PERSONALITIES of the week

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 46, 24 May 1935, Page 10

PERSONALITIES

of the week

Cedric ‘"‘Cashes Up" AJRITING in "The Gramophone" about the new Scandinavian coloratura soprano, Miliza Korjus (The Northern Nightingale), Cedric’ Wallis relates that he went somewhat sceptically to hear his first Korjus record. New und unheralded coloraturas are apt, in his experience, to be disappo‘nting, and he was frankly not expecting a great deal, It was there a tribute worth recounting that, before the singer had come to the end of Proch’s well-wor: theme, he had placed the price of the record confidently upon the shop coun ter, a gesture he hag not been able to uecord to a new singer tor a very long time. Te has not regretted his precipitaney, if such it was, because the reswt of studying the few records which Isorjus has produced to date resulted in a full page article which will make gramophiles expectant, B.B.C. Leader A TALL man, with humour in his A ‘ face and a ruggedness which suggests the North, partly de scribes the man who is one of the cor ner-stones of that wonderful editic we call. the B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Catterall is ff leader

Those who hear him play on his records may be interested to learn that the violin he plays is 2 Long Strad. bought for My, Catterall by a number of admirers in Manchester from Baron . Krope, the famous collector, who had at one time twenty Strads in his collection. Before he acquired it Baillot was the-last great artist to play on it in 1810. Catterall never misses the opportunity to "bike" up the hills nenr lis Hendon home with Mrs. Catterall! und the Catterall quartet No. 2-hix fout daughters, A Star’s Horoscope N the "Radio Maguzine’ last year Mr, A; H. Naylor gave Gertrude Lawrence’s horoscope, He saidi--"Being one of her admirers, it is diffienlt for me coolly and impartially fe

judge the horoscope of Gertrude Law: rence. Were I‘ not an admirer it would still be difficult, for hete is a personality which will change year by year. Temperamentally speaking, Miss Lawrence knows not fixity. Keel emotions, well in hand, a love of power. ucsound appreciation of the value of publicity, ave ainong the characteristics indicated in the loroseope. Miss Luwrence would be well advised fo make hay while the astrological snu shines. During 1935 and 1936 her chances of winning further fame and fortune will be at the maximum, After 1987 she may be apt to throw away vhances-in short, life will have its d'fficulties. However, everything de pends upon the use she makes of the exceptional opportunities which will come her way in 1984, 1985 and 1036. Her theatrical career will have its nps and downs, but like all good people sv fated, she will touch good heightsgreater than her present ones." A Swiss Pianist ALFRED CORTOT is a Swiss, laving been born at Nyon, but his parents were both French. Tig sisters led him in his first musical steps, but

later, on entering the Paris Conservatoire, he became a pupil of an old pupil of Chopin, one Decombes. Lesides being one of the foremost pianists of the day, he is also a great-con-duetor. It is news to learn that he ‘was go passionately devoted to the music of Wagner that from 1902 to 1911 he was ussistunt conductor and director of the chorus at Bayreuth. The war completely interrupted his artisti¢ activities, so he joined the stalf vf General Gallien as organiser to the . military pospitals for all" concerts and entertainments. As chamber musician solo pianist or conductor, le is equally wcceptable, Which of the Arts? VE late Robert Radford, bass, hailed from Nottingham, the county of Larwood and Voce, the city of lace and goose fairs, and memories of Robin Hood. The only important singing he did as a boy wag as soprano soloist in a minstrel troupe. He was getting on well with art, especially -black-and-white work (which must not be con-; fused with his minstrel work, by-thes by) and had several things when he eventually decided upon a\ musical career. So to the Royal Academy of Music he went, and be certainly did that institution more than justice, becoming, nt one stage, one of its ellows. Weighs 106 Pounds PYRAGILE looking, with great dark eyes, dark hair and a wiliowy _figute, Lily Pons, coloratura soprano, weighs x mere 106 pounds and stands u little more than five feet six in height. Born in Cannes, in Southern France, in 1905, she is Italian on her mother’s side, but France claims her Her musical background was built around the piano... At 15 she had won a first prize at the Paris Conservatoire, but three years later she abandoned ‘the piano for the stage, accepting an ingenue role at the Patis Theatre des Varieties. Advised by her friends to study for the opeta, Miss ‘Pons instead decided on a nuitrimonial cureer and married a Dutch Jawyer, August Mesritz, who aiso counselled a continuation of vocal lessons Her debut in opera was in a small town in Alsace. A Hit as Herod ORN in Pernsylyania, the baritone, John Charles Thomas, who possesses a teally grent and beautiful voice, fir'st gained prominence as a musical comedy atid light opeta star Concert work followed leading to an oyer- faitie debut at Wash‘ neton with the Civie Opera Company, as Amonastro in Verdi's "Aida." Respouding to an offer from Brussels, he appeared there us Herod, in Massenet’s opera. His success Was immediate, and his contract wis renewed for a period of seyeral years. _ a