STATE OPERA COMPANY

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 42, 26 April 1935, Page 5

STATE OPERA COMPANY

MENTION was made recently. in. these notes’ of the proposal to establish a permanent grand opera company to make stage and radio appearances in Australia and New Zealand. . The scheme has been enthusiastically seized, upon in several quarters, the following editorial being reprinted from "The Star" (Melbourne): -.+ . the State Governments of the Commonwealth should acquire Fullers’ Grand Opera Company, formed for the Melbourne Centenary, and now performing in Australia. Since the most expensive period, that of ‘promotion, preparation and production has passed, financed by private enterprise, only a small subsidy would be nee(léd to establish it permanéntly to provide an annual season of eight months, distributed between the capital cities and the country centres of the Commonwealth, and tours of New Zealand. The subsidy could be contributed by the various States and the Dominion, or else, as is most probable, -by thé broadcasting control bodies. Radio rights would amount to thousands of pounds, and if broadcasting wére made a regular feature of the company’s programme, it would be easily g self-supporting, if not a highly profitable. proposition. Musical culture would receive a wonderful stimulus in these countries, providing an opportunity long denied to the rising Melbas, Australs, Dawsons and Brownlees. We have now the opportunity to establish a brilliant new cultural era. ave we the courage to seize it?