As I've mentioned elsewhere, while I work on a specific project for my website, I'm trying to make occasional, smaller updates to the site. The latest, which is now online, is my most recent 78rpm acquisition, and is one of those curious couplings that one occasionally finds on early double sided records. This His Master's Voice is an Indian pressing, from their Calcutta plant, catalogue number M 203. One side is Landon Ronald's only issued Berlioz recording - the Hungarian March from La Damnation de Faust, with the New Symphony Orchestra in 1912. Ronald made two more takes in 1923, but these were not issued. The other side of the record contains Sibelius's Valse Triste. One might expect another orchestral recording, perhaps with Ronald again. But he never recorded it. So it's 19 year old Joszka (Joseph) Szigeti with an unnamed pianist, again recorded in 1912.
Other items that have joined my collection recently, include a 10" LP with Franz André conducting his usual Belgian radio orchestra in one of Handel's organ concertos, and Hansgeorg Otto's extraordinary orchestration of J.S.Bach's Italian Concerto. The Handel was given qualified praise in Gramophone on it's original issue, but the Bach arrangement was not well-received! I think it's another item to fast-track to my website for sheer curiosity value.
I've also been listening to some fantastic CD reissues. I finished, and was fascinated by, the "Century of Romantic Chopin" issued by Marston - some items I already knew from other Marston issues (Hofmann, Zadora, Pabst and Planté, for example), but it was a wonderful assemblage and expertly transferred, as ever. I've progressedn from that to The Creators of Verismo, volume 1, again from Marston which includes the complete recordings of Gemma Bellincioni and Angelica Pandolfini, and the series of creator records from Giordano's Siberia. First Hand Records second volume of stereo recordings by Adrian Boult for Nixa-Westminster includes wonderful 1956 accounts of the four Schumann symphonies and eight Berlioz overtures, sparklingly dynamic performances in excellent sound, and definitely worth a listen.
As to what appears on my website next - I'll have to see where the mood takes me. There are still one or two non-classical 78s, which could provide entertaining interim items while I work towards the Christmas update!
