Programme Competition

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 10, 15 September 1933, Page 12

Programme Competition

Two Entrants Tie in Operatic Classical Series

EEN interest continues to be shown in the series of programme competitions at present being conducted by the "Radio Record.". From all parts of the Dominion listeners send in each fortnight programmes which in their. opinion would make. ideal broadcast entertainment. In the competitions concluded to date a high standard has been set by most of the competitors, an extensive knowled ge of various types of music being evidenced in practically all the entries.

HE competition for an operatic classical programme, entries for which closed on September 2, proved to be one of the most popular of the series so far, and the large number of entries received from all over the Dominion would seem to suggest that there is a definite love of Grand Opera among listeners generally. A surprising feature of this competition, and, indeed, of all the competitions so far, is the detailed setting out of the programmes submitted by competitors. Extensive programmes annotatons, careful timing, instructions to the operator and announcer, indicate that broadcasting is not merely a casual form of entertainment for many listeners, but that they have definite ideas about programmes

and the manner of their presentation. It was originally intended to publish the winning programmes in each sec: tion, but when this decision was reached it was assumed that the programmes would be merely lists of titles. Such has not proved to be the case, however, and much more space would be required than is available to give effect to the original idea. In presenting their report on the operatic classical programme

the judges state they were agreeably surprised at the very high standard reached by most of the. competitors. It would appear from the programmes submitted that Italian opera is either the best known, or the most popular, with the various competitors. This is, of course, not surprising, for Italian opera is the most frankly melodious of the various schools of opera, and is the type of operatic music most frequently heard from the stage, the concert hall, the broadcasting stage, and per medium of the gramophone. ; . In: the competition entries under review the Italian school predominated, but the two other great schools, the French and German, are

well represented and a very pleasing feature was the atterition given by some competitors to the English school, which, although it has not developed sufficiently to be classed as a really great school of opera, nevertheless has a real significance. As usual, Mr. F. G. E. Broad, of North Auckland, came to light with a very fine series of programmes-fifteen in all. Mr. Broad has been a most consistent compiler of programmes for these competitions and his entries have all been highly commented upon by the judges. In the first of the competitions: Mr. Broad submitted 12 programmes, in the second 6, in the third 3. in the fourth 12, and in the section under

review no less than 15.° Just what time and mental. effortnot to mention musical knowledge — was involved in the compiling of these 48 programmes can only be appreciated by those who have prepared programmes — either actual, or merely for competition purposes. The judges state that they could not go past Mr. Broad’s fine series of programmes when awarding the prize but they consider that the

programme. submitted by " Rekordo," of Blen--heim, was of such a very high standard that it was impossible to discriminate between the best of Mr. Broad’s programmes and that submitted by the Blenheim competitor. They therefore: recommend that the prize be divided between :- Mr. F. G.-E.:BROAD, Port Albert Central, Auckland. "REKORDO," Marlborough College, Blenheim. Another consistent competitor, Mr. Morgan Davies, narrowly missed first. place. again on this occasion, only the narrowest of margins separating his. programme from those of the. prize winners. : ees Ma