3YA NOTES

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 29, 3 February 1928, Page 5

3YA NOTES

A LONDON PROGRAMME TRAVELOGUE AT 8YA, The first of the travelogues by the Dulcet Quartet, of which Mr. A. G. Thompson, B.A., is the leader, will be given at 8YA on Wednesday. London will be the scene of the first musical meanderings. ‘The historic places in the great Metropolis, the heart of everything that is British, with their old memories and old associations entwined around some of the most popular old songs of the nation, will be visited. By means of a sunning dialogue listeners will be taken to these places whose names are perpetuated, even if not hallowed, by song, For instance, when the famons legal Quarter is visited and described, the raconteur is inspired to sing ‘Ihe | Nightingale of Lincoln’s Inn.’? Then when Vauxhall is reached, ‘Vauxhall Way," will be sung, telling of "When Lady Betty Walks Abroad ... in Vauxhall in the Morning." Other sougs which have associations, both grave and gay, will follow as the quar- | tet visits the many spots of interest, The personnel of the Dulcet Quartet is: Miss Nellie Lowe, Miss Mary _ Shaw, A.R.C.M., Mr. T. G. Rogers, and Mr. A. G., Thompson. All the | members are from the Old Land, | Mr. Thompson himself being particularly well acquainted with London. The London travelogue will conclude with the Coster song, immortalised by Chevalier, ‘‘My Old Dutch." This will be sung by Mr. Thompson. "MERRIE ENGLAND" At 38YA on Thursday there will be a special studio presentation of Edward German’s delightful comic opera, ‘‘Merrie England,’? by the Madame GowerBurns Grand Opera Quartet. The rendering of the items from this work will occupy the whole of the first half of the evening’s programme. In the second half of the programme a miscellaneous concert will be given by the same artists, augmented by pianoforte solos by Miss Bessie Pollard, humorous sketclies by Miss Lucy Cowan and Mr. J. I’. Cannell, and instrument-_ al items by the Broadcasting ‘Trio. | | PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS. Queen Elizabeth ... Miss Jessie King The larl of Essex Mr. Bernard Rennell Sir Walter Raleigh Mr. Harold Prescott Miss Bessie ‘Throckmorton Madame Gower-Burns Jill-All-Alone .......4. Miss Jessie King The May Queen Madame Gower-Burns The story of ‘Merrie England" is laid in the glorious days of Queen -E

eet ee ee ee ee Elizabeth, who, together with those . famous personages of her reign, the Earl of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh, appear in i%ie opera, the scene of which is laid in the heart of mediaeval Eng« Jand, by the Thames, near Windsor. _ Act 1 opens to the strains of thie May Day revels. ‘The Queen of the "May and her supporters are chosen, and Raleigh, disguised as Robin Hood, "appears upon the scene. His lady. love, Bessie ‘Throckmorton, Maid-of« Honour to the Queen, comes forward to meet him. The witch, Jill-All-Alone, finds an acrostic which Raleigh has given to Bessie, and which she has lost. ‘The Earl of Essex, to whom Jill brings the lost property, sees that it is addressed to "Bessie," and be. lieves that Queen Bess is the object of Raleigh’s attentions. He shows the acrostic to the Queen, who is not displeased, until she hears from Raleigh’s lips that the verses were intended for Bessie Throckmorton, whom he loves, In anger the Queen banishes Raleigh, orders Bessie into imprisonment, and has Jill-All-Alone thrust within the castle walls to be burned for a witch. In Act II the Queen goes hunting in Windsor Forest, where the forest folk give a performance for her entertain. ment. Essex causes the apparition of Herne the Hunter to appear before the Queen, tradition having it that the ghost is only seen when the Sovereign meditates a wrong. The Queen relents, and all are pardoned. ‘To the strains of Raleigh’s and Bessie’s wedding music this delightful opera draws to a close.