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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 30, No. 3. 1967.

Record Reviews D.J.H

Record Reviews D.J.H.

After reading through my reviews I am confronted with a seemingly endless flow of superlatives which suggests that I merely indiscriminately praise all and sundry that comes my way. I think it is only fair to point out that I only review what I consider the best of recent releases.

Andre Previn is the most recent "whiz kid" to appear on the international conducting scene. A former jazz pianist and composer conductor of film scores, he is at present dividing his time between America (still composing film scores and recording them as well as more serious works and touring as guest conductor of prominent orchestras) and England, where he is conducting concert and recording performances.

Recently he has recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra Shostakovitch's 5th Symphony. Tschaikovsky's 2nd and Rachmaninoff's 2nd. He is also to record the complete nine Vaughan Williams symphonies and William Walton's 1st.

Both the Tschaikovsky (RCA LSC 2884 Stereo) and the Rachmaninoff (RCA LAS 2899 Stereo) have just been released here. Before listening to these I was rather sceptical. I thought that possibly the record company had plumped on Previn as their answer to Leonard Bernstein: he certainly has this aura of youthfulness, fun-loving and jazz loving. However, after listening to these discs I am impressed—the readings are authoritative and exciting. Previn has not hesitated to come to grips with these nationalistic composers. Both these versions are extremely competitive. I would consider them superior to any other recordings of the works available in New Zealand.

In the Tschaikovsky an inner tension is beautifully created and maintained, a marvellous account of the first movement with its slow introduction, right through to a dynamic alert last movement. An additional gem is the coupling of eight Liadov Russian Folk Songs Op. 58—rather innocuous music, but performed in a manner to befit their charming appeal.

Rachmaninoff premiered his second symphony in St. Petersburg in 1908 and because of its immediate appeal to the masses and corresponding success, critics were doubtful as to the ability of the work to last. Its tunefulness and vitality has survived through into the sixties with reasonably frequent recordings made by reputable artists—Sir Adrian Boult and the LPO in 1957, Stainburg and the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1965. Previn's recording of this is right up to the high standard of the Tschaikovsky.

On both discs the London Symphony is on excellent form. The recordings are very good. It will be interesting to hear Previn's treatment of Britain's nationalistic composers in the near future.

It appears that 1967 is going to be a memorable one for first-rate recordings by pianists. I realise that after the eulogies accorded to Artur Rubinstein in previous issues, more praise—this time for Vladimir Ashkenazy, is going to seem hollow. Last year performances of the Bach Concerto in D minor and Chopin Concerto No. 2 in F minor and the Schumann Sonata for two pianos (with Malcolm Frager) showed to the fullest extent ". . . the combination of brilliance and poetry that is so individual about his playing." His latest recording of Ravel's Gaspard de le Nuit, Chopin's Scherzo No. 4 in E Op 54 and Nocturne in B Op 62 No. 1 and Debussy's L'Isle Joyeuse (Decca SXLM 6215 Stereo) is no letdown.

If one is able to take a highlight from this disc I would plump for the Chopin Scherzo. The technical difficulties of the Ravel seem non-existent, yet he doesn't lose the necessary lyricism. Recording is very good, Highly recommended.

Finlandia; Great Tone Poems of Sibelius (HMV ASDM 2272 Stereo) is a collection of imaginative interpretations of an unimaginative selection of orchestral works. All the old much-recorded favourites—Finlandia, Karelia. Pohjola's Daughter. Kuolema, Valse Triste and Lamminkäinen's Return, The performances, by Sir John Barbirolli and the Halle Orchestra leave nothing to be desired.

The brass and the woodwind sections are especially effective. Recording is good. The sleeve-note states ". . . it is hoped that this will be the first of a series of records devoted to the works of Sibelius." I heartily concur with this sentiment, but hope that HMV deems to choose some lesser-known works.

Columbia has collected a number of tracks recorded in 1965 and early 1966 by artists on their label and issued them on an 1p entitled "Go: Volume I" (MSX 60062 Mono). Six of the featured artists or groups are well-known in New Zealand—Georgie Fame ("Getaway" and "Something"), the Yard-birds ("Shape of Things" and "Over. Under Sideways Down"). Herman's Hermits. The Animals. The Dave Clark Five and The Downliners Sect: the other four are virtually unknown in that none of their records have been issued here—The Attraction. Philip Goodham-Tait and the Stormsville Shakers, Wayne Gibson The New York Public Library and the Candy Choir.

Comment on the well-known artists seems superfluous, all their tracks have been available on singles for some considerable time. Georgie Fame is exceptionally good—he would be the most talented solo singer on the present British pop scene. Of the others, the New York Public Library's I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore is the most promising. All in all, rather vintage pop which is good for parties.