PERSONALITIES of the WEEK

Radio Record, 7 August 1936, Page 10

PERSONALITIES of the WEEK

Honour To Iles T wag during the South African war that Mr. J. Henry Des brought twenty-nine brass bands from the industrial north to London to help the "Absent-minded Beggar" Fund for the relatives of soldiers. At that time, he was almost the only professional musician in the land who saw any possibilities in this movement. Undeterred by indifference and unbelief he stuck to his chosen task. One result has been an added impetus to the world's biggest amateur music-making movement, comprising more than five thousand brass bands and no fewer than one hundred thousand working-men musicians, All honour to their leader, Mr. Iles, whose work at the Crystal ["Srasessecsssnsaacsane se nanaaaaanmaaaamar|

Ve _____ ______________ _-._____________._____________.. rrr I IT = a a me Palace and elsewhere is such that, were it in any- other country but England, it would be blazoned forth to the whole wide world. A massed band recital will be heard from 1YA on Thursday, August 18. Ambition Realised NE of the ambitions of Aylmer Buesst, the Melbourne-born conductor has been realised. He has broadcast from London to Australia and one of the items was by May Blyth (Mrs. Buesst), who sang appropriately enough, "Ocean, Thou Mighty Monster!’ from Weber's "Oberon." Here was an opportunity ‘to be rude to the ocean without leaving terra firma. Aylmér Buesst was one of the conductors of the British National Opera

Company, and is now professor of singing at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music, besides being assistant musical director for the B.B.C. 2YA listeners will hear Mascagni’s "Cavalleria Rusticana" under his: baton on Sunday, August 9, ) Down in Surrey UDOLPH DOLMETSCH, who is playing harpsichord music at 2YA on Thursday, August 18, is the son of Arnold Dolmetsch, the well-known expert on the music and musical instruments of earlier times. Down at Haselmere, in Surrey (hereabouts,.in fact, three lovely Erglish counties mest~Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire), Mr. Dolmetsch has established his own workshop where, under conditions far removed from the push and bustle of to-day, he and his family make such old instruments as viols and harpsichords and even clavichords. He is not only, however, a rare craftsman; he is a delicate musician, 2 fine and purist interpreter of early music. It is an experience not easily forgotten to be present at Haselmere when the summer festival of old music-is in proress. All the family take part-but udolph is the best of them all. Started in Panto. RIAN LAWRENCE’S mother, an English lady, has been an inspiration to her son, who, as most people know, is Australian born. At the age of eight Brian made his first appearance on the professional stage in pantomime at Adelaide. Then he went with his mother to Sydney. where he got engagements to sing at concerts. He then became enamoured of the fiddle and had lessons. The next step was a contract to play boys’ parts in one of J. ‘}. Williamson’s companies. He appea in "Hullo, Everybody" and in "Mh time," and went with the company Melbourne. Here he stayed for four and a half years when he joined Pat Hanna’s famous "Diggers," with whom he remained for three and a half years and was still only seventeen. Then he went to England to seek, and ultimately find, his fortune. He will be heard from 3YA on Monday, August 10. Toscanini’s Tribute . LASt summer in Salzburg, Toscanini is said to have stopped a rehearsal of Beethoven’s opera, "Fidelio," pointed to: Lotte Lehmann who was singing the part of Leonora, and announced to all about him-‘She is the greatest artist that I have ever worked with" Lotte Lehmann is indeed.a great artist; one who is gifted in more than one way. For she is equally as great whether considered as an operatic soprano or ag a singer of lieder: Mme. Lehmann is not a conventional lieder singer, nor does she belong to the stylist group.

DANCE FEATURES

NEAT week’s feature dance sessions from the national stations: 1YA, Thursday, August 13: An hour with Maurice Winnick and his Orchestra, with interludes by Brian Lawrence, 2VA, Wednesday, August 12: An hour with Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees, with interludes by the Hill Billies. Friday, August 14: New release dance programme. Saturday, August 15: Relay by Henry Rudolph and his Orchestra. 3YA, Tuesday, August 11: "More Fun." A programme of further comedy dance numbers. AYA, Monday, August 10: An hour with Harry Roy and his Orchestra, with interludes by Iver Moreton and Dave Kaye. aa

Her artistry in song is less studied, freer, and more emotional than the recognised great singers of lieder. No one seems ito bring the mood of a song to life with more assured spontaneity than she, and few apprehend and conyey the inner meaning with more telling effect. 3YA listeners will hear Lotte Lehmann on Wednesday, August 12, "V.A.M." "THE initialy "M.A.M." stand for "Mainly About Mandolines." We have not in this country the respect that-is due to the mandoline. We class

it among the dance band instruments. This is hardly courteous. Don Juan would have been: horrified. Not that the mandoline is exactly Don Juan's instrument, although most composers, including Mozart, have condemned him to use it as an accompanying instrument whenever he has occasion to serenade his lady of the moment. Actually he would have employed a bandurria, which is more like a guitar than a mandoline. There have been many virtuosi on the mandoline, particularly in Spain. Mandoline enthusiasts form themselves into orchestras, and one of the finest of these, the Mandoline Concert Society, will be heard in 4YA’s dinner music session, on Thursday, August 13,