MUSIC WITHOUT WORDS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 128, 5 December 1941, Page 4

MUSIC WITHOUT WORDS

Sir-Two correspondents have recently voiced complaints about what they call the "annoying interruptions" by a commentator during broadcasts of complete operas. These disgruntled persons have evidently overlooked the point that an opera, besides being a performance of music, is a stage spectacle. The ideal radio presentation of opera would be, of course, through the medium of television. Listeners would then witness the stage action as well as they would hear the music. But that devoutly-to-be-wished consummation is still an unrealised dream in New Zealand. So we do the next best thing; we follow the practice adopted in broadcasting race meetings, football matches, boxing, and wrestling encounters — every kind of activity, in short, which is of public interest, and which depends upon an eye-witness at the microphone to convey an adequate description, to listeners: we make use of what is called the running commentary in order that listeners can be apprised of the happenings on the stage. They can hear the singing, true; but almost invariably this is in a foreign tongue and gives no clue to the development of the plot. The commentator, from his imaginary seat in the fanciful theatre, tells us what the actors are doing and thinking. The latter feat is made possible because operatic singers usually think aloud in recitative. Incidentally, the recitative is frequently a bore, even to ardent opera fans; therefore, if it be sometimes replaced by-in the case of Wagner-a "Ring"-side description, so much the better for listeners, However, Mr. Editor, the Music from the Theatre sessions, embodying these annotated broadcasts, were inaugurated by the NBS in response to numerous requests, and have proved an extremely popular feature. Your two dissenting correspondents, sir, are in a hopeless minority-"THE WRITER OF THE INTERRUPTIONS" (Wellington).