NEXT WEEK’S RADIO

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25448, 20 March 1948, Page 3

NEXT WEEK’S RADIO

CONCERTS FOR Schools

The pupils of Wellington schools have been the lucky ones; they have had Isobel Baillie singing to them in two of their concerts, broadcast by 2YA last Friday and Tuesday. She will not sing in their third concert, next Monday, and she will not sing in school concerts in other centres later in the year—bad luck for the schools in other centres that her tour will be aver before their concerts begin. SchoQls equipped with radio had the chance to listen last Friday and Tuesday; but it couldn’t have been as exciting merely to listen as it was to look as well as listen —as I had the good fortune to do last Tuesday. The Wellington Town Hall was full of children—something like 2500 of them, with not more than 50 seats occupied by teachers and a few guests, such as Aunt Daisy and the Minister of Education. There were ranks of pupils from various schools in uniform colours Cf grey, navy blue, green brown, white; there were rows of felt hats and rows of bright berets and‘ brigades of hatless and shining heads. The programmes were yellow leaflets which were ne’ver for a moment still in the intervals between music, And there was a summer-day munpur from a couple of thousand voices under difficult restraint. . What I .chiefly wished for was a sound film in colour.

When I listened to the applause that greeted the orchestra ana the conductor I was sure there could never be ariy louder or more prolonged; but I had still to hear the reception to Miss Baillie. Surely a tonic for a jaded orchestra, applause as fresh and lively as this; and it seemed so, too, for the orchestra played its Mozart overture with a very happy liveliness. Mr Tyrer's ‘‘Walk through the Orchestra” this year deals with the groups or families in the orchestra, not with each instrument. As far as it goes, and time limits its thoroughness, this “walk” is a good exercise; but it is to be hoped that teachers later supplement its information with more details about each instrument.

Miss Baillie in heavenly blue singing “Let the Bright Seraphim”—could anything have been more happily chosen Let those who heard this Handelian triumph—or who hear it in later broadcasts—add blue, true heavenly blue, to the picture behind their eyes, and I think they will enrich their hearing. PURCELL IN CHRISTCHURCH

It is not only Wellington school children who are lucky; listeners to 3YA on Good Friday will hear Isobel Baillie singing Purcell’s “The Blessed Virgin’s Expostulation.” I cannot do more than neg everyone to listen to this most wonderful music; it will probably be the only chance of hearing it. as it is not scheduled in any other broadcast or recital. But after she sang it at her Victoria College lunch-hour recital last week Miss Baillie was showered with requests for a repetition later; and is now considering singing it in Wellington in April. She said that it takes more out of her to’ sing that expostulation than to sing a whole recital of. other works; but it is still one of the things that she most enjoys singing. “The Blessed Virgin’s Expostulation" is based on the incident (Luke 2, 4349) of the 4hild Jesus lost, having wandered from his mother’s side; his mother calling for him in distress and seeking for him in the temple. The words are by Nahum Tate (poet laureate 1692-1715). who wrote the libretto of Purcell’s opera “Dido and Aeneas.” There will be a second studio recital by Miss Baillie from 3YA on Sunday evening, March 28; and on Tuesday, March 30. there will be a broadcast of her solo recital in the Radiant Hall. Next Wednesday. March 24, 2YA will broadcast the whole of the Royal Wellington Choral Union’s performance of Handel’s “Messiah” with Isobel Baillie as solo soprano. EASTER BROADCASTS There are many and various broadcasts of music and other matters especially suitable for Easter scheduled for next week. I have not heard John Gundry’s Easter play “'rhe Night Winds Telling,” produced in N.Z.B.S. studios; and I .can only say that I have heard extremes of. good and bad work by this versatile and energetic young Aucklander, who is reSorted to have sold several plays to forman 1 Corwin for Columbia network. When Gundry’s plays are good, it seems to me they are very good: in case “The Night Winds Telling’* is one of the good ones, listeners should tune to 3YA on Thursday evening, March 25. Also in 3YA’s programme for Good Friday are two musical sessions of particular interest—the classical hour in the afternoon with music by Wagner and Rimsky-Korsakov, and a half hour later of mupic telling_the Easter story. And before Isobel Baillie’s recital there is another specially arranged programme called “Bells at Eastertide.”

Throughout the week and from all stations it will be possible to hear a very big proportion of all the recorded Easter music in the country. TEA AND OTHER SUBJECTS

Kenneth Read’s talks on tea, now finished at 2YA. have set off on a round trip of the other stations; they begin at 4YA .next Monday, March 22. Mr Read’s is a very clear voice; I believe his talks will have a wide appeal among tea-drinkers who are interested in the how of their cheering cup. The same evening, Monday. March 22, 4YA will broadcast the 8.8. C. programme “They Fought at Alamein.” The fortnightly discussion from 2YA on March 22 will be on the subject of price control; next to housing, this should- prove t’he subject with widest interest. Tp me the notable thing about these discussions is that they are so full of well-prepared material. It may be that they would gain in liveliness and interest if unassailable facts were fewer and the bric-a-brac of interruptions more plentiful.