New Recordings by Famous Pianists

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 22, 7 December 1934, Page 12

New Recordings by Famous Pianists

Dohnanyi, Horowitz and Barer in Latest Releases -Worth-while December | Titles

(Written for the "Radio Record" by

BOLTON

WOODS

critics in discussing the falling-off in concert attendances recently, says that when the real exodus from the concert hall commences it will be the best musicians who will be the first ‘to quit. For the musician knows not only what heswants in music but the best way to get it. He enjoys the minor pleasures of the musical life as much as any man. But his main concern is with the study and restudy of the great works that are an eternal joy, an eternal challenge, and an eternal mystery to him; and in the not! distant future he will have more opportunities for this. intensive study and re-study at home than he can get in the concert room. At home with his gramophone he is spared the trial of listening to a variety of works in which he has no immediate interest, merely that the crowd, whose appetite is greater than its taste, may have variety in its musical diet. He can do at home what he cannot do in the concert room-he can choose his evening’s listening and communing according to his mood. In a few years from now he will have at his disposal virtually all the great music of the world in the form of records. Mr. Néwman’s prophecy may or may not eventuate, but whatever the outcome, the gramophone companies, despite the times and immense falling off in business, are most gallantly trying to fill all possible needs for the discriminating musician: and the man of less ambitious tastes. A case in point is the new release by H.M.V. of Dohnanyi's ‘‘Variation on a Nursery Tune Op. 25," which is played by the composer-pianist with the London Symphony Orchestra. A sufficient indication of the nature of the work may be gleaned from the composer’s heading on the score which reads:-*'For the joy of the friends of humour and the vexation of the rest.’" The song which Dohnanyi chose as the basis of his Variations is a little old French tune, "Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman." These variations are great fun, orchestrated with sureness of touch, and treated with considerable ingenuity. Dohnanyi says what he wants to say without undue fuss or elaboration, and I wager he will not bore the most modest musical aspirant. The gramophile who wants ‘to give his family, his friends and himself a truly merry Christmas will take home these three discs. Speaking of piano records the supplements * simply glisten with brilliant and attractive records. Take Horo- . witz in his latest record'as an example. From the fifty (more or less) sonatas that genial "Papa" Haydn left us he has selected the "No. | in E flat," a particularly happy choice, and one in which he shines with all the lustre for which he is famous. Good humour and gaiety and rich. Haydnesque melody characterise this work of three movements which is played by the brilliant Russian with due ‘"‘control of the subtler gradations of tane,"’ despite his colossal technique. | Brahms played by Backhaus is not only quite authoratative and gracious to hear, but is a lesson to those who listen with brain as well as ear. ‘‘Intermezzi in F Minor, Op. 118, No. 4, and in E flat minor Op. 118, No. 6," togéther with the Master’s "Romance in F, Op. 118, No. 5," are on a record that recalls those memorable recitals of years ago-: nights of sheer delight. newcomer to the records, Simon Barer, a graduate of the Moscow Conservatoire, is a breath-taking and dex'terous pianist, and his H.M.V. debut is brilliantly successful ‘in Liszt’s ‘Etude in F Minor" and Chopin's popular "Waltz M* ERNEST NEWMAN, the doyen of British musical

in A flat Major, Op. 42." Here is no Simple Simon; if 1 mistake not he will run Horowitz pretty close in the race for the title of pianist speed-king. On: Columbia, the Britishborn artist, Solomon, gives us a most impressive recording of Chopin’s "Polonaise in A flat’"" and "Etude in A flat." There is terrific power behind Solomon’s playing, which grows as the years go by. Chopin lovers should add this disc to their collections as an example of virile pianism in a virile piece.‘ Among orchestral works the three discs, "Kreisleriana," contain five favourite Kreisler pieces played by the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, with Schumann's "‘Traumerei" to fill up the sixth side. This makes.an ideal gift for the ayerage household, and if the music is on the light side, it is none the less worthy on that account. Eugene Ormandy conducts. The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra present a tour-de-force in the shape of a modern Russian dance by Gliere. . From. that composer’s "Red Poppy Ballet’"’ the "Russian Sailors’ Dance" has been selected, and evidently our Russian friends are just as fond of a jolly old row as most of us. Brahms’s "‘No: | Hungarian Dance" occupies the other side of a bright little disc. Nicolai’s Overture to ‘"The Merry Wives of Windsor,’ played with considerable taste by the B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra, is a new release. This is a welcome addition to a’ famous organisation’s list. The same welcome will be given to the London Symphony Orchestra’s new recording of Mozart's "Don Giovanni’’ Overture. Eric Coates in his new ‘Four Ways Suite’® has made a definitely acceptable contribution to the literature of light music and it deserves to enjoy a big vogue. Recorded by the New Light Symphony Orchestra, under Joseph Lewis, the music says exactly what the titles infer-Northwards, march; Southwards, valse; Eastwards, Eastern. dance, and Westwards, rhythm, with London Bridge March to fill up two twelve-inch plums. Little space remains for the other orchestral recordings, which include the London Paladium Orchestra playing a bright new selection of ‘Verdi Memories," Marek Weber's Orchestra in still another ‘Waltz Dream Potpourri" and for band lovers, the Coldstream Guards Band playing ever so gracefully a "Quaker Girl Selection,"" and the Massed Bands of the Aldershot Com+ mand in "Grand March" and ‘Pilgrims’ Chorus" from the evergreen ""Tannhauser."" These are a real thrill. Vocally the releases give pride of place to a new Scandinavian coloratura soprano, Miliza Korjus, whose "Variations’’ (Proch) and "Voices of Spring’ (Strauss) auger well for her future popularity. The new voice is young, fresh and musically beautiful, with the suggestion of simple reserve-a rare attribute these days. Gigli, Schipa, Essie Ackland, Caruso, Dal Monte and Paul Robeson all make notable contributions to a rich December supplement. The Royal Choral Society’s new Christmas hymn records are well worth hearing. In this category is the unique "‘Charles Dickens Christmas" recording by Bransby Williams and Company. This fine old protean veteran does astonishing things in his sketch, introducing numerous Dickens characters in a seasonable setting. His instantaneous changes of voice and tone as Scrooge, Mr. Pickwick, Sam Weller, Uriah Heep and others are reminiscent of the work, in technique at all events, of one New Zealand artist who has been heard on the air for an ‘unconscionable time-I refer, of course, to Will Yates.