THE WIRELESS MILITARY BAND, conducted by B. WALTON O'DONNELL
GWLADYS NAISH (Soprano)
GLYN EASTMAN (Bass)
BAND THIS is the Overture to an unpretentious
Operetta, The Return from Abroad, which
Mendelssohn composed to celebrato his parents' silver wedding anniversary. After his death, the Operetta was published under the title Son and Stranger, and by this name tho Overture is generally known. Mendelssohn was not satisfied that one work merely should celebrate the happy occasion. Ho planned to have performed also an earlier little work of his own, and another, written by his sister Fanny, who also was a clever musician. The Return from Abroad was never produced in public during his lifetime, for he felt that this little tokon of his overflowing affection for his parents ought not to be made common property ; besides, it was full of allusions to homely events, the pleasant intimato jokes that circulate and are enjoyed in all good-humoured family circles, but that cannot fully be appreciated by outsiders. The Overture is a quite independent piece, containing no themes from the Operetta. It opens with a slow section, after which comes a swift, sunny Movement, the First Main Tune bounding off in a moment in the cheeriest style. The Second Tune, in contrast, trips lightly along. These two melodies are treated quite simply with all Mendelssohn's native gaiety and charm, and so the Overture runs to its close, bubbling over with happiness.