Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 2, No. 6 (1928-03)

208 The Phonograph Monthly Review March, 1928 Recording: Polydor 65511 (1) Theme and Var. 1; and Polydor 62302 (2) Variations 6 and 7; Bush and the Wiir- temberg S.O.H., not heard at the Studio, but probably of doubtful merit.) Strauss: Burlesque in D minor for Piano and Orchestra. Recording: Edison Bell Velvet-Face 655-7 (5) Anderson Tyrer and the Royal Symphony Orchestra. (No information is available, except that the work is acoustical.) Several works listed in these pages recently have continued to figure frequently on programs. Outstanding among them is Ein Heldenleben (page 89, December 1927), played by Beecham in Boston and Philadelphia, and on February 2 by Schneevoigt in Los Angeles and Sokoloff in Cleveland. Such popularity might well be taken to warrant the issue of further recorded versions of the work. Besides the composer and Dr. Morike, other recording conductors are noted for their performances: Mengelberg (to whom Ein Ffeldenleben is dedicated), Beecham, Harty, and Stokowski come first to mind. It would seem that there should be a logical relation between the frequency of a composition's concert performances and the number of record- ed versions available. The numerous sets of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony , Schubert's “Un- finished” the overture to Tannhduser , and the like, reflect the favor these works are constantly given by program makers, a favor which reflects in turn the unremitting appeal the works have for a loyal and nearly illimitable public. Har- rassed members of the repertory departments of record manufacturers may—and no doubt, do— find the careful study of symphony and popular concert programs a trustworthy guide in their hazardous task of “giving the public what it wants." The release of a complete Brahms Fourth in England a month or two ago aroused an immedi- ate cry from American record buyers for its issue here. Does the frequency of its American con- cert hall appearance justify domestic issue? Rather! Koussevitzky in Boston (December 29), Verbrugghen in Minneapolis (January 6), Stock in Philadelphia (January 20), Harty in Man- chester, England (February 16), and Sokoloff in Cleveland (March 1), all list it on their pro- grams^, Evidently there would be demand not only for the existing set (*H. M. V. D-1265-70 (12) Abendroth and the London Symphony), but for additional versions. The Overture to the Marriage of Figaro , from the earliest phonographic days, has been ubiqui- tous as an odd side “filler in" on sets issued in an odd number of record sides. Its last two ap- pearances on the fourth sides of Leo Blech's Tannhduser Overture (* Victor 68903 and 68935) and Gaubert's UApprenti sorcier (*Columbia 67335-6-D), are echoed by the concert perform- ances by Verbrugghen (Minneapolis, January 6) and Hoffman (Boston Peoples' Symphony, Feb- ruary 5). UApprenti sorcier itself (listed on page 89, December 1927 issue) has been given current performances by Molinari in St. Louis (January 13), Monteux in Philadelphia (Febru- ary 17), and Sokoloff in Cleveland (March 1),— surely indicating a popularity which would jus- tify the issue of more than the single electrical version now available—good as that one is. Strauss' Don Juan (page 138, January 1928 issue) has been played since by Verbrugghen in Minneapolis (February 17) and Herz with the San Franciscoans at Los Angeles (January 5). A new recording should be added to the list of versions: *Columbia (4) Bruno Walter and the Royal Philharmonic (reviewed elsewhere in this issue). Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor (page 88, December 1927) was played at St. Louis on January 13 and Minneapolis on February 17; Ctecelia Hansen and Sylvia Lent were the respective soloists. The lists of unrecorded works given in recent instalments of these “Recorded Programs" have perhaps been unduly lengthy. Are any readers interested in them;? At any rate, this month it may be better to list only those most strongly needed or best fitted for recording. Mention has already been made of several suitable pieces play- ed in Beecham's guest appearances. Next come the oft-named Brahms Variations on a Theme of Haydn , which have figured constantly in this season's programs; Fritz Reiner is the latest to play them (Cincinnati, January 13). Brahms has fared well of late and now that the Second Symphony has been issued electrically, the worst gaps to be filled are those of the Variations and the Third Symphony , followed by the violin con- certo and one at least of the piano concertos. The Tragic Overture has never been recorded, I be- lieve, and the delightful Academic Festival is available only in the acoustic versions of Harty, Columbia 67085-D (2), and Weissmann, Parlo- phone E-10378 (2). Harty's interpretation is so fine that he deservedly should be given the chance to do the work again under the new process. In the “Re-Review" of last month's issue, pref- erence was given to Sibelius' Second and Fourth Symphonies for recording. Shouldn't the First take precedence? Admitted that its greatness is not that of the later symphonies, granted that the influence of Tchaikowsky is evident, for all that, here is music of true nobility, conceived and writ- ten in the unmistakable grand manner. With the composer’s other major works it takes a per- manent place in the symphonic literature; there can be no question about this piece of contem- porary music being Art, and living Art! Kous- sevitzky played it in Boston on January 27 and 28, and again in Cambridge on February 9; al- though I had thought that I was familiar with the work before, with each new hearing its full stature was more clearly revealed. And it is admirably suited for both recording and sale in album form. What company will be the first to take advantage of the opportunity of remedying in short order this sin of omission in record lit- erature? To descend considerably, down to a more sensational and less lofty level, we have Res- pighi's Pines of Rome , lately played by Reiner at Cincinnati (January 13), Rodzinski at Los An- geles (January 19), and Toscanini in New York (February 4, etc.). If current reports can be