PERSONALITIES of the WEEK

Radio Record, Volume XI, Issue 1, 10 July 1936, Page 12

PERSONALITIES of the WEEK

Dramatising Dickens

IN this, "Mr. Pickwick’s" centenary year, it is delightful for those lucky enough to have seen and heard him, to recall Bransby Williams, in his impersonation of "Mr. Jingle," the strolling actor who imposed upon the members of the Pickwick Club by his powers of amusing and sharp-wittedness. Be

sides being our leading Dickens character exponent, Bransby Williams greatly contributed to the popularity of such dramatic monologues ‘as "Devil-may-care," "The Green Eye of the Yellow God," "The Stage Doorkeeper," and so forth. For nigh upon 40 years he has made the Charles Dickens characters his special sphere and, being a Londoner, he imparts into his impersonations a vividness and realism that must be heard nnd seen to be thoroughly appreciated He will be heard from 1YA on Monday, July 13,

Famous Savoyard

JN 4YA’s broadcast of Gilhert and Sullivan’s "Io!anthe," Sunday afternoon, July 12, the part of the Fairy Queen in the opera is sung by the late Bertha I ewis, whose untimely death in a motor

accident a year or two ago created a profound sensation in theatrical and musical circles. Born in London, May 12, 1887, Bertha Lewis was edu- ; eated at the Mosuline Convent, Upton, and at the Royal Academy of Music, of which she became an _ Associate, Her first appearance on any stage was at the Grand Theatre, Southampton, . on June 30, 1906, as Kate in "The,’ Pirates of Penzance," and her debut at the Savoy was two years later. Besides playing all the leading contralto parts in the G. and S. repertory, Bertha Lewis played principa] contralto roles in such grand operas 4s "Carmen," "Samson and Delilah," and "Aida." ;

"Easter-Ego" Head

DESCRIBED by a famous London writer as "this little man with the . Easter-egg head and abundant side-curls," Percy Kahn, the perfect accompanist and composer, is a Jew, son of a London hairdresser, but of German descent. Assisted by a Protestant clergyman to secure a scholarship at the Royal Coallege of Music, Percy Kahn made such good use of his opportunities that he is now in the keenest demand to xuccompany famous musical artists at concerts. It will be recalled that he once wrote an "Ave Maria," which has become so well Known that most people think it is by some master of the past. "No one but a devout Catholic could have written it," said a_ priest, and Caruso is said to have wept when he sang it, Kahn’s "Ave Maria’ wili/ be sung by Florence Anstral in concert and relayed by 2YA on Saturday, July 11,

"Orchestrion"

ABOUT 100 years ago a Dresden musician, Friedrich Kaufmann (son of an inventor of musical clocks, etc ), invented an automatic music-reproducing machine he called the "Svmphonion." which was the predecessor of the "Orchestrion," | completed in 1851 by his son Friedrich Theodor, This instrument came into great demand as substitute (?) for smal] orchestras in cafes, ete, The contraption was a barrel organ, a reed instrument ‘worked by a_ perforated roll tn the middle of the 1880's, Tho- _ mas RBeecham’s father, Sir Thomas Beecham (first Baronet), bought a

magnificent specimen of the "orchestrion," with a big library of all kinds of musie, in particular extracts from Wagner. The future conductor lived continually with his "orchestrion" from his sixth or seventh year. He therefore heard music day after day, until vast quantities of it were fixed in his memory and the solid founda-

tions were laid for his work in after life. Sir Thomas Beecham figures in 3YA’s programme on Sunday, July 12.