"Faust" On the Air

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 6, 22 August 1930, Page 4

"Faust" On the Air

Produced by Signor Cesaroni. ISTENDERS will be interested in the announcement that Signor Lucien Cesaroni is to give a complete rendering of "Faust" from 2YA in the near future. The quality of Signor Cesaroni’s singing is well known, and his performance on the evening in question will be a treat to listeners. The Signor has recently returned from a comprehensive tour of Europe, and speaks highly of the place that radio broadcasting is now playing in the artistic life of the Old World. This point, in fact, greatly impressed itself upon him. After spending several weeks in London and hearing the fine programmes of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and learning the general satisfaction expressed with them by many London music lovers, he visited Germany and other parts of the Continent, and wherever he went was in touch with the part that broadcasting was playing in musical culture. In Berlin he found that not only was music of the highest quality: broadcast in ample degree, but that scientific lectures were also being regularly trausmitted by well-known university professors. These were addressed definite: ly to students in distant cities and country towns, in accordance with a pro-

gramme of general education. It was recognised that immense possibilities were to be found in broadcasting for the future. In Milan the Signor had the pleasure of again meeting the Bonsalez brothers, his old managers, and so well known throughout Australia and New Zealand by reason of their successful tours, of 1918 and 1929. It was possible that they would again visit New Zealand in the near future. In their company Signor Cesaroni was treated to a fine broadeast of a famous production from La Scala, one of the greatest opera houses in the world. The opera was "Il Trovatore," in which appeared a new tenor of unusual gifts, Commendatore Lauri Volpi. The enunciation was perfect, and it was a real pleasure to Bpar such a fine reproduction over the /air. So perfect, indeed, were the broadeast transmissions from the various import- » ant centres of Europe that even such? experienced artists as the Gonsalez spent many of their evenings at home enjoying, by means of radio, these fam- , ous programmes from operatic centres. For instance, they frequently listenedin to the fine orchestral and sacred concerts given from the "Augusteo," Rome, from the Opera House, Turin, and Conservatorium performances from Naples. Everywhere, says the Signor, one could not help but admire the progress made in enunciation and articulation, and nd branches of education by those artists who are taking advantage of the opportunities of radio broadeasting to attain the largest audiences and the greatest culture.