Around The Nationals

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 126, 21 November 1941, Page 24

Around The Nationals

EWCOMERS to the microphone N at 4YA are the Castalian Singers, who will give a studio presentation of Folk Songs and Negro Spirituals at 8.17 and 8.31 p.m. on Monday, November 24. The numbers in which the "Castalians" will be heard are the Czech folk song "Twinkling Stars" arranged by Macdonald, the French Carol "At His Cradle," a Greek song, "The Musician," and two Russian airs "Bunnies All Furry" and "The Sleigh." The bracket of Negro Spirituals at 8.31 p.m. will close with the popular "All God’s Chillin Got Wings" arranged by Macdonald. * x Ea N his 2YA studio concert at 8.5 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, Ignaz Friedman will play "Twenty-Four Preludes" by Chopin. This notable and popular composition was completed in 1838, when Chopin was on an extended holiday to the island of Majorca in company with the novelist George Sand, and her children. The expedition, which had been planned in the hope that the sea air and sunshine of the island would restore the failing health of the composer, was doomed to failure. An exceptionally wet season set in, Chopin’s illness became more advanced, and there was the added discomfort of living in half-civilised conditions. To make matters worse, Chopin’s piano was seized by the Customs Officer and was not released until February, 1839. From this time onward the composer’s health became steadily worse and he died in Paris in 1849, aged thirty-nine. % x * RECORDED presentation of the French romantic opera Louise by Charpentier, will be heard from 1YA on Sunday, November 23, at 8 p.m. The part of "Louise" is taken by Ninon Vallin and "Julien" is played by the Continental star Georges Thil, who also took the leading part in the film version of the opera. This film version was produced in France, with Grace Moore in the title role, in the early days of the war. It has been showing in Cairo and has been seen by many of the New Zealand troops who have written appreciatively about it. * Ea * || HERE is a strong British element in \* the songs selected by the Australian baritone, Harold Williams, for his studio concerts from 1YA next week. Accompanied by Henri Penn (pianist) he will sing at 7.35 p.m. on Monday evening (November 24) and at approximately 7.58 p.m. on Wednesday. All phases of the English song, classical, Victorian and modern, will be represented in Mr. Williams’s programme, the outstanding classic being "Ye Twice Ten Hundred Deities" (the Conjurer’s Song from Purcell’s: Indian’ Queen), which will open the Wednesday evening presentation. Station 1YA will also broadcast from 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 27, items from the Harold Williams patriotic concert in the Auckland Town Hall.