing to declare that he plays as well as any foreign maestro. His* phrasing is certainly vis . subtle as one could wish for, and his tone is gloriously mellow. Listening to these, familiar numbers one realises how important it is to have them played, by a violinist of first rank.

EVA TUitJNER

Eva Turner (Columbia), returning

to the United States for her second season with the Chicago Opera Company 3 was recently feted for her tier-, formance of the title role of "lsabeau" (Mascagni) at the old Roman arena of Verona, Italy. With Miss Turner in the cast was the tenor Lazoro, as Folco. Eva Turner is one of the very few English sopranos who carried Italy by 'Storm before reaping the harvest of her fame in London. She has made a wonderful record of two numbers from "Turandot" (Columbia 03610), in which she took the part of Piu in the Italian premiere.

DAME CLARA BUTT.

Dame Clar a gives us an interesting replacement, eleotricial versions of "He Shall Feed His Flocks," from the "Messiah," and "Creation's Hymn," by Beethoven, taking the place of an old disc. Her list of replacements has excited great interest, and the public has shown its unqualified . approval of an artist who has served it faithfully for many years. Her magnificent voice and diction in these noble songs are rendered additionally juttractive by t|he vivid electrical reproduction. (Columbia 09570).

NEIL FORSVTH.

Distinctly pleasing is a new pairing by Neil Forsyth, a Scots baritone of considerable feeling and warmth. Forsyth sings quite well, from a technical point of view; but he sounds so friendly and so full of honest sentiment that one forgets to judge his technique. His round, open tones exactly suit his songs. The titles'are "Bonny Mary of Argyle" and "The Piper of Dundee." (Columbia No. 01813).

A .FUPULAR JNEW RECORD.

Columbia DO-28. Layton and Johnston are always welcome in their pleasant duets. Their latest gives us "Congratulations" and "Sunny Side Up"—two good tunes with some great piano work.