Gramophone Notes
Jr is perhaps ludicrous, and certainly ungrateful, to hope for any consistency in the output of Gramophone records. But the month of December was responsible for so many things of value that the latest arrivals seem by comparison discon- certingly dull. With so much of importance still to she recorded, it is difficult to applaud the policy of reissuing record after record of pieces which are at best no more than the flotsam and jetsam of popular appreciation. Nevertheless, among the Lilliputians there are some welcome giants. By far the most interesting of the orchestral recordings is the per- formance of the British Symphony Orchestra, conducted by `Walter, of Funeral March from Giitterdanimerung (Columbia I X158, 6s.). _ Subtlety and broadness are exquisitely blended 'in this interpretation of one of the greatest of Wagner's com- positions and the recording is excellent. Less important, but no less skilfully done, are the performances of The Berlin State Orchestra, under the baton of Blech, of Smetana's Al olda u and Liszt's arrangement of Schubert's' Hungarian Dance (No. 4) (H.M.V. D1980-7, 12s.) and The Symphony Orchestra's playing, conducted by Kajanus, of the Intermezzo and Allia Marcia from Sibelius' Karelia Suite (Columbia DX307, 4s.). The latter is contemplative music ; the former descrip- tive ; and to both of them the conductor gives a critical refine- ment that may be compared to the effect produced by an accomplished man of letters engaged in writing verse. A certain amount of the lyrical qualities of the music arc sacri- ficed but there is no nonsense about either interpretation.
Of this month's piano records much might be said. It seems impossible to combine perfections of interpretation and recording. M. Cortot plays Albeniz 's Malaguena and Seguid- illas (H.M.V. DA1121, 49.) : Mr. William Murdoch Grieg's Norwegian Bridal Procession and Sibelius' False Trine (Columbia DX314, 46.) : Mr. Mark Hambourg Schumann's Arabesque and Devotion (H.M.V. C2248, 4s.). Between M. Cortot and Mr. Hambourg there is little affinity, and in addition no small difference between the former's two per- formances. Seguidillas is rendered with a matter-of-fact and at times overdone vivacity ; the second sympathetically and with perfect tone and warmth. Mr. Hambourg plays the Arabesque brusquely and Devotion rather pompously. The recording of Mr. Hambourg's records is immeasurably the better. Mr. Murdoch, with inferior material musically, produces by far the best results. The Grieg is especially satisfying and the recording of both is excellent.
Of the violin records by far the most important, and the most successful, is Yehudi Menuhin's interpretation of Corelli's La Police (H.M.V. DB1501, Os.). This work calls for the pre- sentation of almost every shade of emotion and a flawless technique to support it. In spite of the fact that the accom- paniment is played on a piano instead of a harpsichord, this record may be considered superior . to the existing Bratza interpretation. Bronislau Hubennann plays in an easy and restrained manner Schubert's apparently inevitable Ave Maria and a rather badly cut version of Bruch's Kol Nidrei (Columbia LX155. Os.). Lionel Tertis on the viola couples the Pugnani Prelude and Allegro with a mellifluous rendering of Liszt's Liebestraume, a refined form of blackmail. His performance of the Pugnani is an odd mixture of solidity and irrelevance but is excellently recorded.
Of the Operatic records, the best is one devoted to the third act of Die Meistersinger (H.M.V. D2002, Os.). On one side Friedrich Schorr sings, accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Albert Coates, Aha ! Da streicm die Leyte schon urn's Haus ; on the other side is the quintet Selig, wie die Sonne meines Gliickes, sung by Schorr, Melchior, Schumann, Parr and Williams. Both performances must be accounted among the most successful that have been done. The balance between orchestra and voice is exquisitely sustained : especially in the quintet, where the all-important crescendo is magnificently achieved. In a rather meagre month, this and the Giitterdannnerung record stand out.
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