PERSONALITIES of the WEEK

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 9, 11 September 1936, Page 10

PERSONALITIES of the WEEK

A Saxon Soprano 'TOSCANINI is not given to fulsome flattery and spoke with conviction when he pronounced Elisabeth Rethberg as the "greatest living soprano." What Emmy Destinn was to the opera-goers of the first decade of this century, Rethberg is to-day-the lyric-dramatic soprano "par excellence." A Saxon by birth, she studied at the Dresden Conseryatoire, and made her debut there in the early years of the war. Her success Was immediate, Soon after the wat she was invited to America, where the public was quick to realise that here wag an artist of exquisite sensibility, possessing dramatic powers of a high order and a voice of excep tional purity. As people used to speak. of the "Destiun tone," so people today speak of "Rethberg quality." Courageous Mark MARK HAMBOURG, the pianist, had to be carried on to the platforin on a Stretcher when he gave a concert in Colombo less than three years ago. Though suffering from painful injuries to both legs, he insisted on playing, and, laving been taken to the voncer: hall by ambulance, he was propped up in an invalid chair in frout of the piano. While in Indin he had been vucelnated against small-pox, and, lest inflammation of an arm should éripple his hand, he had preferred to have the operation on his leg, His leg became poisoned, and while limping about he dislocated the knee of the other leg. it was in this crippled condition that he arrived at Colombo, He was taken ashore in a lifeboat, and, though urged to abandon his concert, he asked for three days’ delay, and received a great ovation ftom the audience. Irresistible Irene DISTINGUISHED Londoy journalist met Irene Dunne on a trip from New York aboard the "Quéen Mary." His brief description of "one of the loveliest young women who has Visited London for a long time," fs s0 charming as to warrant quotation. He says: "Miss [rene Dunne is everything that one does. not associate with screpn success. Her bair needy no lighting effects, for it is reddish gold. Der skin needs no artifice, for it is a silken per-

rection. © Her eyes are large and kind. {fer voice is soft, her hands are exquisite, she moves with grace, and she is easily amused." She is married to s doctor who is also an inventor. Irene Dunne will be heard from 1YA in a relay of "Show Boat" from the Clyicf/ Theatre on Sunday, September 13. A Souvenir Shower IGNOR LUCIEN. CHSARON] has culled unique experiences in bis perambulations around the world as grand opern basso. On one occasion, in Pkaterinoslay (a Russian town vow known as Dnepropetrovsk), the company met with an unusually warm reception. In this Ukrainian town of neatly a quarter of a million inhabitants, they admired the famous frio in the fifth act of "Faust" so thotoughly. that members of the audience threw uinbrellas, sticks, purses of money, and even some of their garments, on to the stage, refusing to take them back again, Signoy Cesatoni’s Wellington opera eoinpany will be heatd in the first act

September 14; this little gem of opera abounds itt interest from its famed "Prologue" to its thrilling finale. Landowska ANDA LANDOWSKA is certainly an artist for whom television would

SUULESREUSIRADDVDA SADR ES a sas asAaRDaEayaS SPUSLESTUDPDOSLD TITRA GSES RECRD ES TEND DANCE F tATURES Nest week’s feature dance yessions from rational stations: 1¥A: Thursday, September 17: "Best Sellers." A‘ programme _ Of popular dance numbers. 2YA: Wednesday, September 16: "Dancing Time." Another programme of dance numbers in strict tempo, Friday, September 18: New release dance programme. Saturday, September 19: Relay by Henty Rudolph and _ his Orchestra, 3YA: Tuesday, Septeniber 15: "Let’s Dance." Another programme of dance numbers in strict tempo, 4VA; Monday, September 14: "Dancing Feet." Some more dance numbers in strict tempo. SUFTLLTSRADTS TESS EDA DIDEATIFISEA TREO EEL

help to create the atmosphere in which her music lives. When we can televise talkie ~ shorts we shall realise this. A most remarkable woman, she surrounds herself with an air of demure old-worldli-uess Which is wholly in keeping with the simple charm of the music she delights to play. She has made so profound a study of the days when harpsichord and virginal were played that when she sits down at the keyboard, with the folds of her sweeping velvet gown merging into the lines of the beautiful instrument, she is wholly one in spirit with the old mas-

ters as her personality is "in the picture." Her playing is a genuine recreation of a bygone age. Waves a Magic Wand. WHEN one thinks of choral musi¢ on the records, Stanford Robinson's name at onee comes to mind. This remarkable young Yorkshire musician not only created the B.B.C. Wireless Singers and gave them their cachet, but he founded the B.B.C. National Chorus, Hie has as much reason to be proud of his work with the B.B.C. Theatre

Orchestra as of anything else he has yet done, This is a superb band o! players, and is the envy of ever) broadcasting station in the world. Stan ford Robinson is the son of a wellknown Leeds organist, and he has played the piano from his fifth. year, and later began to teach himself. Whilst still at school he decided ty make music. hig career and organised an amateur orchestra in order to gaiv experience in conducting. He conducts a recorded B.B.C,' programme called "Victorian Melodies" heard on YA pro. grammes once or twice recently.