'Did You Listen in to the Wedding?'

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 22, 7 December 1934, Page 21

'Did You Listen in to the Wedding?'

2YA’s Excellent Rebroadeast of Last Week’s Ceremony Provided Wellington With Staple Topic of Conversation — Singing to Give 1000 Families Their Christmas Cheer.

T is a very long time since a broadcast from 2YA attracted such universal attention as did the rebroadcast of the description of the Royal wedding last Thursday night. HEven the phenomenally fine weather the capital has been enjoying was forgotten in conversation the next day, and "Did you hear the broadcast of the weiding?’ was the favourite opening. Save for a few brief moments at the beginning, reception was well-nigh perfect, and listeners were thrilled indeed at hearing the voices of the Duke of Kent and his bride, their "I wills" being heard probably better in New ZeaJand than they were by many of those actually in the abbey. 'TWELVD microphones’ inside Wesiminster Abbey picked up every word of the impressive marriage ceremony and enabled listeners to hear the first actual marriage service that has teen broadcast in Great Britain. Other microphones were placed outside the Abbey, and at one of these Howars Marshall was stationed to describe the scenes as the procession approached the west door. As Princess Marin: entered the Abbey the broadcast wis "faded across" to the microphones within, so that there was: no break in the continuity of the whole event. As the Royal couple left the Abbey, How: ard Marshall resumed his descriptive commentary, and continued until the procession was out of sight, WELLINGTON community singing enthusiasts will have the opportunity of meeting the well-known Christchurch song ieaders, Messrs. Alan Brown and Bert Goodland, on Monday evening, December 10, at the Smith Family’s Christmas cheer community sing, which is to be held in the Wellington Town Hall on thac evening. Mr. Brown is to be the song leader on that occasion, and Mr. Goodland wiil be at the piano; Mr. L. B Strachan. well known to listeners as the Wednesday: announcer from 2YA, is to preside at the grand organ. The Smith Family is this year aiming to provide 1000 families with their. needs for Christmas Day, and it is to raise funds ‘for ‘this purpose that next Monday’s sing is being held. ANY special features have been acranged for this sing, which will be led by the combined choirs of Welling-ton-over 500 voices taking part. Assisting artists are to be Mr. Harold Prescott, the well-known New Zealand tenor, and Mr. A. J. (‘Mick’) Darby. the popular Wanganuj entertainer. Ai 2dditional feature is to be a four grand piano quartet, playing popular melodies, led by Mr. Frank Crowther. Special souvenir booklets are being issued in connection with the sing, and with each copy of the booklet sold an art union ticket is enclosed, entiling

the holder to share in the drawing for une of the 16 valuable prizes whic have been donated for this. purpose. These booklets are obtainable by seuding sixpence in stamps to the Secretary, Smith Family, Wellington. There are no expenses in connection with this booklet, or the art union, and every penny received will go toward the Smith Family’s Christmas Cheer Fund. Hl next complete recorded gran opera presentation to be given from 2YA will be Verdi’s "La Traviata," which is to be broadcast on Sunday, December 9. This well-known oper" is an adaptation of the equally wellknown "La.Dame Aux Camellias," by Alexandre Dumas, and it is regarded is containing some of the most lovely melodies of any opera of its class. The tragie story is interpreted by an exceptionally talented Italian cast, with the chorus and orchestra of La Scalz. Milan, and listeners should on no account miss this musical treat. Tse present series of B.B.C. recordj d programmes which are being from the national stations are proving even more popular with listeners than those broadcast last year

and of them all probably the most outstanding is "Flags on the Matterhorn," the dramatic play based on the first ascent of the famous peak in the Swiss Alps made nearly 70 years ag». There wag intense rivalry among mountaineers for the honour of being the first to reach the summit of this peak. and finally the struggle resolved itself into a race. between a party of HWnglish‘men, led by the artist Edward Whymper, and an Italian expedition under the guide Carrell, one of the most famous of Switzerland’s guides. It is on this dramatic race, finally won by the Englishmen, that "Flags on the Matterhorn" js based. HIS remarkable play was writtea originally for German listeners by Gasbarra, the famous Alpinist, and Dr, Christian Pfeil, a well-known German radio expert. These two experts in their own work have collaborated in one of the most memorable _ radio dramag ever heard in New Zealand; the excellent English translation has been done by I. D. Benzie and Barbara Burnham, with remarkable success. Produced by Val Gielgud, the B.B.C.'s drama director, with a cast of Englisn radio and stage actors, this play is to be heard from 2YA at 9.2 p.m. on , Thursday, December 13.