Giving Listeners A Wider Choice

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 30, 1 February 1935, Page 20

Giving Listeners A Wider Choice

Revised Programme Schedule Comes Into Force in a Month’s TimeChanges in 3YA’s Broadeasts- Mr. Alan Young Gave Listeners a Vivid Description of the Duke’s Departure. '

HE New Zealand Broadcasting Board will introduce the revised programme schedule, drafted at the recent conference of programme organisers, on Friday, March 1, The main object of the new schedule is to provide contrasting types of programmes each evening from the main stations, and to have a definite contrast in types as well between the main stations and the auxiliary stations. Relays by Christchurch to and from Dunedin are to be eliminated on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but will be continued on the second, fourth and. fifth Sundays of each month. Christchurch will relay to Dunedin one month, and Dunedin to Christchurch the following month. Sunday programmes in Christchurch are to undergo some re-arrangement. Symphonie music will be moved from the second to the third Sunday of the month, and operatic excerpts from the third to the fourth. On the second Sunday of the month, dramatic recitals and band music will be introduced. R. ALAN YOUNG, programme organiser at 3YA, was the announcer for the farewell at Lyttelton to the Duke of Gloucester. Four microphones were used for this broadcast, and to use a technical expression, these were "all alive," which gave listeners the maximum of sounds, The broadcast was splendid, Mr. Young being. stationed on a platform on top of

the shelter right alongside the warship, and he was able to give a good description of the scene with its thousands of spectators, describing the dignity and colour of the proceedings. VEN the stentorian tones of the officer in command of the Guard of Honour, and the boom of the guns giving the Royal Salute could be heard. One listener down Oamaru way wrote to the studio suggesting that the only thing the announcer didn’t mention was the electric. sign on the hillside-read-ers will guess what he was referring to. It wasn’t only the women listeners who enjoyed Mr. Young’s description, amongst other things, of the Duke’s quarters, and the rule of saluting the quarter-deck, HD order of the Duke’s farewells were duly announced, with the speeches. The weather did not mar the proceedings, although rain was falling heavily as the big warship cleared the moles, the announcer filling in the time of waiting for. the Duke’s arrival relating many little anecdotes of his Highness’s stay in Christchurch: MTSS MILLIGCENT O’GRADY’S farewell recital -took place last week from 38YA and three days later she left .for Australia. This little lady with the sweet

soprano voice will be missed. by Christchurch musical folk, as well as by, listeners. Miss O’Grady was a regu- _ lar performer from 8YA in addition to her many concert engagements, having for five years made her home in Christchurch. Before her introduction to 3YA, she was a well-known performer from 1YA, but of all her work, Miss 'O’Grady’s choice was for grand opera. Compared with the lattér even concert : performances had no charm, but she entered wholeheartedly into solo work in opera. In all her roles in opera she was splendid, entering into the spirit and atmosphere of each play with a zest and earnestness which brought out her voice to the very best. The best wishes of her Chzistchurch listeners go with Miss O’Gr duly to her new surroundings. OMIN listeners (said to make better broadcasting critics than man), ;will be well catered for on Thursday. ‘February 7. In the morning, at eleven o'clock, they will hear a talk by Lady Wigram concerning Red Crousy matters, in which society Lady Wigram takes a great interest, and during the day 8YA will keep listeners posted in the play of the women’s cricket, when the English women’s cricket team will meet the Canterbury women’s eleven. T is the intention of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board to relay a talk

from London at 9.38 p.m. on Wednesay. February 6, by Sir James. Parr, High Commissioner for New Zealand. If conditions: permit, the whole pro-. gramme for the evening will come from London, and will be relayed by 3YA. ON Monday, February 4, the Woolston Brass Band will be heard from 8YA and during the band hour the first of a series of humorous episodes will be presented entitled "The Country Storekeepers, Eb and Zeb." The Broadcasting Board has just secured the rights of these humorous recorded features, Which is a comedy serial to be presented from the main stations in ten-minute instalments during the next few weeks. HE anniversary of Scotland’s bard and patriot, Robert Burns, was celebrated in Christchurch last Thursday evening by a concert in the Scottish Society’s Hall, Chief G. Matfarlane Telfer presiding. The concert was relayed by 3YA until 9.45 p.m., when a return was made to the studio. All over the world that evening there were thousands paying their tribute to one who was so dear to all Scots, and the Scottish Society of Christehurch devoted the evening almost entirely to the works of Burns. An address was given during the evening by Mr. R. B. Spiers, on "The Laughter of Burns," and the Scottish Society’s Pipe Band contributed several selections.

N Sunday, February 3, listeners will hear from 3YA the complete recorded opera of "Rigoletto." Several new complete operas are to be heard during the year, and these will include "Cavalleria Rusticana," "Pagliacci," "Rosencavalier," "Otello," "Falstaff,’ — "Manon Lescaut" and. "Don Pasquale." Grand operas have proved very popular in the past with listeners and this news will be welcomed. Under, the new’ programme schedle they will appear in the usual way-cn the first Sunday in each month,