OPERA BY RADIO

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12507, 24 July 1926, Page 14

OPERA BY RADIO

We shall have opera by radio lonjj before we shall see it to any extent “in the flesh,” judging by the progross that is being made abroad. In England and Europe opera by radio can be heard almost any night, provided radio sets are tuned to pick up the Continental stations. Given a set of * this character, and capable of doing full justice to the lowest, as well as the highest, musical range, the radia- ' list in England, sitting in his armchair, can make a tour of all the famous opera houses in Europe, including La b'cala and Vienna, Think of , the famous artists and the mngnificent ; orchestras, all for the turning of a button ! The radiotist who is an opera-goer has little difficulty in visualising the , whole scene; others find an advantage in reading up on the subject. There i are an abundance of readable books, 1 giving the stories of the opera; some ; give thematic details and historical I notes. Those who can read a vocal Bcore could hardly do better than follow this while the music was coming j over tho air. | It is only a matter of a few years ] at tho most when Australia will he able to pick tip the opera in Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Jlilan, and Madrid. Meanwhile, radiolist3 are finding much satisfaction in the Gilbert and Sulli- , van selections that Farmer’s are now I broadcasting. 1 Fibre needles are invaluable for use on ' a machine having had needle-track alignment nr a raucous tone, but under j correct needle truck alignment condiI tions a fine steel needle is easily the j best. i “lOLANTHE” 1 There is a beautiful myth which explains tho visibleness of a certain star in a constellation, because one of the seven sisters was banished from tho aboN\s of bliss because of marriage with a mortal. Gilbert took this myth as the background of his “lolunthc.” which is coming to New Zealand. Gilbert took , for his mortal no less a person tham the august Lord Chancellor. He even went further and satirised the whole House of Poors, besieged it. with fairies, and thorou.vlij.y reformed it in fhe most daring end amusing way. To this story Sullivan added musical beauties that show him in many of his most tuneful moments. Executing lolanthe's appeal to the Chancellor In the closing stages, there is not a sombre note in the whole opera. Tt. is something entirely from the land of arendy and fairy, and the prosaicness of a modern House of Lords is banished in the glitter of coronets and the gnudineta of robes.