The Washington times., 1927-12-02
OPERA SCORES
HIT ON AIR

An uproarous cIatter greeted
broadcasts on the newly aIlOcated
wave lengths last evening with
the result that the grand jury Of
dial twisters are hardly able to
arrive at a very definite opinion
of the benefits of the changes
made. In the early evening
rOmp about the continent there
appeared to be considerable inter-
ference in the newly cleared
channels. But there were also
unusually clear brOadcastS from
stations hitherto badly handi-
capped by proximity to other
Enthusiastically in the cases
Of WIS, Chicago, and WOR,
Newark, In the middle evening
static forces seemed to gather
strength and ragged louder and
louder through the night. The
Pacific Coast was heard In the
late hours through terrific
bOmbardn1ent.
From the broadcasts of four OF
the twelve or fourteen stations
hurtling 1t loud speakerward, we'd
acclaim that the second and third
acts of Martha" by the Chicago
Civic Opera Company as sent out
to the multitude from the Audi.
torium in Chicago, hit the top note
Of radio entertainment last evening
mainly through the efforts of Edith
Mason, prima donna extraordinary.
Mason, in the title role of the
opera appeared to. outdo all her
previous concert and operatic efforts
In both range and volume-as well
as quality of vocal equipment dis
played, In close alignment with
her were Antonio Cortis, the tenor
and Virgilio LazZari, basso. This trio
contributed the major part of the
enjoyment of the best broadcast or
opera from the stage of the Audi
torium heard this season.
There were three rather remark
able stage presentations-includias
the opera-broadcas during the
evening and each of them gave the
same general result. One of the
best concerts we've heard by the
New York Philharmonic orchestra
came from WOR and an exceptions
ally good choral program with
Florence Macbeth as soloist, was
presented by WLW from the ia.
nous Orpheus Club of Cincinnati.
Each of these efforts demonstrated
in their several ways that auditor.
ium and radio requirements are
opposites accoustically and that a
triumph for one is necessarily a
flop for the other. The wide open
spaces Of the stage have too many
reverberations for the sensitive
microphone.
SHILKRET SCORES
IN MAXWELL HOUR
Contrasted with the three stage
presentations were the smooth and
very fine orchestral efforts of the
Hoover program from WRC and
the Maxwell activities OF WIZ. In
both these events the orchestra
played directly into the microphone
from a properly arranged studio.
The result was perfect delivery OF
the music to loud speakers with all
Its finest shadings. Nat Shilkret's 8
Maxwell orchestra surpassed all its
previous efforts in its hour at the
microphone with a variety of com.
positions and most easily under.
stood interpretations of all Of them.
The United States Army Band
from WRC in the early evening
gave an excellent account of itself,
particularly with it's playing of
Evolution Of Dixie" Arcade Birk.
enholz. violinist. was the soloist of
the Half Hour with Great Com
poser" also. from WRC-Tschaikow.
sky being the composer. The violin.
ist played a concerto in his usual
fine style. A concerto is composed
with the single purpose of exhibit.
ing the skill Of the musicians playing
it. Tschaikowsky departs somewhat
from conventional form-but the
concerto was yet a concerto. How.
ever interesting exhibitions of skill
may be to musicians and students.
we radio listeners already know
Birkenholz to be a skillful player
and we'd rather he played some.
thing more appealing emotionally.
We believe this echoes the sentiment
of 80 per cent of listeners.