RADIO IN THE HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21910, 20 September 1934, Page 17

RADIO IN THE HOME

"TKISTAN AND ISOLDA" SUNDAY NIGHT'S BROADCAST ATTRACTIONS FROM IYA BY ALL-WAVE A two and a-half hour period on Sunday next is to be devoted to a recorded presentation through IYA of the three acts of Richard Wagner's musical drama, "Tristan and Isolda." The recordings were made at the Bayreuth Theatre during the Wagner festival, the principals including such eminent artists as Nanny Larsen-Tod-sen, Anny Helm, Gustaf Rodin and ltudolf Bocklemann, supported by the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, conducted by Karl Elmendorff. On the following evening IYX is to broadcast the Gilbert and Sullivan "Ruddigore" between 8 and 9 o'clock. At the same time, Madame Margherita Zelanda is scheduled to appear at IYA. A little more care in the arranging of proEammes to avoid such clashes of popur features would be greatly appreciated by music lovers.

The Broadcasting Board has announced that the new transmitter shortly to be installed near Dunedin will be of 10 kilowatts, and that the Christchurch station is to be similarly increased to 10 kilowatts. The power of 2YA, Wellington, will later also be increased.

The broadcast by the Auckland Municipal Band from the studio of IYA last Sunday evening was disappointing, due partly to the inferior acoustical properties of the France Street buildings, as compared with the Town Hall; at least in so far as band concerts are conoerned. Maybe some of the criticism occasionally levelled at the IYA Studio Orchestra originates from this same defect. With abundant knowledge now available on the proper design and construction of broadcasting studios, there should be no room for complaint when the new -studio comes into use. Elaborate precautions to this end are certainly being taken with the Shortland' Street premises, now nearing completion.

The wrestling broadcast relayed from the Town Hall last Monday evening was a short and sharp affair, described in Mr. Gordon Hutter's inimitable style. One doubts very much, however, the necessity for such a superabundance of slang terms. They may add "colour" to the picture, but a complete and attractive description of a bout can be given without them. The recent test cricket broadcasts are evidence in point.

More than a few enthusiasts sat up until the small hours of Sunday morning in the vain hope of hearing from one of the Australian stations the result of the first of the series of races for the America's Cup, only to be regaled with endless election results. The successes of the British contender have heightened interest in the contest, but IYA has stated definitely that it will not be broadcasting the race by race results. A description of each race is being broadcast over the American national chain and over two of the short-wave stations, but so far as can be determined no one in Auckland has been successful in receiving the shortwave broadcast, which is, it is understood, put on the air through WBXAL.

The programme arrangements of Saturday, September 29, afford listeners an opportunity of holding private dances. At 9.2 p.m. 2YA will commence an hour's old-time dance music and IYA will follow at 10.10 with an hour of modern dance music. Alternatively, listeners can go over to 2BL at 9.30, or at the conclusion of the session of IYA, and thus continue receiving dance music until midnight. Listeners have, of course, to take some risk about static interference.

"Cavalleria Rusticana," Mascagni's grand opera, sung in English, is to be presented by IYA a week hence. Selected excerpts only are to be heard for a 40-minute period. At 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday next, 3LO, Melbourne, is to devote a 90-minute period to "Chu Chin Chow," a studio presentation with principals, orchestra and chorus under the direction of W. G. James.

The International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation and the Radio Corporation of America, the two major communication companies operating in the United States, have each embarked on separate inter-city commensal radio telephone and telegraph services. The ventures are quite independent. The Radio Corporation uses multiplex transmitters enabling three different messages to be sent at the same time on the one wave-length. As each channel has a telegraph capacity of 60 words a minute each transmitter can handle 180 words a minute. Radio telegraph messages are put through from originating to receiving offices in the one step, without the delays consequent upon relaying and securing connections that have ever been the bugbear of the older form of line telegraph.

By touching a small button at Washington, President Roosevelt set in operation, a thousand miles inland, the mammoth WLW transmitter. It is interesting to note that the total cost of this 500,000-watt transmitter, including the cost of ground, the large buildings, the transmitter itself and all subsidiary apparatus, was less than 500,000 dollars, equivalent to about £IOO,OOO at par. After the plant had been operating for a short time all fears that its tremendous power output would blanket all other transmissions for miles around the station were proved to have been groundless. Apparently, therefore, if selective receivers are employed in Auckland there will be no trouble with the new IYA.

Developed specially as a boon to the blind, and adapted only for use with radio receivers or electric phonographs, there are now available records which will play continuously for three hours. Some of these records are of concert programmes, but in the main they consist of recordings made of books, thus enabling a good many persons to hear a storv at the one time. It is intended that these recorded books shall supplement the volumes in Braille. Complete libraries are in course of preparation. IYA ITEMS FOR THE WEEK To-day: 8 p.m., recordings; 8.4, mystery play, " The Shadow of the Pyramid," by the Maisid Carte Lloyd Players; 8.35 to 8 50, recordings; 8.53, recorded play, " All's Well," followed by sundry records; 10.30, dance session. To-morrow: 4.30, Matriculation lecture, "History;" 8 p.m.. "Princess Ida"; 9.2, .Phoebe Claik, talk, "Three Actresses of Three Centuries "; 9.20, ballad programme; 9.23, K. M. Fountain (baritone), followed by records; 9.43, Olive Groves (soprano); 9.53, Albert Sandler's Orchestra; 10.30, donee music Saturday: Relay Rugby from Eden Park: 8 p.m.. Studio Orchestra. "London Scottish" and "Dreaming," followed by recordings, 8.17 Comedy Harmonists in " Marie Marie "; 8.20, Studio Orchestra, " Enchantment" and Widor's " Serenade ": 8.28, "Yachting Hints." Japanese Houseboy and Employer; 8.45, Sylvia Cecil (soprano), "It is only a Tiny Garden": 8 48. Studio Orchestra, " Selection of Stephen Adams Songs " • 9.2, reserved; 9.20. Studio Orohestra, ' Over the Air" and "Salome"; 9.34, I. Moreton and D. Kaye. " Nola-Polly " piano duet; 9.40 Studio Orchestra, "Dervish Chorus" and 10, sports summary; 10.10, dance musio. Sunday: 11 a.m.. Relay of morning service. St Luke's Presbyterian Church; 7 p.m., relay evensong, Bereeford Street Congregational Chnrch; 8.30. recorded version of Wagner's " Tristan and Isolda" in three acts. Close down at 11 p.m. Monday: 4.30. Matriculation lecture, " English "; 8 p.m. (also to IZH), Philharmonic Orchestra; 8.9. Margherita Zelanda' (coloratura soprano), "L'Ora, O Tirsi": 8.21, Jascha Heifetz: 8.29. Erk's Male Chorus in Schubert immbers; 8.41, Margherita Zelanda, ' BallataNel Lasciar La Normandia " (Meyerbeer); 8.58, London Symphony Orchestra; 10 30. dance music. Tuesday: 7.40 Melbourne Centenary speeches; 8 p.m. (also to IZH), proframrae of recordings; 9.42, reserved; 10, ance mnsio.