The Week's RECORDS

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 31, 13 January 1939, Page 10

The Week's RECORDS

OTT H LEHMANN’S soprano voice wears very well, as her latest record (HMV. DA 1604) goes to prove. She selects three unhackneyed .Brahms songs, ‘‘The Message,"? ‘‘The Maiden Speaks,’’ and ‘‘My Love Tias 2 Mouth of Roses.’’ In the first song, "The Mes« sage," the lover begs the breeze, as it gently fans his beloved, to listen, and, should she be wondering if he still lives in sorrow, to whisper to her that he was indeed, in the depths of gloom, until new hope came to him at the moment when he entered her thoughts. It will be seen ihat this is a man's song. i "The Maiden Speaks" gains added’ melodic charm from the graceful flutterings in the accompaniment. It is a little gem of a song, exquisitely sung. From its title it will be gathered that "My Love Has a Mouth of Roses" is also a man’s song. There are surely plenty of unexplored treasures of lieder for such fine singers as Lotte Leh-; mann instead of her recording songs which come better from male singers.

This is not to say, of course, that there’s anything wrong with Lotte Lehmann’s singing of them, and Erno Balogh is accompanist. Voice Good. TN the vocal line George Gershwin’s best music is embodied in his opera "Porgy and Bess." From this interesting work we have already had some recorded numbers, and now we have soprano Helen Jepson, who, with a chorus, gives us "Lullaby." When Helen Jepson’s first released record was reviewed in these columns, some remarks were made about her defective sense of pitch. Since then we learn that she is 2 glamorous platinum blonde, with soft brown eyes, a stunning figure, and much personal charm. We also learn that she can sing in tune -this "Lullaby" proves it. But it is a pity that her words. are so poorly enunciated that a first hearing of "Lullaby" leaves us in the dark as to the lines of the lyric. In the duet with Lawrence Tibbett on the reverse side of the record (H.M.V. DB 3396) we get some assistance from the baritone, and we thoroughly understand why he sings "Bess, You is My Woman Now." The recording took place under the supervision of the composer, therefore the version is entirely dependable and the record will be am interesting addition to any librarys Helen Jepson has a voice of grea beauty. Serene Music Of all the feasts of the Christian Church there is none more expressive of her boundless charity than the day set apart for the commemoration of All Souls. On this day she kneels in supplication on behalf of her dead, suing:for their eternal peace. It is this touching memorial that Schubert sings in his exquisite "Litany." _ In his new recorded piano version of this "Chant for the Repose of Souls," Alfred Cortot brings out Schubert’s moving melody with much reverence. Every phrase is:2 prayer, every lovely tone a heartfelt appeal for those who have passed from earthly life. , On the reverse side of this record (HMV. DB 8838) Cortot plays "Des Abends" (At Evening) from Sch#mann’s "Fantasiestucke." ~The serene mood of evening is: finely conveyed. This is obviously one of those records not to be missed.