A MOZART RECITAL

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22110, 4 June 1937, Page 7

A MOZART RECITAL

TO THE EDITOB OP THE PEESS I Sir, —We all appreciate "Listener's" radio notes In your Journal and were glad to read his remarks last Saturday, referring to the 3YA orchestra. I quite agree with your correspondent "Forty Years," whose letter appeared in "The Press" on Tuesday. A performer can hardly be a competent judge of his or her own performance, however excellent his performance may be, especially before the microphone. I must also express appreciation of the excellent local talent engaged by the National Broadcasting Service, though some need guidance and much more practice. As to the orchestra, I have no grudge against them, but it is most distressing to hear the clarinet, cornet and flute competing with each other's strength, drowning the sweet sounds of the string instruments. I am a regular listener to the weekly performances of the orchestra and feel distressed to hear good works/ coming over the air so unsatisfactorily. As "Listener" has remarked, the orchestra is not fully balanced, and until the orchestra is greatly augmented and fully balanced the results will be distressingly unsatisfactory. And until this perfecting is realised may I suggest that the clarinet, cornet, flute and percussion instruments be placed at the rear of the microphone and the string instruments at the front? I hope the National Broadcasting Service will wake up and not spare the cash which is available to augment our 3YA orchestra, so that we may be proud of our city's musical possession, which is the music lover's legacy.—Yours, etc., E. D. BERNSTEIN. June 1, 1937.