Radio Diary...

Press, 16 July 1987, Page 19

Radio Diary...

Radio New Zealand celebrates an anniversary this evening with “60 Great Years” (National, 7.30 p.m.).

Station 2YA was officially opened on July 16, 1927, by the Prime Minister, John Coates. The station’s 5000-watt transmitter was the most powerful in the Southern Hemisphere, and linked communities all over New Zealand.

Early happenings and some of the triumphs of 2YA through six decades can be heard in this documentary, which is produced by John Joyce. “Philip Liner’s Round-

about” this evening visits the Marlborough Sounds Maritime Park as part of a series celebrating the National Parks centenary, and includes a trip to Maud Island. (National, 8.5 p.m.). In “Politicians, Public Servants and Public Enterprise” this evening, George Salmond, the Director-General of Health, outlines some of the plans for the Health Department; and the British member of Parliament, Austin Mitchell, paints a bleak picture of the results of civil-service reform and privatisation in Britain. (Concert, this evening, 9 p.m.).

The English pianist, Imogen Cooper, can be heard twice in concerts with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra this week — in Auckland tomorrow she plays Mozart’s piano concerto No. 24 in C minor (Concert Programme, 5.45 p.m.); and on Saturday Ravel’s concerto in G (Concert, 8 p.m.).

Tomorrow’s concert opens with the first broadcast of a work by the New Zealand composer, Jenny McLeod, “Three Celebrations for Orchestra.” This

work was commissioned by the N.Z.5.0., with the support of the Composers’ Association of New Zealand. Tomorrow’s play on National (7.30 p.m.), “The Price of Progress,” won first prize in a 8.8. C. competition. Set in Barbados, it has been described as a stylish comedy with more than a hint of satire. The author, Olutoye Walrond, is a journalist from St John, Barbados. This 8.8. C. production features an all-West Indian cast. —John Hickey