April Records

Some phonograph records are musical events. Each month TIME notes the noteworthy:* Opera: Cavalleria Rusticana by Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan (Victor, $13.50)--Mascagni's earthy melodrama expertly played on its home field. Conductor Carlo Sabajno captains an evenly matched team. Symphonic: Stravinsky's Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra by Igor Stravinsky and the Orchestra des Concerts Straram under Ernest Ansermet (Columbia, $6)--The composer provides the lace work for the Caprice which was played with great success this winter by Sergei Koussevitzky. Glazunov's Seasons by a Symphony Orchestra under Alexander Glazunov (Columbia, $7.50)--An old-school Russian who stayed on after the Revolution to head the Leningrad Conservatory offers more substance than the majority of his bright young countrymen. Beethoven's Second Symphony by the Berlin Staatsoper Orchestra under Erich Kleiber (Brunswick, $6)--A neat scholarly performance by the German who earned a re-engagement for next year with Manhattan's Philharmonic. Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition by Sergei Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony (Victor, $8)--Ravel's translation of Mussorgsky's impressions in a picture gallery. Performance and recording have luster. Richard Strauss's Der Burger als Edelmann by Richard Strauss and the Berlin Staatsoper Orchestra (Brunswick, $7.50) --The composer's own version of the charming, satirical music he wrote for Moliere's Bourgeois Gentilhomme. Wagner's Siegfried Idyll by Karl Muck and the Berlin Staatsoper Orchestra under Muck (Victor, 2 records, $2 ea.)--Wagner made this music for Cosima's birthday when their son Siegfried was one year old. Conductor Muck plays it superbly. Richard Strauss's Rosenkavalier Waltzes by Bruno Walter and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Columbia, $2)--Manhattan's new man promises great Strauss for next year. The recording is excellent. Songs & Ballads: Love is Like That and You're the One I Care For (Columbia)--As usual Ruth Etting's appeal heads the list. Her mood is comparatively gay. Would You Like To Take a Walk and One Little Raindrop (Victor)--Mr. & Mrs. Frank Crumit (Julia Sanderson) with jaunty accompaniments. When Your Lover Has Gone and Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone (Victor)--Gene Austin has an easy way which records perfectly. His tunes this month are worthy of him. Dance Records: I Surrender, Dear and Sing Song Girl (Columbia)--Mickie Alpert presents ingenious arrangements with Helen Rowland singing the first in a pleasing, husky way. I'm Happy When You're Happy and Maybe I'm in Love With a Dream (Brunswick)--Good tunes played with smooth, steady pace by Tom Gerun. By My Side and I'm So Afraid of You (Victor)--Bert Lown's saxophones make this Victor's best dance record of the month. By the River Sainte Marie and Running Between the Rain-Drops (Columbia)-- Guy Lombardo pushes the manner which has earned the Hotel Roosevelt's cover charge. When Your Lover Has Gone and You Didn't Have To Tell Me (Okeh)--The first is the month's best tune. The piano in Sam Lanin's version provides a meaty undercurrent.

*It was first given at the Baden-Baden Festival of 1929 to illustrate the possibilities of music written for wireless (TIME, April 15, 1929). *Prices listed are for entire albums which include several records. Where the price is not given, it is 75C, a standard rate for popular 10-inch records.

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