BROADCAST OPERA IN BRITAIN.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20092, 22 November 1930, Page 15

BROADCAST OPERA IN BRITAIN.

DELIGHT EXPRESSED

MESSAGE FROM CHALIAPIN. (UNITED PKKSB ASSOCIATION—BT ELECTH.IO TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received November 21st, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 20.

Mrs Philip Snowden (wife of the Chancellor of the Exchequer), who is a keen music lover, and a governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation, expressed delight at the scheme of broadcast opera, stating that in addition to Covent Garden opera being presented throughout the country it would give talented British artists a chance. England was at last coming into line with Continental countries. In the House of Commons, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Philip Snowden, in answer to a question, said that the Government, subject to Parliamentary sanction, had decided to grant £SOOO for the remainder of the present year, and £17,500 annually for five years, beginning on January Ist next, towards the expense of the presentation of Grand Opera, both at Covent Garden and in the provinces. The money would be given as an addition to the income of the Broadcasting Corporation. Mr B. Riley (Labour, Dewsbury): Do the conditions attached to the grant relate to the prices of seats? My Snowden : The idea is that there will bp performances, at Covent Garden and in the provinces at popular prices. One of the objects was the stimulation of British opera production, said Mr Snowden. M. Feodor Chaliapin, the famous Russian singer, on arriving in London tonight, immediately telegraphed to Mr Snowden: "The subsidy on opera is a stride towards the sun. I am profoundly moved." Interviewed, Mr Chaliapin said the | decision made him feel 20 years younger.

[Grand opera for millions of radio listeners, as well as the general public in London and the provinces, is the object of a plan arranged between the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate and tlie British Broadcasting Corporation. More than 200 performances will be given yearly, and of these at least 00 will be broadcasted. An annual income of £30,000 has been guaranteed from various sources. Apart from the Grand Opera season of ten weeks at Covent Garden, there will be autumn and winter seasons of six weeks each in London and two-week seasons in at least sixprovincial centres. Except for the Grand Opera season, popular pi ices will be charged at all performances. To encourage home talent the artists employed are nearly all to be British. Arrangements are being completed for the participation of Sir Thomas Beecham and the Imperial League of Opera in the plan. The continuance of the Covent Garden opera for a number of years is assured, and any suspicion that the famous old Opera House might cease to exist is allayed.]

Provinces, said they desired a constitution ensuring the protection of their Interests, with adequate representation both in the Provinces and at the centre. Case for Depressed Classes. Dr. Chimrao Ranji Ambedkar, speaking on behalf of the depressed classes of the community of 43,000,000, <-xP'siiled their status as midway between serf and slave, except -for the additional handicap' of untouchability. They had welcomed the British as deliverers from the age-long tyranny and oppression of the orthodox Hindu, but they found that instead of advancing they "were marking time. Only with a Swaraj (Homo Bule) constitution could they stand a chance of having political power in their own lands, without which they could not bring salvation to their people. They did not want a Government that •would only mean a change of masters, but one that -would be really representative. Mr K. T. Paul, 0.8. E., representative of the 5.000,000 Indian Christian minority, while urging Dominion status l'or India, expressed the belief that the conference should lay down general standards of equitable treatment to all citizens without prejudice. Sir Abdul Qaiyum Khan pressed the claims of the north-west Frontier Province to greater control of its own affairs. Safeguards Necessary. Mr M. A. Jinnali, a British Indian delegate, said the cardinal practice guiding them in their deliberations was India's desire to be mistress in her own house. Obviously there must be safeguards during the transitional period. Mr "V. S. Scriuivasa Sastri (Liberal) said two ideas had emerged—Dominion status and federation. The latter was comparatively now, and he confessed himself a convert. Sir Syed Sultan Ahmed (Moslem), of Gwalior State, said no thinking Indian believed to-day that India could shoulder the entire responsibility of a fullfledged Dominion. That position could only be reached by stages. Maulvi A. K. Fazl-ul-Haq, a leading Bengal Moslem, said the present moment was most opportune for settling the differences which had distracted India.

Sir Phiroze Sethna (Parsee and Liberal) emphasised that India would be satisfied with nothing short of Domin ion status, with safeguards d.uring the transition period. Sir Akbar Hydari, representing the Nizam of Hyderabad, said if the British Parliament gave responsibility to a great Indian federal policy within the Empire Englishmen who had done so much for India in the past could have a welcome and honourable place in the India of the future. Sir Chimarilal Harilal Setalvad assured the minorities that the majority community would be able to agree to such safeguards as would satisfy them. Indians knew they would commit mistakes, and for some time their administration would be comparatively inefficient; but they were determined to go through that stage.