Opera Scotland

Max Mossel Concerts 1922Max Mossel Concerts

Read more about the opera Recital

Vladimir Rosing tenor

Rosing was an important figure in the popularising of Russian composers in the UK and America.

His accompanist, Gerald Moore, was not yet the famous figure he became during his great fifty year career. Moore worked with most of the great singers of the day, and his seventieth birthday concert at the Royal Festival Hall included appearances by Victoria de los Angeles, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Janet Baker and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.  His lieder recordings made with the latter, especially of Schubert, remain justly famous.

 

Vladimir Rosing tenor

Myra Hess and Irene Scharrer duets for two pianos

Gerald Moore piano

Further Scottish dates to be confirmed.

 

Local Press Opinion

Dundee Advertiser: Friday 27 October 1922

First of the Mossel Concerts - Dramatic Tenor and Clever Pianists

'Considering the quality of the performers and the reasonable prices, there were surprising blocks of empty seats in the Caird Hall, Dundee, last night at the first of the Max Mossel series of concerts run by Messrs Paterson.  Possibly the long list of big musical events had something to do with the comparative smallness of the audience; in any case, the programme was decidedly enjoyable, as well as novel, and the artists all in the front rank. Rosing, the Russian tenor, was the vocalist, and Miss Myra Hess and Miss Irene Scharrer provided piano duets.

'There is little that Mr Rosing cannot do, and does not do, with his fine voice, and he has a dramatic utterance at times that equals the spoken word.  To the cold Northern temperament his mannerisms may seem a trifle overdone; but he undoubtedly catches a mood, and his clever singing made one forget often the incidentals.  He can command all shades of tone, but the splendid soft quality of his opening songs, Purcell's ''Thy hand, beloved,'' and Beethoven's ''Tears of Love,'' were beyond praise.  Into Rossini's florid ''La Danza,' he infused an infectious rhythm, and gave it a crisp clear rendering.  His Russian songs were full of contrast and character; and the skilful use of his head voice in the beautifully plaintive ''Hindoo Song'' of Rimsky-Korsakoff and the mordant note in Moussorgsky's ''Death Serenade'' were splendid bits of vocalism.  His spirit of Cyril Scott's ''Invocation to Love'' was enfolded in velvet tone; and for real drama in song, ''Lord Rendal,'' a Somerset folk-song, could not have been excelled.

'Mr Rosing had a splendid reception, and gave as encores Moussorgsky's ''Song of the Flea,'' with sardonic humour, and a bright, lilting rendering of Tschaikowsky's ''Spanish Serenade.''

'Not often do audiences have an opportunity of hearing piano duets from artistes like Miss Myra Hess and Miss Irene Scharrer, and ''their'' performances were altogether delightful, alike in the excellence of their playing and the selection of their programme numbers.  Widely different in style, they presented a fine balance and unity of purpose in feeling and musical expression.  It was difficult to decide in the Bach Concerto whether to admire the wonderful dexterity of the old logician or that of the players. The first movement was beautifully outlined, and Miss Hess's staccato in the Allegro was very effective.

'Schumann's Andante and Variations (Op46) provided a charming contrast to Bach, was full of colour, and handled with fine feeling. For crispness and character the Arensky Menuet and Scherzo and the Saint-Saëns Scherzo were delightful, and the artists well deserved their recall.

'Mr Rosing is fortunate in having the assistance of Mr Gerald Moore as accompanist. He has a well-marked gift of intelligent anticipation in addition to first-class technical equipment, and proved more than equal to the tenor's varied demands in mood.'