The Week's RECORDS

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 36, 17 February 1939, Page 8

The Week's RECORDS

QF 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 newly 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 a prayer, every lovely tone a heartfelt appeal for those who have passed from earthly life. On the reverse side of this record (HMV DB3338) Cortot plays "Des Abends" ("At Evening") from Schumann’s "Fantasiestucke." The serene mood of evening is finely conveyed. The haunting beauty of the melody and the masterful sense of rhythm give us a piece of music which is devoid of any trace of morbid sentimentality. This is obviously one of those records not to be missed. Irresistible Liszt A charming recording by Marek Weber and his Orchestra (HMV C2948) contains the Waltz from Techaikowsky’s "Sleeping Beauty" and Liszt’s "Liecbestraume" No. 3. We have on this fine record an absolute revelation in orchestral playing. Violin and cello tone especially is most praiseworthy. The rustic valse which occurs in the first act of "The Sleeping Beauty" is sifiiciently well known without any detailed description. Liszt’s "Dream of Love’ is in much the samen category. If Liszt couldn’t compose "A™ Dream of Love," then who could? Pursued by a hundred eager wormen--hunted over hill and dale. And what of the ninetynine disappointed ones? ‘Their compensations took strange forms. It is not many years ago that a titled big-wig died, and at long last was solved the origin of the curious odour that for nearly sixty years. had surrounded her. Sewn in the grand dame‘’s corsage was found the ancient butt of one of the strong cigars which Liszt smoked. Swedish Tenor Qne of the most outstanding tenor records issued in recent limes is by Jussi Bjorling, who is well accompanied by an orchestra uncer Nils Grevillius. The first solo is "Ob, Paradise," from Mayerbeer’s opera, "L’Africaine," a work in which the hero is the famous Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama. The solo occurs in the fourth act, when da Gama ebtains his first glimpse of Natal. "tieaven and Ocean" is an important solo from Ponchielli’s "L4 Gioconda," an opera known tocar mainly through the famous "The Dance of the Hours." Whatever the fate of the work mey be, this lovely aria is likely to remain in the erepertcire of tenors, offering, as it does, fine cpportunities for melodious singnag, In this ideally-coupled pair of gecel-s, Bjorling sings so heautifully una is accompanied so artistically i. t5 leave absolutely no room for ciilivism., This record (HMV }:tie2) is as near perfection as jay reasonable person could wish.