PERSONALITIES of the WEEK

Radio Record, 5 June 1936, Page 10

PERSONALITIES of the WEEK

A Neat Retort. WHEN he was a young man, Rachmaninoff was a guest at a supper at which many notable musicians were present, among them being Paul Schlozer, professor of pianoforte at the Moscow Conservatoire. The conversation turned upon Rachmaninoff’s first piano concerto, which had just been published. Asked if he knew the work, Schlozer said he didn’t, and asked the young composer in a disagreeably sharp tone how much. it cost. Very embarrassed, Rachmaninoff. replied, "About three roubles." "Hm .,. surely it is very strange that Rachmaninoff's concerto should cost three roubles when one can buy a concerto by Chopin for half that sum," sald Schlozer. In a few moments Rachmaninoff addressed Schlozer as follows: "Don’t you think it odd, that one has to pay three roubles for two etudes by Schlozer when one can buy twenty-four of Chopin’s for one royble only?" Rachmaninoff, pianist, plays at Station LYA on Friday, June 12, Hitler’s Bouquet. QN one of Sir John Simon’s visits ‘to Berlin he was entertained to dinner by Adolf Hitler at his private residence. Goebbels, Goering and Schacht were present. In the ‘presence of a host who is a vegetarian, who avoids wine and who cannot smoke, a certain restraint was inevitable. The guests enjoyed their cigarettes and cigars in a room set. aside for the purpose. where the smoke could not irritate the Fuehrer’s sensitive throat. After dinner Wilhelm Backhaus played the piano. Throughout the music Hitler sat entranced, a mist over his smouldering eyes. He was a pathetic. wistful creature, lonesome for the arts, condemned to ar incredible fate, bound by Destiny’s chains . When Backhaus finished Bee thoven’s "Moonlight" Sonata Hitler seized some flowers and presented them to him with an embrace. Wartime Stories. ALBERT SAMMONS, famous violinist, who served during the war with the Grenadier Guards, tells a story of a sergeant‘at Caterham, where he was in barracks. Learning that Sammons plaved the violin. he brought his own instrument from home, but when Sammons opened the case he found a fiddle with only one string and a bow with about half a dozen hairs. However, not wishing. to disappoint, he began to play Handel’s "Largo" to see if he could get any tone out of It His audience grew

restless, and at last a man called out, "’Ere, give us ‘1812,’ that’s what I likes." Another story also concerns a sergeant who once on parade asked if there were any musicians present. Sammons put up his hand, as did another man. "What, only two of you!" exclaimed the sergeant. "Well you can shift the piane over to the officers’ mess." Sammons adds it cost them four boh to get someone else to do it. Ernest Pike, zi IN the old phonograph days no tenor was more popular on_ the cylinder records than Ernest Pike, who died at his home, Streatham, London, eatly in. March at the age of 64. He was a well-known singer of ballads, and to the wider public through the large number of records he, made. Five years ago he had the great misfortune to lose his voice, and recently became. completely paralysed. He had sung before King Edward VII and Queen. Alexandra, and was described in the Zonephone Record catalogue as the late King Wdward’s fayourite tenor. His representation, in that catalogue amongst the non-elec-trical records was very substantial, and included many popular duets with Peter Dawson Ernest Pike was fairly versatile, for he is represented on an old H.M.V. record as a whistler. Denmark’s Tenor. FORMERLY a lieutenant in the Royal Guard of his native Denmark, Lauritz Melchior, dramatic tenor, started to study singing in 1908 under Paul Bant, and made his debut at Copenhagen in April, 1913, as a baritone in the part of Silvis in "Pagliacci." Soon afterwarda, feeling the tenor power in his voice, he was liberated for a year from the’ Copenhagen Opera to resiudy, and his work-as is the custom in such cases in Denmark-was financed by the Government. The change proved for the best, and on his reappearance he made an-immediate triumph tn the title role of Tannhauser. The favourite singer of onr beloved Queen Alexandra, he was often called upon to sing for her the folk songs of her native Denmark, The tenor will sing from 4YA. on Wednesday, June 10, Musical Reactions. — DISCUSSING audiences in European countries, Harriet Cohen in a recent interview said that Spanish and Italian listeners, although: reported to be ruthless in their attacks against artists and works not to their king, are most ardent when they approve of a performance.

effect of their applause is so infectious that, in its turn, it produces an exaltation which inspires the artist to exeel. Germans are the most concentrated listeners, calmly and reassuringly attentive. to every phrase of the music. The Austrians are equally dis--criminating, but display more emotion. -The Russians like English music and are proverbially exhilarating, whilst "inspiring" sums up the Polish audiences. The English are the staunchest and most understanding of them all. Harriet Cohen, pianist, plays at 8YA on Monday, June 8, Grace "Gets" Religion. AT ten, religion came into Grace Moore’s life with a bang! For

the next five years it was the guiding passion of her life. At an age when most girls are becoming fusedily conscious of boys or Grace had not a for either, writes her biographer, Walter Ramsey. She was like a crusader in her zeal! Hers was the spirit of the revivalist missionary. When the real missionaries came visiting to the First Baptist Church of Jellicoe (her native town "way down in Tennessee"). Grace’s were the largest eyes,, the most attentive ears and the most devout heart in the audience. She listened to theiy tales and "caught" that genuine kind of religion that can never be "taught." Religion, there and then, became warp and woof of her exis-

tence, Her lovely ‘soprano yoice wil! be heard by 3YA listeners on Saturday, June 13.