MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Radio Record, 13 May 1938, Page 26

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

There is no art without life, -= There is no life without growth, = There is no growth without change, There is no change without contro versy.-Krank Rutter,

BY

SCHERZO

HE Christchurch Harmonic Society concert was relayed by the local National station last week. Only one hour of the performance was broadcast, and the presentation was, chorally, satisfactory. The opening cantata was sung in vigorous style, but it would have been much betttr had a work of this form ended the first part of the programme. or, better still, have been included at the beginning of the second. lt is far too much to expect a choir to sing a major work at the beginning of any concert in which the programme is of a miscellaneous nature, The greatest fault appeared to be with the tenors. This section of the choir was by no means satisfactory in the higher register. When will tenor choralists learn that forcing not only has a detrimental effect on quality but is also the first step in faulty intonation? T the same concert Clarice Inglis sang "One Fine Day It aras not a good attempt. For one thing, the solo is hackneyed and for another it atas taken far too slowly and it dragged, There is really no ereuse for ii consistent tempo in operatic avork, "Vadane Butterfly,’ together acith moxt of the other operas are broadcast frequently from various stations. 1 know of at least five different renderings of the Puccini aria sung by Miss Inglis last arvcek. AU these records are useful to artists avho inteid giving public performances. AL AN. LOVEDAY was on the stme programme, Ele amazed me wit) his téchnique. I do hope he goes ovérseas to a good teacher. There is a danger of all young players getling info had habirs unless quickly — corrected, I refer particularly to the first themé of the Tartini-Kreisler variation he played last week and to thie Viennese melody. The bowing was no! traditional in the Tartini and some of the four-note chords were omitted in the final variation, Just an occasional fnult in intonation was noticeable in the double-stopping of -the Viennese melody. Still, notwithstanding these faults, I consider the hoy amazingly talented, I only mention these inconsistencies with a view to giving him an opportunity to correct these minor faults hefore he leaves New Zealand. With Jocelyn Walker, Cara Ifall and Master Loveday New Zealanders should feed proud of their youthftT prodigies,

2} OAN MOODY, an Auckland soprano, presented a group from 1YA during the same week. J fai] to see why Miss Moody ineluded "The Monotone," by Cornelius, in the programme, It had no entertainment value. YVoeally, the recital was fair but a little lifeless. Why must sepranos select so many slow-moving melodies in the same group? They only become uninteresting as a recital wears on. Some day I intend writing an article on "This Rhythm"’-I hope sopranos will read it.

T AWRENCEH TIBBETT is in Australia and will be shortly visiting New Zealand. Wis voeal quality and phrasing are superb and he sings with incredible ease the mos. difficult pasSUES, 1 sincerely trust the impresitios do not get at Tibbett and eompel him to sing the rubbish he presents on the screen. The voice is far too good for that. It is understood this artist completely spoilt some of his Australian programmes by hracketing with Lieder a topieal ballad, f cannot conceive such is) the ease--however, we shall see if this is true When Tibbett arrives in New Zealand. A BROADCAST of the much-orer-rated Beethoven violin concerto played by Frits Nreister acith the Loudon Phitharmonie orchestra aas eleorly heard last week, The performanee was much better than the earlier reiderings of the same artist arhen he played the coneerto with the Bertin

State Opera House; although I still consider the Szigeti, performance far better than the Kreisler. John Barbirolli, who conducted last week’s performance puts plenty of vigour into the finale. The recoraings are worth hearing. R. BRADSHAW and Miss Croucher played Beethoven’s "Spring Sonata" from 8YA last Wednesday evening. Technically, the players were sound. The piano, however, consistently overpowered the violinist-this was most noticeable in the coda of the first movement and again in the opening of the slow movement where the violinist takes over the subject. The players kept well together, but occasionally the interpretation sounded a little "sugary." I do not think there should be an over-abundance of rubato in Beer-hoven-this is more preferable in Chopin. I have yet to hear an idea! presentation of a violin and piano or a piano and violin sonata in this country. It would be nice to hear a performance in which the important sections of 4 work are emphasised with disere{ion. NEXT Saturday at 8.15 p.m. the commercial stations haye seheduled "Music of the Masters" again. It js sincerely hoped that this session will he conducted on authentically informa: tive lines and that the ‘‘masters" are represented by their hest works. It is something new and good to see the commercials branching out in the field of artistie merit. T is pleasing to read in an American quarterly that Vladimir Horowiiz. the well-known pianist. is to resume his career in Sune. Horowitz, who is Toeseanini’s son-in-law, underwent an appendix operation in 1935 whieh resulted in complications that have prevented his appearance en the concert platform for two years. Horowitz is to make recordings with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of his famous father-in-law. i’ R. W. DEARDEN-JACKSON made his pianistie debut Jast Thursday evening at 2YA. Candidly, the recital Was disappointing in so far as the selection of items was concerned. There was nothing very difieult to play selectel and there was not sufficient contrast in tempo to arrest the attention of the listener. Mr. Jnekson has a sympathetie touch, but occasionally allowed technical inaccuracies to make = their uppearance in last week's recital. 1 do wish pianists would give us at Jea-t one bright number jin a group. I am looking forward to a) bassoon recital by Mr. Dearden-Jackson as | understand he is a most accomplished performer on this instrument,