This latest update sees a site redesign, and a number of new transfers on site. In the orchestral arena, we have Harty’s sparkling account of Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony (afflicted by swish), Golschmann’s early 1950s LP recording of Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony, overtures conducted by Clarence Raybould (on Regal), and Eugene Goossens (on Edison Bell), and a Strauss excerpt under the baton of Robert Heger.
Vocal music comes in the form of two Handel arias from Frank Mullings (with Raybould conducting), two operatic arias from the tenor Salvatore Salvati, and a performance of Mendelssohn’s Die erste Walpurgisnacht, from a probably pseudonymous Everest LP.
Mendelssohn – Symphony No.4 in A major Op.90 “Italian”
Hallé Orchestra, Sir Hamilton Harty
Columbia DX 342-4
Matrices WAX 6054-2, 6055-2, 6056-1, 6-57=2, 6058-1, 6059-1 (14899, 14902, 14901, 14900, 14912, 14916)
Recorded 10th April 1931
II. Andante con moto (1½ sides)
III. Con moto moderato (1 side)
IV. Finale: Saltarello-Presto (2 sides)
(mp3 files – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)
Shostakovich – Symphony No.5 in D major Op.47
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Golschmann
Capitol Classics CTL.7077
Matrices P1.8268Y-1B, P2.8268Z.1B
Recorded 1953
(mp3 files – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)
Mendelssohn – Die erste Walpurgisnacht Op.60
Everest 3229 (Electronic Stereo)
Recorded ?
Mediafire link for Mendelssohn – Walpurgisnacht
(These are zip files – left click the link, download the files, then unzip when downloaded)
Overture: The Change of Winter to Spring
1. A Druid and Chorus of the People
2. An Aged Woman and Chorus of the People
3. A Druid Priest and Chorus of Druids
4. Chorus of Druid Guards and People
5. A Druid Guard
6. Chorus of Guards and People
7. A Druid Priest and Chorus
8. A Christian Guard and Chorus of Guards
9. A Druid Priest and Chorus of Druids and People
“Lorenzo Bernardi and Chorus and Orchestra of the Leipzig Bach Festival”
This recording, presumably from a German or Austrian radio source, leaves its soloists (soprano, tenor and bass) unnamed. The conductor and other performers seem to be pseudonymous. Although the first side of the record is roughly at correct pitch, the second side drifts downwards until a horrendous edit about a minute from the end, where the pitch and ambience are suddenly hugely different. This final section may even come from a different performance. I have endeavoured to fix the pitch, and reduce the jarring effect of the change of sound quality. I’ve also mixed the sound back to mono.
I’ve included the closing passage of the work prior to pitch adjustment, so that the grating effect of this awful edit can be fully appreciated.
If any recognises any of the soloists or indeed the whole performance, do let me know!
Donizetti – La Favorita – Una vergine
Mascagni – Cavalleria Rusticana – Brindisi
Phonycord Flexible Nr 151
Matrices 8235, 8241
Recorded 1930
Orchestra
Salvatore Salvati, tenor
Download – Donizetti – La Favorita – Una vergine – Salvati
Download – Mascagni – Cavalleria Rusticana – Brindisi – Salvati
(mp3 files – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)
These are taken from a flexible disc recording, which was badly warped, and not easily persuaded to lie flat. They therefore had to be recorded below speed to ensure the stylus tracked the groove, and this has had an effect on the level of surface noise.
Handel – Semele – Where’er you walk
Handel – Jephtha – Deeper and Deeper Still
Columbia 9350
Matrices WAX 1898-1, 1900-1 (6585, 6583)
Recorded 13th September 1926
Available from 12th February 1928 to January 1937
Orchestra, Clarence Raybould
Frank Mullings, tenor
Download – Handel – Semele – Where’er you walk – Mullings
Download – Handel – Jephtha – Deeper and Deeper Still – Mullings
(mp3 files – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)
This was a reissue of L1344, available from October 1926 to February 1928. An earlier version of L1344 was available from February 1920 to October 1926 – with recordings made on 5th May 1919, with Hamilton Harty conducting.
Curiously, although the Semele aria maintains correct pitch, the Jephtha increases speed slightly. The Jephtha aria is also notable for the variety of tone colour used by Mullings.
Beethoven – Egmont Overture
Regal G1084
Matrices WAX 5186-1, 5187-2 (12757/8)
Recorded 3rd October 1929
Available from February 1930 to March 1941
Classic Symphony Orchestra, Clarence Raybould
Thomas – Raymond – Overture
Regal MX8
Matrices WAX 5318-1, 5319-2 (13162, 13161)
Recorded 4th January 1930. Recorded in a concert hall
Available from June 1930 to March 1941
Classic Symphony Orchestra, Clarence Raybould
Download – Beethoven – Egmont – Raybould
Download – Thomas – Raymond – Raybould
(mp3 files – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)
All of the above sides play at slightly below 78rpm.
R. Strauss – Feuersnot – Love Scene
His Master’s Voice C1841
Matrices CW 2161-IA, CW 2162-II (6-0659/60)
Recorded January 1929
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Robert Heger
Download – R. Strauss – Feuersnot – Love Scene – Heger
(mp3 file – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)
The recording session was between the 9th and 25th January 1929.
Wagner – The Meistersingers – Overture
Edison Bell Velvet Face 523
Matrices X1163K-1, X1164F-2
Recorded 1921
Available from October 1922
Goossens Orchestra, Eugene Goossens
Download – Wagner – The Meistersingers – Overture – Goossens
(mp3 file – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)
Both sides play at almost 82rpm.
There is a gap of several bars between the two sides. The first side finishes on the first beat of bar 96 (with an E major chord), and the second starts at bar 122 (with an E flat major chord). This prevents an adequate side join.
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