A mixed musical bag

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33778, 26 February 1975, Page 4

A mixed musical bag

Opera and pop were both on the television schedule for Monday and. curiously enough, it was possible to find something of talue in both items. Kin te Kanawa has a voice as rich and smooth as Insh coffee, and her appearance in the “Aquarius” programme recalled an article bj one of our reviewers in which he expressed the wish that he could eliminate the picture and soak up the sound. The girl from Gisborne has made great progress in the world of opera Her singing delights the ear, she has a striking appearance, and her sense of gaiety is infectious. All the more shattering, then, to watch her exposed to the rigours of a rehearsal, a target for the slings and arrows of a moderately outrageous director. This, of course, was a good example of the mill she has been put through on the path to stardom in opera. It is

the sort of experience which has enabled her to speak with typical Kiwi candour on matters pertaining to her particular field. But to thousands of New Zealanders. Kiri is “the voice.” Watching her being schooled in dramatic movement by John Copley dented the image a little—as would the sight of Ernest Hemmingwav tackling typing lessons, ri * * There's one thing about “Popco’s” output: you either like it or you don’t. But even if you are in the latter category, it is still possible to appreciate the art of the back-room boys. In this first programme of a new series, the lighting and camera work were first class, and the skill, of Maggie Burke and Brian Marston shone through each presentation. , The new producer is David McPhail, who, with Brian Edwards, blazed that branch ■ of the T.S.T. trail now | trodden so confidently by I Rodney Bryant and Bryan 1 Allpress. The old spirit of

adventure is still burning brightly. The low key approach by the compere Chris Muirhead, angled the spotlight effectively on the performers. It is possible to let Richard Thomas waft one away on wings of fantasy while watching “The Waltons.” By shutting the mind to the faci that the lad is, in real life, in his early twenties, it is easy to picture good old John-boy as the greatest first son of all time. As well as handling a fair share of the heavy manual labour on the family farm, he is a stalwart in the kitchen, a guiding light for his brothers and sisters, and a sort of local Robin Hood for the unfortunates of all ages. No wonder Dad-man is so smiling and relaxed most of the time. There’s plenty of humour and pathos in “The Waltons,” and although some of it makes severe demands of the viewer’s patience, the situations involving Thomas invariably strike a responsive chord. He was especially good in the latest episode. It is not possibfe, however, to say the same about “His and Hers.” Self-centred Rupert Sherwin not only has the advantage of living in the milk, honey and whisky era; he has no children to bother him, and this, theoretically, should place him the length of the straight clear of Pa Walton in life’s race. Somehow, it does not work out that way. Rupert is a frightful snob; he can’t cook; he writes poorly; and, apparently, he is not averse to making love •to his wife in the airing cupboard. Pa Walton, with all his debts, mortages, and children, seems far more contented. Perhaps the N.Z.B.C. is trying to tell us something by placing these programmes cheek to jowl on a Monday evening. -J.K.B.