Evening star., 1942-04-12
By Alice Eversman.

The Columbia company this month
offers a recording of Strauss Death
and TRANSPORTATION" by the ALL
American Orchestra, conducted by
Leopold Stokowski. 1t has been
| some time since this dramatic tone
poem was pressed, and there have
been all too few opportunities to
get different conductors viewpoints
regarding it. For that reason alone
the album released this month
would be Of interest, for just such
works as the poem is what Stokow-
ski can interpret in most satiSfac-
| tory manner.
In that respect the recording Is
an excellent one, with tremendous
climaxes and a most clever building
up of effect and contrast. The tone
of the orchestra, however, is not
so pleasing, although the musicians
play with gusto. 1t may be that
Stokowski adheres to his new idea
in orchestral seating, and that may
account for the preponderance OF
the woodwinds and horns over the
other sections and the general noisi-
ness of the whole. These same
woodwinds and horns are choice Sec
tions, it is true, but in spite of their
fine musical delivery there Is lack
of the seasoned quality that other
orchestraS have. Even the viollnS
are rather shrill, and the evident
earnestness and enthusiasm with
which they strive for the desired
effect but aggravates the blaring
quality.
The difference in orchestras as
performers can be- judged by the
Cleveland Orchestra's playing OF
Berlioz's Symphonic Fantastique, "
with Arthur Rodzinski conducting,
which was a March release by CO.
lumbia. There is as much oppor-
tunity for dramatic expression IN
the symphony as in the poem, but
the result as the Cleveland players
achieve it is much smoother and
more subtle. They play with vital
ity and pliable shadings, and Mr..
Rodzinski has fine interpretive ideas.
A masterpiece of the late months,
however, is Rudolf Serkins playing
of the Beethoven Concerto No. s."
known as the Emperor" with the
New York Philharmonic under the
leadership of Bruno Walter. This
Is truly a marvellous performance,
glowing with fire and poetic beauty
as Serkin so ably conceives 1t. AS
usual, he is the spirit that guides
the orchestra, and Walter gives him
the most sympathetic support with
his musicianly directing. Through
out there is not moment where
either artist relaxes his inspiration,
and the album stands as one Of the
great recordings Of the year by Co.
lumbia.
The Victor company has certainly
put out best seller in the Brahms
symphony No. l." with which Tos-
canini celebrated his 18th annivers-
ary by conducting the N. B. c. Sym
phony Orchestra In this recording.
On March Is, 1867, Toscanini was
born in Parma, Italy. Nineteen
years later his fame began with the
sensational debut as orchestra con-
ductor in Rio de Janeiro and has
grown in magnitude ever since. To-
day, having passed the three-quar-
ters of a century milestone, he still
stands at the top as conductor
of unvarying poetic inspiration.
The influence of ToScanini on the
men he Is directing has become a
legend, and one has but to hear
the remarkable shadings in this
recording to realize how potent it
Is. Sudden pianissimos, SO logically
arrived at, great crescendos and
warmth and freedom In all the exc
cution result from the power he