Evening star., 1940-01-14
By Elena de Savn.

VI IIlc IcCOIucu WOIkS recently
placed on the market the following
deserve special attention: Bruck-
ner's "rediscovered" Ninth Unfin-
isheO Symphony in D Minor"
Szostakowicz's Fifth Symphony
Op. A." written after his conversion
to the virtue of sincerity; Ravels
unusual piano concerto for the left
hand alone, played by the eminent
pianist Alfred Cortot with the Paris
Conservatory Orchestra, and Nicolai
Berezowsky's First String Quartet,
Op. l6," all released by the Victor
Co.; also Ernest Bloch's String
Quartet" and Rogers unaccom-
panied Suite in G Major, Op. 13l,
No. l" for cello, played by the ia
nous cellist Emanuel Feuermann,
from the Columbia studios.
Bruckner'S work, recorded by the
Munich Philharmonic Orchestra,
conducted by Hausegger, is an au-
thentic presentation of work which
for 80 years had been performed by
famous orchestras unaware of the
distorted and deluted version made
by Ferdinand Loewe, the so-called
prince of Bruckner's disciples. I"
After Bruckner's ultimate death
Loewe was intrusted with the edit
ing of the work, being considered
thoroughly versed in this masters
idiom. When the two versions were
inadvertently compared by two
capable musicologists, Robert Haas
and Alfred Orel, the fraud came out
to astonish Bruckner's followers. A
test was arranged by the Interna-
tionale Bruckner Gesellschaft a
little over seven years ago, the out
come of which was in favor of the
unadulterated form which now is
being universally adopted.
The work is incomplete in so far
as it lacks the fourth movement. 1t
is distinctive for its mastery crafts
manship, strength and grandeur.
After Wagner's death admirers of
Bruckner hailed him as Wagner's
successor. Since Bruckner was
contemporary of Brahms, there ex-
listed regular controversy between
the followers of each composer
which remains unsettled until this
day. Yet an impartial opinion as
coming from a man like Hugo Wolf
IN favor of Bruckner deserves to
be considered He said, "A cymbal
crash by Bruckner is worth all the
symphonies of Brahms with the
serenades thrown in"
Two generations mark the. dis
tance between the Bruckner and
the Szostakowicz symphonies, the
last having been composed for the
celebration of the Goth anniversary
of the Soviet October revolution
Q937).
In this work Szostakowicz re-
solved to follow new paths, spurred
on by the opinion of his country
men, who reminded him that the
mission of every great artist, first
and foremost is sincerity. He was
criticized for writing meaningless
music, of which there is unfortu-
nately so much today. This SYM
phony, introduced in this country
by the N. B. G. orchestra over the
N. B. C.. station conducted by Ar
thur Rodzinski is modern, very col.
orful and seems to pursue a def.
mite objective. The third move
ment, Largo" is especially signifi-
cant in its expressiveness and is
filled with pathos. The work seems
to possess those enduring qualities
which survive an era. Szostakowicz' S
symphony was recorded by the
Philadelphia Orchestra, with Leo
pold Stokowski conducting.
Ravels concerto written for the
German pianist, Paul Wittgenstein,
who lost his right arm in the World
War, is given q thrilling perform
ance by Alfred Cortot, assisted by
the Paris Conservatory Orchestra
under the direction of Charles
Munich. There Is an unbroken
chain of runs which permeate the
work after an elegiatic beginning,
and Spanish coloring combines with
a development which reaches truly
symphonic proportions. The exhi-
bition Of virtuosity on the part of
Cortot could match any two
handed performance, while the
Paris Orchestra deserves special
praise for the beautiful tone quality
and delivery.
Nicolai Berezowsky's String Quar-
tet," played by the Coolidge Quar-
tet, of which he is a member,
was heard several years ago in
Washington at one Of the Coolidge
Foundation concerts at the Library
of Congress. Brimming over with
vitality and good spirits peculiar to
the people of old Russia, his native
country, Mr.. Berezowsky delights in
continual action. which u q part Of