STAGE REVOLUTIONISED

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1933, Page 9

STAGE REVOLUTIONISED

MODERN LIGHTING EFFECTS OPERA RETURNING TQ FAVOUR. “FAUST” STILL. BIGGEST DRAW. “Though there is no doubt that the cinema has had a very detrimental effect upon the stage, especially the opera and the musical comedy, I am convinced that its influence ha? been for the good, and that though the cinema will continue in its present strength, the stage will come back to its own in a much improved style," said Mr. John Brownlee, the English baritone, in the course of an interview in New Plymouth last night.-

"In fact it is already beginning to do so,” continued Mr. Brownlee. *!The Govmans are a long way ahead of the rest of the world in this respect They have perfected and are using foe revolving stage with wonderful success. The back ground is a semi-circular pale blue serpen, and there is no such thing as lowering and raising scenery from above. Ry a marvellous system of side and ovesrhead lighting, they cap produce, the most remarkable effects on the screen background. . Sunset? and sunrises iP all their glory and colour, mqqpligfat, cloud effect?, the gathering of big storms and the clearing pf fog sky afterward? are portrayed in foe most astopighing and realistic manper. Cube?, pillars and ptfa-Y stage fitting? are used in the most ingenious manper with foe gid of these lights to firing about telling effgpt?, “Last yegr,” continued M r - SrQWnlee, “I wa? performing af Buepq? Ai?gs m foe famous Golpn Opera Hquse, Tfae Stage there ha? been ' fompde]led fay a German expert and is really wonderful. There is a revolving stage,' and the performer? simpjy move from one part to another without any interval, which is really essential tq the ?ucce§? pf gji opera. Thi? theatre js a me§t. magnificent building, and seat? 4000 people, WONDERFUL SCENES. "The results of foese effects is to give to the publip, on the stage, fop elaborate and spectacular scenes which they 'have become accustomed tg with foe. cipema, with of 1 course the added attraction pf foe actpal actors in foe fife, fo fop production pf the return of foe soldiers scene in Faust, at the Opera Hou§e in Paris, there are pq less than 250 taking part and another 150 supernumaries. It presents a really wonderfpl scepe, and the singing of the gpldier?’ Chorus, is most thrilling. Faust is' still easily the most popular opera, and is played' onep every'week at Paris, always to packed houses. The public never seem to fore of it, and it is as popular to-day as ever it was. No wonder, for foere is some wonderful music in this masterpiece ef Gounod’s.” ' • ; On foe subject ef gramophone records, broadcasting and talking 1 picture? Mr. Brownlee had some interesting remarks" to make.: "The methods have ‘improved opt of ajl knowledge during the test five or six years”.he said. !, I can remember foe first occasion pn which I sang for a recording some six years ago. I was given foe most minute instructions as regards the tone of my voices, and was absolutely forbidden to move closer to the microphone than a certain chalk line, Te-day foat has all ghanged. Only last year I had to rtng a s ?hort sung in Australia for a movietone recording, and I was informed that I might stand—well almost anywhere provided I sang seftly. A full opera voice dogs not eojne through a microphone well; foe best is one which the Americans term a “croon" voice, Richard Tauber has an absolutely ideal voice for recordings, but to hear him in the life is really surprising. His foil tone is never at all strong,- anfi is what one would call ‘small.’ .He h ß s already appeared in a talking picture production Which is at present showing ip Augtfolia. ?

Ip' Mr, Brownlee’s opinion foe grand operas were eminently suited for sopnd recordings, especially jf, as was easily possibly, the prpper backgrounds- ftnd settings were obtained and. no attempt was made to screen tfae whole thing op a stage with artificial scenery. The few attempts that have been made have beep anything but impressive for thi? reason. Improvements ip the microphone would of course materially assist, but Mr, Browplee is confident that the?e wifi come m the near future. At present, he stated, a screen version pf Cayafora Rusticana was showing fo foe State? with considerable success. ’ Among the modern composers Mr. Brownlee ha? a very high opinion of Lubitsch, whp is well’ known as foe composer of nearly all tire musical -comedies in which Maurice Chevalier has appeared. He considers that Lubitsfo will eventually produce a real opera.

Mr. Brownlee will‘be’the guest of foe New Plymouth Rotary Club at lunch to-day.