GRAMOPHONE NOTES
A wni.comn new recording is that of Mozart's Pianoforte Concerto in A major by Denis Matthews, with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under George Weldon (Col. DX1167-9.) I have for long considered Mr. Denis Matthews to be one of the most musically gifted of our pianists, and I am glad to see the Gramophone Company making more use of his talents. Is it too much to ask that they should now get him to record at least half a dozen of Mozart's other concertos? They are far too little known to the musical public, and, after all, the A major Concerto is the best known but by no means the best, since every one of Mozart's piano- forte concertos is a masterpiece. This is a record to buy, as listeners will find that the oftener they play it the more they will enjoy it. This cannot be said of such a work as Rimsky Korsakov's Russian Easter Overture recorded by the N.B.C. Symphony Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski (H.M.V. DB6x73-4), although it is a lively work that will please immediately, having no subtle or profound beauties to reveal as Mozart's music has. I recommend a fine recording by Yehudi Menuhin and Marcel Gazelle of Handel's Sonata No. 4 in D arranged by Hugo Kander (H.M.V. DB6175-6). A lively recording is Johann Strauss's polka Trirsch-Tratsch (H.M.V. B9393) made by the Boston Promenade Orchestra under Arthur Fiedler. Johann Strauss's waltzes Vienna Life and Artist's Life have rather coarse recordings by Andre Kostelanetz and his orchestra (Col. DX' t7o); but better orchestral playing and a proper slow tempo is secured by John Barbirolli in the same composer's Roses of the South waltz, with the Halle Orchestra (H.M.V. C3408). A most seductive and ,,delightful aria full of Bizet's exquisite languor is " In memory I lie beneath the palms and dream of love," from his beautiful opera, The Pearl Fishers. Here is sentiment and musical genius, and Mr. Heddle Nash has managed to control his voice (which the tessitura suits) and avoid those blemishes which occasionally mar his singing. In the aria from Donizetti on the other side he is not so successful.
W. J. T.
Previous page
