Classical Cacophony
HE afternoon Classical Hour is usually of interest only tq women, not because of its contents, but because of its time. Election Day, afternoon provided a rare opportunity to hear an attractive programme of Purcell, Pergolesi and Haydn from 4YA, At first all went well. Sir Henry Wood’s arrangement of snatches of Purcell is an old record, but a constant delight. As for. the Pergolesi, listeners must be getting a little tired of being coyly reminded that the Oboe Concerto is played by Evelyn Rothwell and "her husband," Sir John Barbirolli; but there’s nothing coy. about the music. Then came disaster. The Marian Anderson recording of the Haydn songs is not a good one, the surface is far too shrill and nearly all the effect of her lovely lower register is lost. The record that followed, a new one of Haydn’s London Symphony with Dobrowen and the Philharmonia Orchestra, was far, far worse. The last movement in particular was a horrifying jungle of sound, apparently being hacked about by
strong men with machetes. The noisy surfaces of these recordings were commented on by overseas critics at the time of issue, but the Haydn is only one among many of the newer records which tax the resources of most sets.
K. J.
S.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19491216.2.22.8
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 22, Issue 547, 16 December 1949, Page 11
Word count
Tapeke kupu
214Classical Cacophony New Zealand Listener, Volume 22, Issue 547, 16 December 1949, Page 11
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in