POPULAR TRIO

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 978, 22 May 1930, Page 18

POPULAR TRIO

Miss Mirian Lieette sings two of the most popular airs from Mozart’s masterpiece, “Don Giovanni” —“Batti, batti” and the exquisite recitative and aria, “Mi tradi.” There is a touch of woodwind about her voice—a mellow purity and sweetness which, while it lacks the richer undertones of many voices, makes up for this by its unfailing expressiveness. Miss Lieette phrases with considerable charm, and persuades us that she thoroughly understands what Mozart was driving at; in itself no mean accomplishment for any artist to boast about. (Columbia, 05070.)

There are many recorded versions of Agatha’s aria from Weber’s “Freischutz,” but very few of the

prayer from the second act, which has been chosen by Maria ' Jeritza. the famous dramatic soprano, as a companion number to Agatha’s aria. Agatha, anxiously awaiting the return of her beloved Max, sings the recitative “Wie nahte mir der Schiummer,” fol-

lowed by the prayer, “Leise, leise.” The beautiful melody is very tenderly sung by Jeritza, whose lovely voice always reproduces most successfully. (H.M.V., D. 8., 982.) Ambroise Thomas’s Mignon overture is typically Parisian music—music of the city, redolent with the scent of the theatre. It is a little masterpiece of delicately mingled orchestral colours, and contains some of the most delightful tunes, and melodious themes of the opera, chief of which being “Know’st Thou the Land” and “I Am Titania.” The Milan Symphony Orchestra, under Lorenzo Molajoli, play it with the right miniature touch, and that is not managed by many players. The celebrated orchestra gives it skilful handling with poetic interpretation. (Columbia 05058.)

Columbia 01928.—Art. Gillham, best of the whispering pianists, gives a pair of typical numbers in “Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder” (of somebody else) and “If You Were the Only. Girl” (from “The Vagabond Lover.”) Columbia D024.-—Quentin Maclean shows all his old skill on the organ in two tuneful old numbers, “Lily of Laguna” and “Little Dolly Daydreams.”

Columbia 01836. —From the talkie, “Paris,” the film actress, Irene Bordoni takes two of the finest theme songs, “I Wonder What is Really on His Mind” and “My Lover.” Irene has an appealing voice. Columbia 01842. —The big hit from “Untamed” is “The Chant of the Jungle,” and Paul Speeht and his orchestra play it with weird and wonderful effect. With it is paired “That Wonderful Something is Love.” & * # Sir Hamilton Harty and the Halle Orchestra give us this month one of the finest single orchestral discs of the year—a coupling of Rimsky-Korsa-kov’s “Flight of the Bumble Bee” and Moussorgsky’s “Khovanchtchine.” prelude. The prelude is purely Russian; music of the open air, with the very spirit of the dawn it expresses. The Halle Orchestra plays with a fine individuality among its solo instrumentalists, and this quality, observable in just the same degree in the fascinating “Bumble Bee,” makes this one of the most charming orchestral records in existence. (Columbia 05059.)

Not only Scots listeners, but anyone who loves a good rollicking tune, will be captivated by a record of “Strathspeys and Reels,” in two parts, played by the 8.8. C. Wireless Military Band under Walton O’Donnell. The lively tunes include such popular Strathspeys as “Lady Lucy Ramsay,” “Highland Whisky,” “Speed on the Plough,” “Alister McAlister,” and “Neil Gow’s Second Wife”; and such reels as “The Fairy Dance,” “Loch Lynach,” “Captain Keeber” and “The Reel of Tulloch.”