THINGS TO COME A Run Through The Programmes

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 35, 23 February 1940, Page 6

THINGS TO COME

A Run

Through The Programmes

E have often thought it a great shame that Shakespeare thought of Much Ado About Nothing long before Hollywood was ever heard of, because we can't help thinking what a superb title it would be for ninety per cent of the films yearly launched upon our unsuspecting heads. However, the Avon Bard did think of it first, and made an amusing play all about nothing. As you probably haven’t even seen a copy of Shakespeare since you left school, you may find it both pleasant and profitable to tune in at 9.30 p.m. on Friday, March 1, to 4YA, Dunedin, for at that time Professor T. D. Adams is to give a reading from the play, with musical interludes. Hurrah For St. David Many a brave Welsh heart will be beating high on Saturday, March 2, on the evening of which the Wellington Welsh Society is to present a concert in commemoration of St. David’s Day. The Welsh refuse to forget

their tall hats, the "Land of. Their Fathers," their national anthem; their mines and the sweet singing and the Eisteddfods and the railway station with a name as long as itselfand we won't argue with them. In fact we'll probably tune in at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, when a spot of real Welsh wassailing will be broadcast by 2YA. Bax of England It has often been said that England has always lacked great composers and musicians. Certainly she has not produced as many as Continental countries; but England has always fostered a form of music peculiar to herself. One Englishman who must rank with. the most brilliant of present-day musicians is Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, born in London in 1883. Because he is partly of Irish descent, his compositions express much of the mysti-

cism that is inherent in the poetry of W. B. Yeats, and for that reason, the two men have often been compared. He is a prolific composer, having written choral works, six symphonies, several symphonic poems, overtures, piano music, and a ’cello concerto. He also wrote, for Karsavina and her company, the ballet The Truth About the Russian Dancers. At 2.30 p.m. on Sunday, February 25, Bax’s tone poem Tintagel, is to be presented from 4YA Dunedin. Trumpeter Mention was made in last week’s Listener of the arrival in New Zealand of Grace Adams East, American trumpeter. During the past few months, Miss East has been travelling on the Continent, and while in France and Belgium had many interesting experiences. These we hope to tell about later: in the meantime, this may serve as a reminder that she is broadcasting over 2YA Wellington, at 8.33 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28, at 8.23 p.m. on Thursday, and at 8.31 p.m. on Saturday. Szymanowski Karol Szymanowski, the Polish composer, is claimed by many to be the greatest composer of his race since Chopin. During his fifty-four years (he died in Warsaw in 1937), he wrote symphonies, symphonic poems, a violin concerto, two operas, chamber music, piano music, choral music and songs. Despite this, he is not as widely known as he should be among English people. His music is a blend of Polish and Oriental elements. Dr. Leon Lipson has prepared a lecture recital on "Karol Szymanowski-Artist and Man," which will be presented at 9.25 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, from 2YA Wellington. Waltz King In the early nineteenth century the walt2 ruled over Vienna almost more strongly than the Emperor himself. Every night in the week thousands of Viennese whirled themselves dizzy in dance halls. Grand Master of Ceremonies at these festivities was Johann Strauss, the Waltz King. Johann, guided by his stern mother, had begun as a student of the organ, but soon was playing gay waltzes instead of analysing fugues. At the peak of his career he visited the United States, and conducted one colossal concert with a chorus of 20,000 and 100 assistant conductors. The experiment so frightened him that he hurried back to Vienna for good. "Beau Danube,"

ballet music by Johann Strauss, will be presented from 3YA on Sunday, February 25, at 3 p.m. Aurora Most of us have read the story of the Sleeping Princess. It was one of Perrault’s Contes de Fées, and has been a favourite of children all over the world. The Russian composer, Peter Illyitch Tchaikovski, was’ not insensible to its charm; in fact, it inspired him to write a ballet, "The Sleeping Princess," which Diaghileff produced in London in 1922. Actually the complete ballet is rarely done these days; usually the final scene, " Aurora’s Wedding," is performed. You may have seen Baronova dance the part of Aurora during the visit last year of the Covent Garden Ballet. Tchaikovski’s delightful music is to be presented at 9.25 p.m. on Friday, March 1, from 1YA, Auckland. Where’s Your Brow? Where’s your brow? Is it elevated, suspended in the middle, or low enough to look like moustaches? If it’s low, or even middling, you're probably the sort of person who says "I never listen to opera. Don’t like classical music." Timidly we suggest that you give yourself a chance, And for a start, try listening in to either Louise by Charpentier (1YA, Auckland, Sunday, February 25, 9.25 p.m.), or Acts 3 and 4 of The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart (4YA, Dunedin, same day, same time). War in the Crimea At the beginning of the Crimean War, Queen Victoria declared: "To say... that the great sinfulness of the nation has brought about this war, when it is the selfishness and ambition and want of honesty of one man and his servants which has done it, while our conduct throughout has been actuated by unselfishness and honesty, would be too manifestly repulsive to the feelings of everyone..." Well that reads strangely to-day, but Victoria’s England still fascinates the historian, and some of its brilliance is captured in the programme, " Victoriana No. 8-The Nation at War," to be heard at 9.25 p.m. on Sunday, February 25, from 2YA Wellington. Homage | Finland looms large both in the radio programmes and in The Listener this week. One of the most interesting items is "Homage to Finland," the special feature to be broadcast

at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 25, from 2YA Wellington. This programme is built up on Finnish history, poetry, legend and music. The music of Sibelius and other great Finnish composers will be played. An outstanding part of the programme is the recorded talk, "The Finns at Home," by Dr. Halliday Sutherland, the celebrated author now visiting this country. The Way to Work This insignificant object, as you see, is walking to work. Once, he could have walked for preference. Now, he walks for necessity. Everyone without a car will gloat. Every car owner will sympathise. But for the ubiquitous A.C.E. (Otago), he is a subject for instant action, and the action takes the form of a

talk to be broadcast by 1YA, 2YA, and 3YA on the afternoon of Monday, February 26, It is called " Walking-to Work," and if we know anything of the A.C.E., it will be a compound of geometry, chiropody, dietetics, sociology, politics, economics and the theory of the combustion engine, with a dash of ‘salt, but no unnecessary condiments. Palmgren One of the youngest of the great modern composers, Selim Palmgren, was born at Bjérneborg, Finland, in 1878. His student days were spent at the Conservatory of Helsinki, and later with Busoni and others in ‘Berlin and Italy. Returning to his native Finland after studies abroad, he successfully produced his first opera. He is known throughout the country as a fine pianist, and his wife as a singer of high reputation. During the Great War, he lived in Copenhagen, and later settled in Rochester, New York, as a teacher of composition. His works, often fancifully named, have a nationalist-romantic flavour. Haagen Holenbergh is to present two of Palmgren’s piano compositions, and two by Palmgren’s compatriot, Sibelius, at 8.37 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28, from 3YA Christchurch, east. 7 38