Radio Round the World

Radio Record, 22 April 1938, Page 56

Radio Round the World

ALEXANDER KIPNIS, the Russian basso, who opened his Australian tour in April at the Sydney Town H4ll, has been a principal of the Chicag® Opera Ilouse for a niuinber of years, and has also given numerous recitals in the United States. He has just concluded an altogether novel tour of America. An enterprising enterpreneur had the happy inspiration of engaging five Wagnerian singerstenor, soprano, basso, contralto and baritone-in order to present concert programmes feuturing Wagnerian music, Alexander Kipnis was the basso of this combination, which toured throughout the States as "The Wagnerian Festival Singers,’ and which Was described by the New York "Musi-

cal Courier" as "the huminous quintet." Most artists have their pet superstilion and with Alexander Kipnis, celebrated Russian bass, now touring Australia, it is a watch. Incidentally, one of Lis hobbies is collecting watches, Te has eight in all, three of which he has brought out with him. including, of course, the watch which he regards as his lucky charm. It is of Russian gold inscribed with the Czar's cigle worked out in gold engraving and precious stones and was bestowed on him by the Czar when he graduated with outstanding honours from the Warsaw Conseryatorium. The honour is a very rare one and only a few artists possess a similar watch. Kipnix always has it with him on the concert platform and when be is studying new roles aud making important decisions.

Another of his collection is a step and wristlet watch which he uses for timing his songs, _OUELLA PARSONS, famed Hollywood reporter. takes strong precautions not to miss the broadcasts of her daughter, Harriet. who reports on Tollywood doings over the NBC-Blue Network each Trursday at 1.0 pam. New Zealand siandard time. First of all, in the ufternoon she turns the radio at her home to the Los Angeles station carrying the programme with a note on the dial: "Do not move." Then she has her chauffeur turn the ear radio to this station, Before setting out to make a round of visits she phones ahead to make sure the people have radios if she is going to be there near the time of the broadcast,