PERS NALITIES of the week

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 27, 11 January 1935, Page 8

PERS NALITIES

of the week

DOESN’T CONDUCT MOTHERS A GOOD story is told of Sir Henry Wood and an American prima donna who visited England to sing under his baton, At the rehearsal she produced her own band parts of an aria by Rossini. The parts were so cut about as to be almost indecipherable. Sir Henry called a halt. "I am very sorry," he said, "but these parts are impossible to read." "Why, I’ve sung this aria all over America!" cried the indignant lady. The situation, already delicate, was complicated by the intervention of the singer’s mother, who stalked on te the platform to give her views on the matter. "I. am very sorry," said Sir Henry, "but I do not conduct mothers!" Mama was escorted from the platform. COIFFURE A LA WATERS OR their hair, Elsie and Doris Waters have the best labour-say-ing device that any hard-worked servant of the public could sigh for. Both their heads are delightfully well groomed and neatly coiffured.. Hlsie is the fairer of the two and Doris’s darker

brown hair turns up in a natural fold across the back of her head in quite a fascinating way. Sometimes, when appearing at a music hall, it has to be a very short cry indeed from the Cockney rags of Gert and Daisy to the chic Hisie and Doris in full evening rigout.. Tearing off a battered straw hat in a hurry is not the. best preparation for a sleekly-dressed head that will grace a satin frock. So Nlsie and Doris quickly comb through their hair, slip en their lacquered bandeaux, and each ragged Cinderella emerges a sophisticated princess. GENEROUS LESCHETIZKY WHEN at the end of several years’ tuition Mark Hambourg, the pianist, left Leschetizky (the famous pedagogue) to embark on a musical career, the maestro said: "I. have some money for you, Hambourg." The young pupil was amazed. "During the time you have been with me," continued his master, "I have saved up the money you have paid me in fees, and here it is, so that you will have something in your pocket to stait your career." Hambourg thanked him, but declined to accept the gift, as he had secured an engagement and so would be ¢ertain of an income. It is now about 44 years since Hambourg was sent to Leschetizky on the recommendation of Dr. Richter, Paderewski, Madame Usipoff and other eminent musicians, SAGA OF TRIUMPH A VERITABLE saga of triumph is the story of Danny Malone’s years of struggle against starvation followed by a meteoric rise to stardom. Born in Ireland in 1911, he began work at an early age in the shipyards, but with the depression unemployment became the rule rather than the exception. So he emigrated to Australia. After eighteen months vainly looking for work, he returned to England disillusioned and penniless. -As a last resort he called on a theatrical agent and insisted on singing a song. In spite of the fact that he collapsed from hunger half-way through, he obtained an immediate audition with the British Broadcasting Corporation. A contract followed, and with’ it innumerable sramophone recordings and variety work. CASTANETS VIRTUOSO A ARGHNTINA, who captivates every audience before whom she appears, richly deserves her success. To the larger part of the public she is a graceful and nimble-footed danseuse who moves about to Spanish music and wears lovely and colourful costumes. But to closer students La Argentina. makes a much more subtle and significant appeal. She co-ordin-ates movement perfectly with music and rhythm, and she uses castanets

with a consummate virtuosity that is sheerly unbelievable. With her, the clicking pieces of wood become an expressive instrument that seems almost to give out musical tone. How she contrives to make merely percussive sounds suggest passion, languor, seductiveness, abandon, gaiety and humour is her secret alone. ODE TO BORI ROM half a dozen verses by’ Beverley Githens on the subject of Lucrezia Bori, soprano; two typical exumples are quoted herewith :- Verbum Sapienti. © If you’re seeking for a new thrill that you haven’t found as yet, And you long to hear a song in all its glory, There is just one piece of counsel that I want to give to you, That. is-tune in and hear Lucrezia -« Bori. . ; Magda, Juliet, Salud, Manon, Mimi, Violetta, . , Suzanne, Fiora-each one tells her story. And each tale the brighter grows as the radiant spirits live In the glowing song of our beloved Bori. THE 1935 RUBINSTEIN F Polish birth and parentage, Arthur Rubinstein, although he bears the uame of the illustrious musical celebrity of last century, claims no other kinship with him than the one which unites all true artists in a common bond. He studied first in his own country, went for a time to Berlin and enlisted the interest of Joachim; then, at 14, he spent a summer with Paderewski in Switzerland. Within two years he launched. out on a career as a concert pianist, winning swift success. He enjoys the friendship of nearly all the great musicians of the day, and many of the foremost composers, like de Falla and Stravinsky, have written music specially for him. A pioneer of modern piano music,:he is also a noble exponent of the gems of classical keyboard music.