THE GRAMOPHONE.

Shannon News, 14 June 1929, Page 3

THE GRAMOPHONE.

NEW RECORDS. Gems from Gilbert and Sullivan. ‘•'The Mikado” (Gilbert and Sullivan). Vocal gems by ' the Columbia Light Opera Company. Columbia 02824. A pot-pourri tastefully arranged from some of the finest songs in the over-popular “Mikado.” The chorus lias a rousing way with it, coming out particularly effectively in the ‘ ‘ YumYhih ’' chorus. Perhaps “Tit-willow” could have been included with advantage, but of course, that is just- a personal preference. A Royal Record. (1) “A Speech by lI.M. the .King on' the opening of the new Tyne Bridge at Gateshead”; (2) “A Speech of Welcome by the Mayor of Gateshead.” Here is an historic record indeed. In view of the seriousness of His Majesty’s recent-illness, it remains .a tribute to the goodness of Providence that it was not a record of his last public appeaianee. In faultless diction the King speaks his message to Gateshead, and the cough of a bystander serves only to accentuate the realism of this record. Columbia are to be congratulated on this achievement, and also on their fieri slim to place all profits on the sales of this record to hospital funds. >

A Revue on a Record. “How Ho You Do?” A miniature Revue in Two Acts. Mark Daly, Billy Leonard, Emmie Joyce and Company. Columbia 02795. A jolly experiment that passes at once out of the experimental stage, this condensation of an evening’s entertainment on to a 12-inch disc strikes a cheeky note from beginning to end. One or two little playlets, songlets, an apology in the best reyue manner for the absence of the performing elephants, and a fine swinging chorus every now and again are the ingredients, and one cannot help wonderig at the end how they manage to pack so much good material into the record. The “book” is by Harold Simpson, per haps the most famous of all the London revue authors, and some capital music has been provided by another London celebrity, Stanley Holt.. Altogether one of the brightest efforts the gramophone has given us. Do Groot Again.

In the sphere of light instrumental music De Groot and the Piccadilly Orchestra are irreproachable. No orchestra of a similar nature has held such a long run of unabated popularity. They are always introducing something .new. This month they play ‘.‘None but the Weary Heart,” a sweet, song by Tschaikowsky. The groat Russian was a master of the melody line, and all' his charm is brought out by th. violin of De Groot. On the other side is “Friend o’ Mine,” by Sanderson. Here again a popular song is given •fresh beauty by the touch of an artist. The recording is very clear. (ILM.V. 82857). Mark Hambourg.

Mark Hambourg in “Waltz in A Flat, Op. 42” (Chopin), and “Marche Militaire” (Schubert). H.M.V., C 1499. Mark Hambourg has made a brilliant record of the famous Schubert “Military March,” and the performance of the Chopin “Waltz in A Flat” is no less fine. This latter piece has incidentally a very interesting play of rhythm; the right hand plays what is really two beats in a bar, whilst the left hand plays the necessaiy “one two three” beats of a waltz. Two Old Favourites. Walter Glynne (tenor), in “The Eosary” (Ncvin), and “She is Far From the Land” (Lambert). ILM.V. 82817. This i 3 an electrical ie-recording of the two very popular songs, and Walter Glynne’s sweet voice is heard to perfection. Art of Galli-Curci. There is no more charming singer than the famous Galli-Curci. She sings Benedict’s florid “La Cupinera” (The Wren 1 ) with consummate ea.se. The beautiful passages for flute and voice are clearly recorded. On the other side is Yraciicr’s long-popular “La Paloma, ” which is sung in a simple, unaffected style. 'The characteristic timbre of the singer’s voice and skill in vocalisation give to this little Spanish song an exotic flavour that is altogether fascinating. The record, indeed, almost covers the scope. of the soprano’s art, and shows again that Galli-Curci h without limitations. (ILM.V. DA1002.)