MUSIC LOVERS’ DIARY

Evening Star, Issue 26103, 17 May 1947, Page 5

MUSIC LOVERS’ DIARY

fIUALITY OF RADIO PROGRAMMES “MIXTURES" ARE PROMINENT A year or two back it was customary for Dunedin enthusiasts for good music to believe that the radio programmes broadcast from Christchurch and other northern stations were infinitely superior to the local variety.' As a result of persistent representations, however, Dunedin programmes improved immeasurably and, on paper, they seem to be more interesting than those elsewhere, particularly from 3YA, where some deterioration seems to have occurred. '

Until recently it was possible to rely on good programmes from 3YA on Wednesday and Friday evenings, but latterly these programmes have gone back to the old “ hotch-potch ’’ which gives no satisfaction to a discriminating listener. Next Wednesday, for instance, there will be an uninspiring mixture with almost' no orchestral music of any quality, and Friday’* schedule is no better, Fortunately, the Dunedin programmes are now fairly well stabilised, and are of a reasonably-good , standard. The Wednesday orchestral programme from 4YO is usually attractive, and the Thursday programme from 4YA is generally well arranged. The general routine is interrupted, to some extent for YA programmes by the number of < of touring singers and instrumentalists, and while the “ flesh-and-blood ” artists are , often to be. preferred to recordings, it must be aamitted that few of them present items that justify inclusion with other superior music .it a broadcast programme. Some years ago, as'a, result of persistent- complaints, the Broadcasting Service Receded to requests that the programmes from 4YO on Tuesday nights devoted to sonatas and chamber music should not be broken up by odd groups of songs and instrumental solos. The programmes have not latterly been very inspired, usually being confined to about six of the most severely classical composers, but it is to be hoped that there will not be any retrogression by a return to “ the mixture as before.”BEETHOVEN VIOLIN SONATAS. A rare opportunity is to be afforded Dunedin music lovers to hear the comlete cycle of Beethoven violin sonata* performed in the city by Dili Kraus and the Hungarian violinist, Robert Pikler, A broadcast will be given from 4YA to-morrow evening of the seventh of the series. The Beethoven violin sonatas have never been in eclipse. The ‘ Kreutzer ’ has usually been the most popular, and there is muchaffection for the ‘ Spring,’ but they are not necessarily the best and all are worthy of close attention. The performance of the complete cycle by such eminent artists should he an exhilarating experience. It is the sort of thing that can usually be had only in the big capitals of the world, and then only rarely, so Dunedin music lovers, should grasp their good fortune and attend all of the three recitals if possible. The violin sonatas show the big mind of Beethoven at work in his finest vein. Lili Kraus has established herself in Dunedin as one of the outstanding pianists of the day. Robert Pikler was born in Budapest in 1909, and is a graduated student of the Royal Academy of Music of his native town. On graduating from the academy, he formed a chamber orchestra, with which lie "visited Austria,’ Germany, and Italy, and in ‘1934 took his chamber music players to India. He then went to Java, and played frequently for N.1.R.0.M., the broadcasting organisation there, as, a recitalist, as a concert soloist, and in sonata recitals with Madame Kraus. He also conducted the N.1.R.0.M. Orchestra when Madame Dili Kraus played concertos of Mozart, Beethoven, and Weber with this orchestra. At the Japanese invasion, Robert Pikler was arrested by the Japanese secret police (the “ Kempe Tai ’’) and imprisoned in their investigation cells for four months before being sent to an internment camp. Shortly after the war, Robert Pikler went .to Singapore and joined Ensa to entertain the troops.' From Singapore he went to Australia, and after his arrival joined the Musica Viva Chamber Music Society as leader. The following items from the coming week’s radio programmes are of interest:— To-night.—4YO, 9.1 Mozart piano concerto followed by mixed programme, including at 10.0 Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 in C Major. 4YZ, 9.30 Bliss’s Clarinet Quintet. To-morrow. 4YA, 2.30 Mozart’s ‘ Prague ’ Symphony. 3YA, 3.0 Haydn ‘Cello’ Concerto. 4YZ, 3.0 Rawsthorne’s Piano Concerto. 4YA, 8.0 Beethoven’s Seventh Violin Sonata; 9.22, ‘ Samson and Dfelilah,’ . Monday.—4YA, 7.30 mixed classical programme, including items by Cecilia Choir. 3YA, 8.34 Schumann’s ‘Carnaval.’ Tuesday.—4YO, 8.0 sonatas; 9.1 chamber ; music. Wednesday. 4YO, 8.0, Russian music. . , Thursday.—4YA, 7.30 mixed classical programme; 9.30 Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto. Friday.—4YO, 8.0 modern British composers.