THINGS TO COME

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 9, 25 August 1939, Page 6

THINGS TO COME

A Run

Through The Programmes

ISTENERS in this country, having is already seen one or two pictures of Olga Coelho, the Brazilian soprano and guitarist who arrived in Auckland a few days ago, are probably wishing that we had television. Here is what a French critic wrote of her: "I shall not speak of the charming vision you are yourself, similar to a golden goddess. I will speak only of your art. You have a voice of silvery timbre absolutely unique, and you master this exquisite organ with the greatest ease, assurance, subtleness and technique of a prima donna .. ." By arrangement with A. J. Tait, the NBS is now presenting this famous artist in studio broadcasts. ai Gay al or al Grey ex The question arises-was John Peel’s coat "gay" or "grey"? In the BBC recorded feature, "D’ye ken-John Peel?" listeners are told just what sort of a coat the famous huntsman wore, and what kind of life he lived in the lovely country of Cumberland. It will be a surprise to some to know that as a young

ee aes Se aa ee. man he figured on Gretna Green. This was before he collected a pack and became the most admired man of his shire. According to legend, a friend one night-as they sat up after a hard day’s hunting-composed the song which was to make John Peel’s name live forever. "D’ye ken John Peel?" will be presented from 2YC on Friday, September 1, at 8.30 p.m. and from 4YA on Sunday, August 27, at 8.30 p.m. Eat More Meat There a big meat-eating drive coming, and it should not be hard to join the ranks, because who can resist Aunt Daisy? And we

like meat anyway. You'll soon be hearing the story daily from Aunt Daisy in her» morning sessions over all ZB stations, and there will be spot announcements throughout the day just to keep you meat-conscious. How else are we to build a nation? Above the Snow Line When an ex-detective meets an ex-convict and various other unpleasant acquaintances are renewed in a mountain hut on a stormy night, things happen. W. Graeme-Holder’s "Above the Snow Line" is one of his best dramatic plays. It was first presented by the Wellington Repertory Society and _ has already been broadcast, but others than residents of Hawke’s Bay will be listening when it goes on the air again from 2YH on Thursday, August 31, at 8.16 p.m. | History in the Air If you listen in to 2YA on Monday, August 28, at 9.34 p.m. you will find there is history in the air-even in such an air as the humorous "Vicar of Bray." The programme is "Did You Know?" Did you know that "Funiculi Funicula" was written to celebrate the opening of the funicular railway up Mount Vesuvius? Did you know ... but there; we’ve said enough. If you would like to hear more about it, tune in. " Papa" Bismarck It would be hard to imagine two careers more dissimilar, from the personal point of view, than those of Bismarck and Hitler; but the Prussian landowner and the former Austrian house-painter seem to have reached for similar ends and used similar means, Listeners who have not so far learnt more about Bismarck than the "blood and iron" story should tune in to the programme about him in the "Man Through the Ages" series from 4YA on August 31, at 8.30 pm. They will find it interesting to compare the twentieth century edition with the father of the strong-man legend. Knock For Postmen About Auckland postmen we know nothing. We expect they are quite ordinary postmen. About Wellington postmen we know that they are half pedestrian, half bipeddelian (our own manufacture, that one). About Christchurch postmen we know that they are all cyclists, which is not unusualfor to walk 50 yards in Christchurch would be silly indeed, since the bicycles there can ~ ®

almost tell north from south and read the street names. But in Dunedin we are certain that postmen are even more distinctive, for most of their travelling is done by hanging on to Dunedin’s cable-car straps, None of this may have occurred to the "posty" who is to talk about his Job of Work from 4YA on September 1, at 8.45 p.m.; but Dunedin folk who have seen him toiling up those few hil's on which there is no cable-car might be interested to hear about what seems to us to be a particularly strenuous way of earning bread and butter. Glitter of the East "Scheherezade," to the music of RimskyKorsakov, has always been one of the most popular ballets. It is full of the violent colour and glitter of the East, a fantasy translated from the brilliantly glowing pages of the "Arabian Nights." Everybody knows the story of the Golden Slave and the Sultan’s unfaithful wife. But when the ballet is presented from 2YC at 9.5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29, many listeners will think wistfully of Grigorieva and Anton Dolin as they saw them in New Zealand a few months ago. Clipper’s Arrival However lethargic your air-minded spirit may be, the coming of the Clipper to Auckland can’t fail to be of interest, Such a historic occasion will not go unheralded, and the ZB stations will be bringing first-hand news from the scene of action. So if you can’t be there for the arrival, you can at least be "on the air." Dear Mr. TockerWhen you talk about Birds’ Songs from 4YZ on August 29 (at 6.30 p.m.) don’t forget that up in Wellington we are already seeing blossom on the trees, whatever snow and frost you may be getting in the world’s most southerly city; and that shortly we _ expect to hear the shining cuckoo, our September songster, with his sweet trills, and that final note which makes even. Spring seem a little sad. The birds should be flying south now, and will be down your way by December. No Speaka Italiano Next to the international situation, the thing which seems to cause most blood pressure is opera in a foreign tongue. It is — to be presumed that the English will always

regard with suspicion anyone who doesn’t speak their own language. But you need not be worried. If you listen to "Cavalleria Rusticana" from 1YA on Sunday, August 27, you will find that you don’t even need to remember the Tonic Sol-fa. The opera, which takes place in Sicily, is sung entirely in English, with such celebrated artists as May Blyth, Heddle Nash, and Harold Williams taking part. A Grocer Did It Surely no city in history has been so touched by romance as Troy. The story Homer told of the siege brought about by the abduction of Helen has touched the imagination of the world ever since; but it was not until late last century that Schliemann, a German grocer and enthusiastic delver, unearthed the first sections of the town’s buried ruins. The work is still going on, for there

is layer after layer representing different stages in the civilisation of the people who built upon the spot. Here you see our artist’s conception of Schliemann discovering the Wooden Horse, but E. M. Blaiklock is going to deal more seriously with Troy from 1YA on Thursday, August 31 at 9.5 p-m. Not For Burglars It is surprising how deceptive titles can be. We could have sworn the programme "Here’s a Queer Combination" was one of those straight-from-the-horse’s-mouth chats about how to crack a crib. Seems we were wrong. It’s all about unusual musical instruments. Someone plays something which you and I would say was a ’cello till we were black and blue in the face, and then it turns out to be a zither or a fog horn. You get the idea? Then listen in to 2YC on Friday, September 1, at 8.0 p.m,