Gramophone Notes
The March Records
IT is always pleasant to be able to say that one has found the latest work of an artist, or the latest products of a process, . the best. The_ performance. by Backhaus and the B.B.c, SymphonY, Orchestra, conducted by Adrian Boult, of Brahms' Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15 (H.M.V. DB1839-43, 30s) provides such an opportunity. For with this recording there is positively no fault to be found. The concerto, which was composed when Brahms was twenty-five, from note which he had made both for a symphony and a sonata for , two pianos, was greeted at its birth with more than a casual lack of interest. The audience at its first performance, at Hanover in January, 1859, confessed itself bored, while at Leipzig a few days later disgust was proclaimed with hisses Subsequent events, and current taste at the time, grounded on an extensive worship of Mendelssohn, did little, to qualify , this verdict : indeed, admiration of the concerto is a com• paratively recent phenomenon. It is now possible to see Etat it is both immature and a work of undoubted genius. The immaturity .is shown by the relatively inept orchestration two-thirds through the first movement, a third of the way through the second, in the inconclusive form of the rondo. It is tundannentally immature, yet the flame of genius burns clearly throughout. It would be nearly impossible to improve on this recording. _Backhaus' performance never falters and Dr. Boult endorses the reputation for interpretation of Brahms which he has already gained with the symphonies in the concert hall.
After the Brahms, it is -slightly depressing to turn to the recording of Cesar Franek's Symphonic Variations by Gieseking and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Henry Wood (Columbia LX192-3, 12s.) : depressing, not on account of the music (though it is, I believe, fashionable enough in certain circles to consign it to the abyss without argument), but because Gieseking appears not merely to lack sympathy with the music but positively to be obscuring its merits. It is a work which is made doubly acceptable by familiarity, because appreciation of its themes is largely in terms of anticipation of their development. Gieseking, by throwing emphasis on each development at its inception, allows no room for suggestion. The developments appear solemn and mechanical. This recording is unlikely to supee sede the existing one by Cortot.
There are half a dozen vocal records, over which Neapolitan songs have a preponderance. Conchita Supervia sings, with admirable grace and simplicity, Cottrau's Santa Lucia and a version of Mendelssohn's Spring Song (Parlophone R020212, 4s.). Caruso's posthumous contributions (the records were made a number of years ago and are being systematically reproduced) are di Capua's 0 Sole Mw and La donne a nwinle from Rigoletto (H.M.V. DA1303, 4s.). Alfred Piccaver, also Neapolitanly minded, sings Torna a Sorriento and Tirindellis Di Te (Deeca-Polydor DE7021, 2s. 6d.). Richard Tauber sings the same song by de Curtis and another Italian folk-song Maria, Mari ! (Parlophone R020211, 4s.). But,. far the best of these records is that by Heinrich Rehkemper of two Wolf songs, The Rat's Death Song and A Message (Deeca. Polydor 1'05063, 2s. 6d.) which is remarkable both for the quality of the voice and the dramatic incisiveness of the interpretation. We may also recommend the last 'Of Pachmann's records, Etude in G Plat major, Prelude in )3 miner, and Mazurka in G major (H.M.V. DA1302, 4s.) : 8 performance of Liszt's Rapsodie Espagnole by Walter Rehberg (Decca-Poly-dor CA8145, 4s.) : Capriccio Italien played by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Alois Melichae (Decca-Polydor LY6066, 3s. 6d.) : a selection from Dvorak 's Jacobin played by the Grand Symphony Orchestra (Parlophone E11231, 48.): and a charming performance of the slow inove ment from Schubert's Death and the Maiden Quartet, played by the Lefler String Quartet (Columbia LX201, 6s.). It is no doubt, futile to regret that the Loner String Quartet his
ceased -to-reeord-magor-sworks.. -
Previous page
