HIS MASTER'S VOICE.'..
• There is no "singer in the world who can attain Signora Galli-Curers perfection in rapid staccato enunciation. Hear her sing the Prison Song from Las Hijas del Zebedeo, and you will realize something of her art. Turn over the record and hear her sing Tosti's Serenala and you will realize something more. The secret of it all is the long breath. Almost we ate persuaded by her meticulous phrasing that the Serenata a good song. Almost, but not quite. There is also a record of her singing the Shadow Song from Meyerbeeii Dinorah, which is worth buying if only for the final cadenza.
Ponselle and Martinelli have well-matched voices, and thris singing of the closing scene of Aida is thrilling. The record should be played in a large room ; otherwise the tone become distorted and the volume distressing. A nice quiet record that made by Paul Robeson, known .here chiefly through lii playing of the title-role in The Emperor Jones. His voice caressing, and less thick in quality than that of the averagc negro. He sings On ma journey and Sometimes I feel like q Motherless Child in a refined,- unfrenzied manner. He is far tou intelligent to yield to the proselytizing urge of the "spirit which, to some, may seem a disadvantage. Robeson ha., ma admirable voice for recording.
Marcel Dupre plays two movements from Mendelssoluis Fourth Organ Sonata. It is a neat, unruffled performance, but it is not representative of Dupre's brilliance ; nor does it give us the best of Mendassolm's organ music. The Allegretto, however, is a good example of clean part-playing and of telik registration. Scheherazade has been re-recorded; and issnol on two records. It is conducted by Mr. Eugene Goossens :thd played by the Covent Garden Orchestra. The high and deli colours are reproduced without dilution, and altogether ;Ir riot is most effectively controlled. At times the brass is a 'Rik- out of the picture, but on the whole the new recording hrr marks a distinct advance.
There is a grandiloquent performance of Tschalkows First Piano Concerto by Mr. Mark Hambourg and Sir Land.,11 Ronald with the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra. The tone of this is unusually full--another tribute to the new recordist process—but before the end the hectic, hearty manner, whHi the work demands, becomes tiresome.
BASIL MAINE.
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