BLUE LABEL SECTION WATCYN WATCYNS (Bass-Baritone) West Country Lad Ed. German From "Tom Jones" ) The Pibroch C. V. Stanford X-9597 10" 3/- From " Songs of a Roving Celt" With Piano Accompaniments by Stanley Chapple TT must be a pleasant thought for Mr. Watcyn Watcyns, the maker of 1 these two fine records, that but for the bounty of nature in dowering him with a "voice" he might still be toiling daily underground. For it was as a coal miner that Mr. Watcyns, who is of course a Welshman, started to earn his daily bread. Very quickly however at the local music-makings, which are so numerous in Wales, he attracted attention by the exceptional quality of his voice, though this in itself did not necessarily mean very much. For miners with fine voices are plentiful enough in Wales. Nor were his prospects greatly bettered apparently when on the outbreak of the war he exchanged the pick for the rifle and joined the Welsh Guards. Yet as it happened this proved the turning point of his career. For good singers quickly come to the front in the army and so Mr. Watcyns speedily made a name for himself in this way, with the result that on his discharge means were provided by the generosity of his officers for him to be seriously trained as a vocalist and now he takes rank among the most popular baritones of the day and has won golden tributes from all the leading critics. Instance the following from "R.C." of the Daily Mail after his recital in June last: "His has tone the warm and noble quality that comes as a native gift . This good musician's manly voice is always a real pleasure to hear." Mr. Watcyns excels especially in songs of a robust and breezy character such as the two here listed, other examples being Frederick Keel's "Salt Water Ballads" of which he has made some magnificent records. PREVIOUS RECORDINGS BY WATCYN WATCYNS- When W. Sanderson you're away X-9456 10" 3/- Why shouldn't I? Kennedy- qZussell Piano Accompaniments Linden Lea 7Z. Vaughan Williams X-9391 10" 3/- A Ballad of Cape St. Vincent Hermann Lbhr Piano Accompaniments Alanna Hermann Liihr X-9419 10" 31- Now sleeps the crimson petal Roger Quiller Piano Accompaniments Port of many Ships Frederick Keel No. 1 from "Three Salt Water Ballads" X-9432 10" 3/- Trade Winds Frederick Keel No. 2 from "Three Salt Water Ballads" Piano Accompaniments Four Salt Water Ballads (2nd set) Fredk. Keel ) 1-Hell's Pavement. 4-Cape Horn Gospel } K-05131 12" 4/6 2-A Wanderer's Sons 3-A Sailor's Prayer ) Piano Accompaniments BLUE LABEL SECTION CONSTANCE WILLIS (Contralto) Gipsies Graham Peel) X-9596 10" 31- The Monkey's Carol C. V. Stanford ) With Piano Accompaniments by .Stanley Chapple M ISS CONSTANCE WILLIS, so well-known to all opera lovers as one of the leading members of the British National Opera Company, is one of the many fine artists who have started at the "Old Vic." The possessor of a lovely contralto voice, plus abundant temperament, she had strong operatic leanings from the first and it was in the homely sur- rounding of the Waterloo Road that she made her debut accordingly as a member of the chorus. From South London she went for a time to South Africa with the John Ridding Opera Company, subsequently returning to the "Old Vie" once more, but now as a fully-fledged artist capable of taking leading roles. Then came an opportunity to join the Carl Rosa Company, which was promptly seized as affording a means of gaining still wider experience "on the road," and from the Carl Rosa Company to the B. N. 0. C. was, in due course, a natural transition. Further than this it is not possible to go for the moment-Miss Willis resumes operations with the B.N.O.C. in Septem- ber-but it may be mentioned that there is considerable likelihood of' this clever English artist appearing also in some of the German Opera Houses in the not distant future. With the Carl Rosa and British National Opera Companies Miss Willis has sung practically all the leading, contralto parts, doing especially well in Carmen-in itself a sufficient tribute to her dramatic powers. More recently in a totally different genre she made an admirable Doll Tear-sheet in Holst's much-debated Shakespearean opera "At the Boar's Head," finding both the part and the whole work very much to her liking. It may be adde l that Miss Willis was born in London-a fact of which she is properly proud -and that when she can find time for it she is an ardent devotee of golf. Of the two charming songs which she has just added to our lists that of Stanford is particularly quaint and original and Graham Peel's "Gipsies" hardly less so. BLUE LABEL SECTION FRANK TITTERTON (Tenor) Turn ye to me Traditional )- X-9595 (Old Highland Rowing Tune, 10° 3/- Jenny's Mantle A. Somervell I (Old Welsh Air from. "Songs of thearr. Four Nations") With Piano Accompaniments ONE of the best-equipped and most popular tenors of the day, Mr. Frank Titterton re- ' V quires no introduction to ocalion' clients, with whom he has long been a firm favourite in virtue of the many fine records which he has made for their exclusive benefit. He is indeed so good an artist that it is a tolerably safe pre- diction that he is destined to go a great deal farther yet. For while he has still plenty of time before him in which to further cultivate his pow- ers, he possesses also marked versatility. Hence he is not only one of the most popular concert- day, having large following. singers of the a especially in the provinces, but he has also done first-c lass work in opera. Thus of one of his at Birmingham a few years ago a performances "He local critic went so far as to say that brought to the music something of the Caruso touch in his voice and in his management of it" -a tribute which might well content even the most ambitious tenor! Another impersonation in which he achieved a notable success was that of Herod in Rutland Broughton's Nativity Play "Bethlehem," while as illustrative of the fact that he can turn from grave to fay and handle lighter themes facility it may be with equal for mentioned that he has a special weakness comic opera and is indeed actively associated with the Gilbert and Sullivan Operatic School which has its headquarters in Sloane Street. A man of the most genial personality, Mr. Titterton tells a good story as well as he sings a romantic ballad. PREVIOUS RECORDINGS BY.FRANK TITTERTON- Song M. Kennedy-Fraser A Hebridean Sea Reiver's X-9462 10" 31- "Songs of the Hebrides" Kishmul's Galley M. Kennedy-Fraser Accs. Marie Goossens } "Songs of the Hebrides" Harp Song of the Volga Boatmen Traditional X-9183 10" 31- The Dreary Steppe igrechaninov J Orchestral Accompaniments Then you'll remember me "BohemianGirl" Balfe R-6101 10" 3/- Yes! let me like a soldier fall "Maritana' Wallace J Orchestral Accompaniments Flower Song "Carmen" 3izet` D-02134 12" 4/6 Prize Song "The Mastersingers" Wagner Orchestral Accompaniments BLUE LABEL SECTION YORK BOWEN (Pianoforte) Capriccio in B Op. 76, No. 2 Brahms minor, X 9598 10" The Way to Polden, Op. 76 York Bowen 3j- (An Ambling Tune) M R. YORK BOWEN is one of those enviably-gifted musicians in the case of whom the be As only difficulty is to determine in which capacity they are most to admired. a pianist he began astonishing the public at the age of eight and has retained their warm admiration ever since As a composer he ranks among the best of the many brilliant native musicians of the younger generation who have done so much to raise the standard of British musicianship during recent years. Both as pianist and composer his powers are effectively displayed in the two attractive records particularised above-as apianistin a brilliant rendering of Brahms' ever-welcome B minor Canriccio and in the dual capacity of creator and interpreter in his own delightful Ambling Tune, ' a typically genial product of his own fluent and versatile pen. JOHN AMADIO (Flute) The Remembrance, Op. 10 Terschak . " Ungarische Fantasie Buchner Piano Accompaniments Ivor Newton TO concert-givers in general Mr. John Amadio the famous Australian flautist is best known probably as the infinitely deft and discreet accomranist of world-renowned coloratura sinkers what time they are engaged in performing their vocal acrobatics at Albert Hall and like places in such things as Bishop s "Sweet B rd" and the "Mad Scene" from "Lucia." And certainly no one could fulfil his responsible functions on those occasions in a more skilful and artistic manner. But Mr. Amadio is also a great artist on his own account who is capable of better in things than merely chasing a prima donna over the vocal housetops. so to speak. and the two delightful numbers here recorded he shows how admirably he can dispense with the support of the latter. BLUE LABEL SECTION THE MODERN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Conducted by Stanley Chapple Sunrise Delius A Song before K-0518112" 4/6 On hearing the first Cuckoo in Delius Spring T O these two exquisite nature studies of Delius might be applied what was said in earlier days of Wagner' s delicious forest music in " Siegfried"- that he who looked for four-square tunes which could be retained by the ear and afterwards hummed and whistled would perforce be disappointed.