PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR

Radio Record, 1 April 1938, Page 16

PERSONALITIES ON THE AIR

F any young: singer were’ in want of a motto for the‘artistic life he (or more often she) might do worse than adopt this one: "Keenness gets you there." In the case of Eileen Courtenay, soprano, it is certainly true. Trained by the late and revered Mother Liguori, and later by Mr. Thos. Wood, she seems to have set about mobilising a small navy of "ships’-scholarships and championships. Her successes at the New Zealand Eisteddfod, New South Wales Competitions at Sydney, and the Wagga Competitions brought her coveted trophies. After singing at 2YA on Monday, March 28, she sails for Sydney by the Awatea on April 5. Doubtless our cousins across the Tasman will be glad to hear her again, as she is taking her music-case with her.

SHE WAS NEARLY A MISSIONARY.

Tike the late Conchita Supervia, fair-haired, blueeyed Grace Moore

has both good looks and acting ability. Again like Conchita Supervia, she has a@ voice that compares favourably with that of any figures of past and contemporary operatic history. We should be thankful. Vocal charm is all

too rarely the handmaiden of personal charm. What the musical world might have missed had Grace realised her earlier ambition and gone as @ missionary to China won't bear thinking about. She will he heard at 1YA on Wednesday, April 6.

Fear Of The Negro Artist

JPAUL ROBESON has decided that he will never sing on the concert platform again, because he suffers from a curious fear. "Hours beforehand I am afraid something will go wrong-that I will catch a cold and lose my voice,’ he says. "Perhaps it is aa exaggerated form of stage-fright. All I know is that I am_ scared stiff." His desertion of the concert platform will be deeply regretted by Paul Robeson’s many Ameri-' can, British and European admirers. But in New Zealand we are practically unaffected by the deci-sion-records must suffice us. Paul’s fine voice will be heard in 3YA’s music, mirth and melody session, Wednesday, April 6.

HOME LIFE OF THE TRUMPETS.

We encounter in that aristocrat of brass "instruments -the trumpet-

"the most self-important member of the brass family" which, on account of its "high tone," rather looks down upon the rest of the family, though it often mixes in their company pleasantly and harmoniously. It is of a@ somewhut solemn and reliyious nature, and is

very proud of the unique distinction it possesses of a very long-standing engagement to perform on the Day of Judgment. Trumpet solos are net frequent on the radio, and interest xttaches te an item on 4YA’s programme on Wednesday, April 6, when George Swift plays Sarasate’s well-known "Gipsy Airs."

IF YOU’RE IN LOVE YOU WALTZ.

What was then described as the "New German Waltz," appeared in England

nearly one hundred and Mfiity years ago. Instructions printed on a copy of "La Belle Russe, or the Duchess of Oldenberg’s Waltz," directed dancers to "swing with right bands round one couple; then with lett; chain figure four at bottom, turn your partner." Another bids you "follow your partner ound the first couple; the lady follows you back to your own places; lead down the middle, up again, swing corners, and hands six round and back." (No prize igs offered to anyone who works all this out.-Ed.). A talk on "Modern Ballroom Dance-ing-The Waltz," by Mr. A. L, Leghorn to be given at 3YA on Thursday, April 7 seems timely.

ACTRESS AND A PRODUCER.

Very well-known in Wellington stage and radio circles is Mrs. Victor Lloyd

(2ZB’s Anne Howard). At one time or another she has been associated with

every worth-while amateur dramatic organisation in Welljngton, where, as an actress and occasionally ag a produeer, she has achieved a high reputation for versatility and thoroughness in everything she does. Her radio experience dates back to the early YA days.

CONDUCTOR MAKES PIANO RECORDS

Jay Wilbur has been orchestral conductor and manager of a recording com-

pany for so long that it is something of a surprise to find him making piano records. He was interested in music before he was ten, and took it up as a profession when he was sixteen. For some years he was engaged in rehearsing and providing orchestras for the big London cinemas, and took up dance music after the war. Perhaps his proudest moment was when he played with his band before King George V, Queen Mary and Princess Mary, at Buckingham Palace. Jay Wilbur, pianist, will be heard from 2YA on Friday, April 8.

CAME DOWN IN THE WORLD.

The saxophone was first used in an orchestra by Kastner jn 1844, and after-

wards by Meyerbeer, Thomas, Saint Saens, Bizet and d'Indy. With such 2 cultured upbringing, you would feel that the saxophoné wvuld gain dignity with the years. but it soon became apparent that dignity was not its destiny when, in 1857, it was thrust on 4 sceptical American public in all ifs nickel-plated glory. According to the advertisements, you could "Learn to play it in six easy lessons." * Howard Jacobs (who did not learn it fn six lessons), plays in 2¥A’s dinner music session on Wednesday, April 6.

THE BIRTH OF "WESTWARD HO!"

Partly on account of his wife’s health. and partly to obtain the right

atmosphére for a new book, Charles Kingsley went to Bideford, Devonshire, in Muy, 1854, and remained a year. He spent @ great deal of time saturating himself with Elizabethan history and the study of locally-owned recerds of the voyages and adventures of Devon men at that period. In a roof overlooking one of the shipbuilding yards, with the scent of the tidal river, the smell of tarred ropes, and the sound of the shipbuilders’ milets, Charles Kingsley'’s greatest romance, ‘Westrard Ho!" was born. The dramatised feature, "Westward Ho!" will end at 3YA on April 16.

SHE SINGS iN MANY MOODS.

Her personality shows in her quiet-ude-in her dark skin and soff. wnrm

voice and charactéristic laugh, and in her face that is altertiately animated with life and gaiety and sad as a spirituelle, She was born in New York City, and was singing when she was vine years old. She sang in a church choir, and then in a glee club, and then in a quartet. Her music "went around," and so she met theatrical people. Is it any wonder they noticed her when she was Elisabeth Welch? The yoice of this charming artist will be heard in the imterludes in 3YA’s danee programme on Tuesday, April

TWO STRINGS TO HER BOW.

Aniong the younger set of Weflington musiciany is the talented and versatile

young lady, Miss Olga Burton, who, like Peggy Cochrane, not only wields

a facile fiddle-bow, but has a Soprano voice that. is heard to good effeet in those particular songs she selects in her occasional appearances. She decided on the violin as her chosen instrument at an earky age, and her studies under Miss Ava Symons gained for her not only a gold medal but the coveted LRSM. Her singing master is Mr. Stanley Oliver Since she was at the Otago Girls’ High School Miss Burton has had musical ambitions which should be realised if she continues as she has begun. She will be heard in songs from 2YA on Friday, April 8.

PEN FRIENDS BY MUSIC.

Beatrice Tange, the Sydney pianist, introduced the piano works of Thomas

Pitfield to Australia in recitals and on records. Four years ago she received one of his pieces, and liked it so much that she wrote and asked him if he had any further works. So began a pen friendship. Each Christmas Mr. Pitfield sends her a calendar of his own (lesign-sometimes it is a pen-and-ink drawing, sometimes a wood-cut, linocut or water colour. Station tYA listeners will hear Beatrice Tange, pianist, on Sunday afternocn, April. 3.

TENOR WITH A WAR RECORD.

Stuart Wilson. tenor, speaking: ""T nin the ‘son of 4 clergyman. itself

iardly an adventurous thing. T hare beén given a classical education at a publie school and an old-fashioned uni-

versity. I was 4 soldier, like everybody élse of miy age, but, unlike some of my frierids, I survive still. I was twiee wounded, once seriously. und once severely, if you can distinguish between thé degrees. I have sat on a War Office stool and upon a bench in G.H.Q., Franee, helping to win the war in ‘Intelligence’." Since those days he has become a famous singer, and will be heard at 1YA on Wednesday, April 6.

JEWS WHOSE "ART IS BANNED.

Cablés announce. that the theatres and music halls’ of Vienna have been

completely "cléansed’’ of Jews. Worldfamous artists whom Vienna will know no more include Richard Tauber, Bruuo Walter and Max Reinhardt. Jews hare béen excluded from the famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which will ve placed under Commissar Wilhelm Jetger, @ composer, This looks as if Br une W alter will have to move on again. fn 1984 he left Berlin to settle in Vienna, in 19386 Nazi hooligans wrecked his "Tristan and Isolde’. production with "stink bonibs," and now--. Recordings of the Vienna Philhar--monic Orchestra under his batén. are. available, and will bé héard from ava" on Tuésday, April 5.

AS A BOY HE DID NOT SING.

That vivacious ‘personality, Hedd!é Nash, the English tenor, had a treble

voice of unusuél compass and beauty as a boy, but nidde no use of it. In 1914 he won a sehoiarship for the Blackheath Conservatoire, but did. not avail himself of it until after the wir. In 1918 he entered the Conservatoire; his voice developed quickly, and he won other scholarships He niade appearances ou the convert platform, and obtained an engagement with the Marionette seasons at the Scala Theatre and the Coliseum with Dr. Podrecia and bis Roman Marionettes. Later he undertook further vocal studies in Milan. He sinigs at 2YA ori Tuesday, April 5.

HE SAID TO LET ‘EM WAIT.

A tale is told hy Norman Long, "Britaii’s Most Popular Piano Patterer aud

Songster," which is and isi’t @ long story. Two midnight revellers reached thé lionie of ove of them, who failed 16 insert his Key in the lock, "Well," said his friend, "Whe@sh the ies move?" "SHI have to knock ‘ent up, tha’sh all.’ For sone ten minutes or 80 tlie two stood in silejce. Then, said the first one: "Aren’t you gouna knock ‘em up yet?" Cante the laconicg reply: "Nol Let ’eni wait!’ Norman Long will éntertain in 1YA’s music, mirth ard melody session on Monday, April 4.

SPOTLIGHT ON. CONDUCTOR.

When Charles Shadwell enters frot the back of the pit fo coiiduct the Cov-

entry Hippodronie Orchestra, a spotlight follows him all the way down the gangway. The Hippodrome took over the title from a corrugated iron building that once stood in, Poo] Meadow, since furned into a municipal’ car: park. Tlie present Hippodrome gracet a busy street, and was built in 1906 The Coventry Hippodrome Orchestta, will be heard from 3YA on Saturday, April 2. ;

No. 25 AS THE ARTIST SEES THEM BROADCASTERS