Radio Digest (Mar 1928-Oct 1929)

RADIO DIGES T — Illustrated 63 Opera Popularized in Air Programs Various Forms of the Ultra Classic Now Accepted by Many Listeners With New Appreciation OPERA. The name opera comes from the Italian and indicates generally, a musical work. The art form of opera or "Music-drama" is of ancient origin, having reached a stage of great perfection under' the Greeks, but it probably had an even earlier origin. Opera has several distinct developments, grand opera; simple opera (in which everything is sung), and opera comique (a comic opera with spoken dialogue). An operetta, a light form of opera is generally of short duration with the song and dialogue alternated. For a while opera was one of the early attractions of Radio broadcasting. Then it was withdrawn by the producers. But now we are not only hearing the old established opera companies but many of the leading broadcastingcompanies have organized their own opera groups. All of the forms of opera indicated above have been produced for the listener in his home and the community center where loud speakers bring the programs of the air. Following are short sketches of some of the better known productions heard by Radio audiences. AFRICANA (The African). Opera in five acts. Music by Meyerbeer; text by Scribe. Produced in Paris, 1865; London, 1865; New York, 1865. Story: Vasco di Gama, an explorer, is bethrothed to Inez, daughter of the King of Portugal. The king wishes his daughter to marry Don Pedro and later to gain his end, the king orders Vasco to prison. To save Vasco, Inez marries Don Pedro and they sail away to find a new land. Vasco follows, but through the treachery of Nelusko, his ship is wrecked and most of the crew massacred by Selika's people, the 'Queen of India. Selika, however, saves Vasco's life and they are to wed when. Vasco hears the voice of Inez. Selika then generously allows the lovers to escape regardless of her own sentiments, then kills herself by inhaling the fumes of the blossoms of the poisonous Mancanillo tree. AIDA. Opera in four acts and seven scenes. Music by Verdi; text by Ghislanzoni. First produced in Cairo, Egypt, 1871; Paris, 1876; London, 1876; New York, 1873. Story. Aida, daughter of the King Amonasro of Ethiopa is being held captive by the Egyptians at Memphis. She and Radames, a young Egyptian soldier, are in love with each other. Radames departs to lead the Egyptian army against the Ethiopians, and Amneris, daughter of the King of Egypt, who is in love with Radames, learning of the attachments of the young lovers, becomes furious. The victorious Radames returns in a blaze of glory, with many Ethiopian prisoners, including AiSa's father, Amonasro, who is released by the king at the request, of the young captain. As a reward for his victory, the king offers Amneris, his daughter, in marriage to Radames. In the next, the Nile scene, Aida is forced by her father to persuade Radames to turn traitor. Because of his love for Aida, and his unwillingness to go through with the marriage with Amneris, Radames agrees to the plot, but is overheard by Amneris. When the young soldier, true to his love, refuses to forsake Aida, he is denounced as a traitor by Amneris, and condemned to be buried alive in a vault. When he is entombed, he finds concealed there, Aida, who has come to die with him. Here they die in each others arms, while above them the penitent Princess kneels in prayer. ANDREA CHENIER. Opera in four parts. Music by Umberto Giordano; libretto by Luigi Mica. Presented in Milan, 1896. Story: Gerard, a servant and revolutionist, is secretly in love with Madeline, who loves Andrea Chenier. Through a letter Madeline and Andrea Chenier arrange a meeting. Gerard interposes just as they are about to flee; Chenier and Gerard duel with swords and Gerard is wounded. The lovers flee but are captured later. Gerard, knowing that Chenier has been captured, writes an indictment against him, despite the pleadings of Madeline. Later Gerard declares that he will save his rival, as Madeline has promised herself to him (Gerard). Gerard then tells the crowd that the charges against Chenier are false, but the mob demands the poet's death. Madeline enters Chenier's cell in the prison of Lazare with Gerard. She has bribed the jailer to allow her to substitute herself for another woman prisoner so that she, may die with her lover, Chenier. Together she and Chenier go to the scaffold and to immortality as true lovers. BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (The Barber of Seville). Comic opera in two acts. Music by Rossini; text by Sterbini. First presented in Rome in 1816. Story : Count Almaviva loves Rosina, the ward of Dr. Bartolo, an old bachelor, who secretly wishes to marry her himself. Almaviva persuades the village barber, Figari, to arrange a meeting for him. and gains entrance to the house disguised as a dragoon, but is arrested by the guardian. Not discouraged, he returns, pretending to be a substitute for Rosina's music teacher, who, he says, is ill. The appearance of the real music teacher, Don Basilio, spoils this plan, and the count retreats for the second time, having, however, arranged a plan for elopement. Bartolo finally arouses Rosina's jealousy by pretending that the count loves another, and she promises to forget him and marry her guardian. When the time for the elopment arrives she meets the count, intending to reproach him, but he convinces her of the base plot of Bartolo, and the lovers are wedded by a notary, just as Bartolo arrives with the officers to arrest the count. The opera, by many, is considered Rosini's masterpiece. THE BARTERED BRIDE. Comic opera in three acts. Music by Friedrich Smetana; text by Sabina. First performed in Prague, May 30, 1866. Story: Hans, a servant in the household of Kruschina, has won the love of that rich peasant's daughter, Marie, who is planned, at the instance of a marriage broker, Krezal, to be married by her father to the rich but half-witted Wenzel. Wenzel is the son of Kruschina's friend, Micha. Kezal, the marriage broker, offers Hans 300 crowns to renounce Marie. He agrees if the contract shall contain the words "Marie shall marry only a son of Micha." Marie refuses to believe that Hans has sold his love, but upon meeting him, he seems quite joyous over the affair. Micha and his wife arrive in time to recognize in Hans their long-lost eldest son. The contract remains valid and the marriage broker is out 300 crowns. LA BOHEME. An opera in four acts. Music by Giacomo Puccini; text by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Mica. Story: Deals with the life and love in the students' quarters in 1830. The happiness, joys and sorrows of the four inseparable companions, Rudolph, the poet; Marcel, the painter; Colline, the philosopher and Schaunard, the musician, are all vividly shown. They live together in a small garret of the quartier Latin, in a happygo-lucky and carefree manner that is typical of Bohemians. Rudolph makes the acquaintance of Mimi, a little flower girl; Marcel meets the gay Musetta, who plays at love with him. Alternate quarrels and reconciliations fill the lives of these lovers, but the final separation comes with the sad death of Mimi, at the close of the opera. THE BOHEMIAN GIRL. A romantic light opera in three acts. Music by Michael William Balfe. First produced at Drury Lane London, 1843. Story: Arline, the daughter of the Count Arnheim, has been kidnaped by the great gypsy chief, Devilshoof, and is forced to live with them. Arline, however, falls deeply in love with Thaddeus, who is a young nobleman that has been banished from his own country, and who has joined the gypsy band. Arline has angered the gypsy queen and during a moment of rage, the queen accuses Arline of stealing. Arline is then taken before Count Arnheim who discovers that she is his daughter by a scar on her arm. Arline is restored to her home and position, but, however, continues meeting her lover, Thaddeus, secretly. In a short time Arnheim is informed of the secret courtship by the jealous gypsy queen. At first Count Arnheim is furious, but the pleadings of his daughter and the knowledge that Thaddeus is of noble birth, causes him to give them his blessing. CARMEN. Opera in four acts. Music by Bizet. Founded on Merimee's novel. Text by Meilhac and Haevy. The story of Carmen is tragic. Don Jose, a brigadier, is bethrothed to the peasant girl, Micaela. He is instructed to arrest Carmen, a reckless and beautiful girl who works in a cigarette factory nearby. She had stabbed a fellow worker. In fulfilling his duty, Jose is fascinated by the alluring Carmen, and allows her to escape. For this he . is thrown into jail. He later follows her. to the Pastia Inn, where he finds her accepting the attentions of Escamillo, a torreador, and Zuniga, his captain. Unable to forget Carmen, Jose joins the band with the hopes of winning her, but Carmen soon tires of his attentions and repulses him in favor of Escamillo, the torreador. In a fit of anger, Jose attempts to kill Carmen, but is intercepted by the arrival of his former sweetheart, Micaela, who has a summons from his dying mother. He goes but swears vengeance. In the last scene Carmen is waiting outside the bull ring for the triumphant Escamillo. She is found there by Jose, who, in a fit of crazed jealousy, kills her. CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA. An opera in one act. Music by Muscagni. Plot adopted from Verga's short story. First shown in Rome, 1890. The scene is in a Sicilian village square. Story: Turiddu, is in love with Lola, but returning from the army finds her married to Alfio, the carter. Turiddu then turns to the beautiful peasant girl, Santuzza, to whom he makes ardent love. He soon tires of her, however, and returns to Lola, who accepts his attentions. Santuzza, in despair, appeals to Turiddu's mother, Lucia, who attempts to help her. Santuzza is scorned, however, and goes to Alfio revealing to him the faithlessness of his wife. Alfio then challenges Turiddu to a duel. Turiddu bids his mother farewell, asking her to take care of Santuzza, whom he regrets having wronged. The duelists go to the field, and soon peasants rush upon the stage, telling of the death of Turiddu. CHIMES OF NORMANDY. A comic opera in three acts. Music by Robert Planquette; text by Clairville and Gabet. First produced in Paris, 1877. Story: Henri, Marquis de Valleroi, is romantic and adventurous. During his absence from home strange things happen. Gaspard, the warden of the estate, has turned miser, and has planned that Germaine, his supposed niece, shall wed the sheriff and ward off detection. Germaine, however, loves Grenicheux, whom she thinks saved her from drowning. Grenicheux seeks her hand, also the supposed wealth she will inherit from her miser uncle. He jilts Serpolette, a girl of unknown parentage, found as a baby in the fields by Gaspard. Villagers, at a fair, try to tease Serpolette, but fail. She claims she is a nobleman's daughter and cares nothing for Grenicheux. Henri returns in Mexican costume, and is not recognized. It is believed that Corneville castle is "haunted" for chimes ring out mysteriously. Henri decides to investigate. Germaine and Serpolette, with Grenicheux, enter his service, and he reveals his rank. They discover, after blood curdling experiences, that Gaspard is using the castle as a treasure house and ringing the chimes to keep away the curious minded. Gaspard finally reveals that Germaine is the true Marchioness. Henri and Germaine marry, and Grenicheux and Serpolette. The chimes ring out for a double wedding. CLEOPATRA. Opera in four acts. Music by Jules Massenet; text by Louis Payeu. First produced at Monte Carlo, 1914. Story: Marc Antony, encamped in Asia Minor, receives pledges of fidelity from his de