GRAND OPERA FROM 4YA

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 11, 23 September 1932, Page 2

GRAND OPERA FROM 4YA

Complete Presentation of Mozart’s "MAGIC FLUTE" NE of the ouitstanding radio concerts of the year is scheduled for Saturday, September 24, when 4YA will relay from His Majesty’s Theatre a complete presentation of Mozart’s magnificent grand opera, "The Magic Flute." Mozart wrote and produced: "The Magic Flute" in 1791, the year of his death. He wrote it. to help Schickaneder, an actor-

manager of highly-mingled virtues and vices, who yet had the gift of winning friends. This musical extravaganza (for that is what it really is) was highly successful, and it relieved Schickaneder from his financial straits. It is the more extraordinary, therefore, that this managerial upstart could not see his way to help Mozart in his distress; for while the cheery people of Vienna flocked nightly to see the amazing "show" and to hear the master’s incomparable music, Mozart lay dying in deepest poverty. Within a few hours of his last breath he wished he might conduct another performance of the work, and he smiled when, at his request, somebody sang Papageno’s air, Yet Mozart was laid in a. pauper’s grave, which has never since been Joeated, while Schickaneder waxed fat. So humanity conserves chaff and throws the wheat to the four winds of heaven! Mozart was an enthusiastic Freemason, yet at the same time a fairly devout Catholic, and this led to his composing some very important Masonic music, and is also said to have inspired some of the mysterious touches in his opera, "The Magie Flute." Actually, however, there is little reason to believe that Freemasonry played any part in the composition of this work, although from time to time. various writers have set out to prove that it is Masonie in its origin. "The.Magic Flute" is an opera in two acts, the action occurring at. the Temple of Isis at Memphis, about the time of Rameses I. In some of the finest music ever written it unfolds the love story of Tamino, an Egyptian prince, and Pamina, daughter of the Queen of Night. The other principals are Sarastro, High Priest of Isis; Monostatos, 2 Moor, chief slave of the temple; the Queen of Night; Papagena, and Papa-. geno, a picturesque bird-catcher. The overture to "The Magic Flute" is one of the most popular, and one of the greatest, of all operatic overtures, and the score abounds in delightful. melo-. dies, including & magnificent quintet, which is said to have been planned by. Mozart. during a. game of billiards, of which it appears he was at least. as: fond as was the philosopher Herbert Spencer, Another terrifyingly dramatic. aria is the Queen’s Air, famous not only’

for its beauty, but for its extreme technical difficulty, more especially for its temarkable range. It was specifically composed by Mozart for his sister-in-law, who first played the role. Other great solos are Sarastro’s magnificent * ‘nvocation" (Great Isis), in which he prays the gods Isis and Osris to give strength to the neophytes Pamina and Tamino, and the noble air "Within . These Sacred Walls," justly considered one of the finest of basso numbers. The music is some of the finest ever written. by that master of pure lyrical melody, Mozart; the story abounds in humour as well as tragedy, and Mozart’s handling of humorous themes is inimitable. The staging and dressing is being done on a lavish scale, although that will not be noticeable to radio listeners, .. Mr, Alfred Walmsley, who is in. charge of the production, can be relied upon for a first-class presentation. He is thoroughly familiar with the work, vhaving played the tenor solo roles in several productions in London, including some with Sir Thomas Beecham, who is probably the greatest living conductor on Mozart’s works. Mr. Kirk Burnnand will conduct a full operatic -orchestra and ensure the success of direction. The principal soprano role, that of Pamina, daughter of the Queen of Night, will be played by Madame Winnie Fraser. Madame Fraser is well known throughout the Dominion for her artistry and her dignified stage presence, fine voice, and interpretative powers make her an ideal Pamina, The arduous role of the Queen of the Night, whose music goes to top "F" in alt, will be sung by Miss Jean Mee, & young singer with an unusually high, clear voice, The tenor-role of Tamino will be taken by Mr. Walmsley, It will be remembered that Mr. Walmsley won an ‘operatic exhibition at the Royal College of Music, and after his training there was engaged by the Carl Rosa Grand Opera Company, playing parts for them in the Lyceum Theatre, London, and on tour. Mr. Walmsley, with ‘other memhers of the cast in London, was personally coached for "The Magic Flute" by Sir Thomas Beecham. One of the most important. parts in the cast is that of the bird-catcher, Papageno, whose humorous but beautiful music and comic, yet tragic figure, will be presented by a young Dunedin

singer, Mr. Jack Gordon, who shows unusual promise as an actor-singér. The role: of Sarastro, the High Priest, will be taken by Mr. J. B. Watts, and other prominent solo parts are taken by Miss Betty Hamilton (Papagena), Mr. Dave Inglis (Monostatos), Mr. Frank Watt (Speaker), and Mr. HB. Paris (Priest). An unusual feature of "The Magic Flute" is the number of ensembles, particularly ladies’ trios. The Three Ladies of the Queen have.a number of trios, as have the Three Genii of the Temple. Naturally they have to be sung by experienced performers, so the three roles will be taken by Miss Estelle Burnard, Miss Phyllis Clare, and Miss Kathleen Butler, and the Genii by Miss Doris Wilson, Miss Dorothy Mackay, and Miss Edith Clare. Besides the numerous principals in the cast there will be a chorus of about thirty, with a complete professional orchestra.