The Washington times., 1927-06-07
MUSIC
SHOW SCORES

Very little fIOtsam and jetsam
disturbed the clarity Of the wave
lengths last evening In the way
of static noise bObbing in and
out Of the program. Interior
ence between stations caused
eddies in the streams of melody
and enlightenment and programs
faded out as though some blanket
ing cloud shout off light-but on
the whole reception of programs
was good from most sections.
The fading affected all sections
and the regular faders were Just
a bit more pronounced than usual.
Several things happened on the
wave lengths last evening that had
much to- commend them-not alone
In themselves, but in a larger way,
for the suggestion they had for
future development of entertain
ment. Not the least important of
these was the presentation by Roxy
and his crew OF the delightful vet
eran of musical comedy, The
Geisha'' during the latter part OF the
studio program. This very satisfy
ing bit Of entertainment came into
being at a period when light opera
was merging into musical comedy
and bears a very close relation to
both--with just bit more leaning
toward light opera than what we
know today as musical comedy.
During that time there was sue
cession of unusually interesting and
satisfying entertainments concocted
with music and served as musical
comedy. It is to this period that
THE Runaway Girl" 1.-THE Circus
Girl" 1.-THE Belle of New York, .
"Floradora," ETC., belong. In that
long list of successes that captured
the fancy Of audiences on both sides
of the Atlantic radio impressarios
with resources ct their command
like Roxy, Major Edward Bowes, and
the National Broadcasting Company
should find mine of broadcasting
material.
The presentation of "The Geisha"
by Roxy's forces last evening was
most enjoyable in all but one re-
spect Someone should have briefly
sketched the story of the show,
either before or during the action.
time limitation of presentation made
necessary, the story perhaps should
have come before the presentation.
PARTS OF OPERA
THAT WERE MISSED
Again in the very excellent per-
Torrance of "Cavaleria Rusticana"
under Cesare Sodero's direction
there was suggestion for an i'm
provement. We believe none Of the
things that were done could be pre-
scented by radio in a more satisfy
ing way, for Sodero Is a genius at
selecting the right people to do the
right things at the right time.
Thus Frances Sebel made an ideal
radio "Santuzza" and Benedetto
never sang better than he did the
role of "Turido' last night.
But there were two very beautiful
things missing from the opera as
Sodero gives 1.-THE ''Orange Bios
som" chorus. I think it is called,
at the beginning of the opera. and
the gorgeously colored Easter
hymn. There are few choral num-
bers in opera finer than the latter,
yet Sodero never presents it.
Perhaps this is due to the need
for a larger chorus than radio can
sustain very well. And also to the
necessity for cutting down the
music. If the latter is the case, it
would seem to us some of the cr-
chestral f1ourishes could be deleted,
fine as they are and necessary as
they are to the sustaining OF the
operas idea, and at least the Easter
hymn inserted.
Another thing that would make
these opera presentations more en-
joyable to people who are not
thoroughly familiar with the ideas
expressed by them-and there are
tens of thousands Of such listening
to radio presentations-it would
seem to us better to have the
story told as the music unfolds it
as it is done by the WGN, Chi
cago, company. In this way each
bit of action is thoroughly under
stood, as the music for it comes
Immediately after the explanation.
Elsewhere the programs were
most enjoyable where lack of in
reference made it possible to tune
them clearly. The WIZ light
opera period, now called TN the
Spotlight" or something of that
sort, brought Erva Giles, soprano,
in a new group Of songs from old
and well beloved musical shows OF
yesteryears. George Olsen and
Norman Brokenshire made quite a
team of it, at WPG and recalled
the days when they were together
in WIZ presentations of the Olsen