Gramophone Notes
UNDER the direction of Rupert D'Oyly Carte The Gondoliers has been re-recorded by " His Master's Voice." There are twelve 12-inch records, and the set, with album, can be bought for £3 11s. 6d. Doubtless, there are many people who will want to compare this production with the former set in every detail. They will be especially attentive to Henry Lytton, in case he shows any small sign of being not quite so good as he used to be. Others there are who will buy the new set because they missed the first, or because the first is already worn out. I shall not enter into any Gilbert and Sullivan hypercriticism, but merely remark that this recording has all the advantage of recent improvements, and that there are many delightful moments during the per- formance, notably Winifred Lawson's singing of " Kind sir, you cannot have the heart," Lytton's " In enterprise of martial kind," and Sheffield's " There lived a king." UNDER the direction of Rupert D'Oyly Carte The Gondoliers has been re-recorded by " His Master's Voice." There are twelve 12-inch records, and the set, with album, can be bought for £3 11s. 6d. Doubtless, there are many people who will want to compare this production with the former set in every detail. They will be especially attentive to Henry Lytton, in case he shows any small sign of being not quite so good as he used to be. Others there are who will buy the new set because they missed the first, or because the first is already worn out. I shall not enter into any Gilbert and Sullivan hypercriticism, but merely remark that this recording has all the advantage of recent improvements, and that there are many delightful moments during the per- formance, notably Winifred Lawson's singing of " Kind sir, you cannot have the heart," Lytton's " In enterprise of martial kind," and Sheffield's " There lived a king."
Hoist's " Psalm 148 " has been recorded for this company by the Philharmonic Choir. This is an unequal achievement. On the whole the women's voices are heard to better advantage than the men's. Balfour Gardiner's " Evening Hymn," on the other side, would have been notable but for the atrocious tone of the accompanying organ. If there are any good diapasons on that instrument, they were ruled out for this occasion.
Another revised recording is that of Chalia pine's " Farewell of Boris " and " Death of Boris." Not only is this an improve- ment because of the up-to-date process, but also because of the more intelligent production of the scenes. The result, especially in the " Death of Boris," is much more vivid and moving, even if we must reluctantly admit that already Chaliapine's voice is recording the passage of years.
- Two good orchestral records from " Columbia " are Selkuberfs Bosamunde Overture (Harty and the Halle Orchestra).. and the Overture to Rossini's Barber of Seville (Percy Pitt and the B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra). Both are spirited, well-groomed performances. I have lately encoun- tered but few English vocal records in which the singer makes himself " perfectly plain." One of the few is that of Rex Palmer singing Vaughan Williams's " Roadside Fire ". (Columbia). The enunciation here is admirable.
The " Brunswick " list of dance records is never without interest.; One of the best of their latest records is a pianoforte solo by Fred Elizalde called " Marvellous." It will be interesting to follow Elizalde's career at the Savoy, where he and " his music " have just been appointed. Those who are graduating in the Yale Blues will find comfort in the tune called " Alligator Walk " (Brunswick 3,589).
BASIL MAINE.
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