...BUT ONCE A YEAR

New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 339, 21 December 1945, Page 15

...BUT ONCE A YEAR

A Preview of the Christmas Radio Programmes

a HERE are some things without which Christmas would simply not be Christmasthough it is surprising how Christmas still has been Christmas these last few years without them. When we say a thing like that, of course we expect most people’s thoughts to turn at once to the dinner table and the children’s Christmas stockings. But actually, we were thinking of radio pro-' grammes, as it is our job to do. Christmas, we feel, would hardly be the real thing if Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol" (with Ronald Colman as Scrooge) didn’t turn up somewhere in the programmes, and Corelli’s "Christmas Concerto," to say nothing of lashings of catols from .both ends of the country, and at least one of Dorothy Sayers’ plays. All these are to be found; we will tell you when and where in a moment, but before we give you a guide to the Christmas features in the programmes in this issue, there are one or two items being heard this current week (in last issue’s programmes, that is) to which we would draw your attention. Reminders for This Week For instance, the performance by the Auckland Lyric Harmonists Choir, on Wednesday, December 19, at 8.21 p.m., of "A Ceremony of Carols," by the young English composer Benjamin Britten. It was written for women’s voices and harp, but a piano will be used in this performance. There ‘are old English anonymous carols in it, and others with words by James, John, and Robert Wedderburn, Robert Southwell, and William Cornish. There will also be some Christmas music by the Carina Trio from 1YA at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday, December 22, and a recital by Alice Graham from 2YA at 8.10 p.m. on Sunday, December 23. West Coast listeners who want to heat the Dorothy Sayers’ plays "The Man Born to be King" should note that the series will begin at 3ZR this Sunday, December 23, at 5.0 p.m. Some New Features ° Among the special seasonal programmes in this issue are. some features that weren’t available last year. Charles Laughton’s recordings of "Mr. Pickwick’s Christmas" for instance, which 2YD wiil present for the first time at 7.33 p.m. on Christmas Eve. And if you miss its you will have another chance when 2YA puts it on at 9.30 p.m. the following Sunday, December 30, Another feature that arrived this year is the BBC production "Bardell and Mr. Pickwick" (arranged and produced by V. C. Clinton Baddeley) which may be heard from 2YA at 9.30 p.m. and from 3ZR at 3.0 p.m. on Christmas Day. Then there is that thing of Norman Corwin’s, "The .Plot to Overthrow Christmas," that arrived so ee

play which Corwin wrote for last Christmas, and 3YA will put it on at 9.25 p.m. on December 25. Another special feature of 3YA'’s seasonal offerings will be "Poems for Christmas," by J. R. Hervey, which will be read by the author at 7.20 p.m. on December 25. Now here are’ some of the speciai features in the programmes for December 24 and 25 as.we: have them at present: MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 Plays, Readings, etc.: 2YD: 7.33 p.m. Charles Laughton in "Mr. Pickwick’s Christmas." 3YA: 11:33 pm. 2YN (9.01 Pp-m.) and 2YH (8.0 p.m.), "A Christmas Carol’ (Dickens) with Ronald ~ Colman as Scrooge. 4YZ: 8.15 p.m. "Mr. Pickwick’s Christmas" Religious Services: 1YA: 12.0 Midnight Mass from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. 2YA: 12.0 Midnight Mass from St. Gerard’s Church. 3YA: 12.05 Midnight Mass from St. Michael’s Church. Carols and Music: LYA: 11.45 p.m. Christmas Music. 2YA: 10.0 p.m. Carols from the Studio. 3YA: 9.25 p.m. "The Carol Singers" » 4YA: 10.28 p.m. "The Coventry Carollers" TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 Plays, Readings, etc.: 2YA: 3.0 p.m. "Kings in Judea." 9.30 p.m. "Bardell and Mr. Pickwick" (BBC). : 3YA: 9.25 p.m. "The Plot to Overthrow Christmas" (Norman Corwin). 4YA: 8.29 p.m. "Lovely Lady of Bethlehem," by Marjorie Lyon (NBS production). 2YH: 8.15 p.m. "Four Looked Down" (W. Graeme Holder). 3ZR: 3.0 p.m. "Bardell and Mr. Pickwick" (BBC). 7.06 pm. "A Christmas Carol" (Dickens). 4YZ: 3.08 pm. "A Reputation for Benevolence" (Oliver and Matthews). Religious Services: 1YA: 11.0 a.m. Anglican Service (St. Mary’s Cathedral). 2YA: 10.0 a.m. Salvation Army Carol Service. 3YA: 11.0 a.m. Solemn Pontifical High Mass (Catholic Cathedral). 7.30 p.m. Carol Service (Anglican Cathedral). 4YA: 11.0 a.m. Anglican Service (St. Paul’s Cathedral). Carols and Music: 1YA: 3.30 p.m. Yugoslav Young People’s Choir. 2YA: 8.40 p.m. Five Christmas ‘Songs (Cornelius). : ; 3YA: 7.30 p.m. Carol.Service.. . 2YD: 7.33 p.m. Christmas Music. 3ZR: 9.0 am, Carols.