The Wireless Orchestra, conducted by John Ansell; Olive Kavann (Contralto) ;
Spencer Thomas (Tenor)
The poet Lamartine, in his Les Preludes, puts the question 'Is life anything but a series of Preludes to the song that Death begins?' He pictures the bliss of Love and tho tempests of Life that wreck human happiness. The unhappy one takes refuge in quiet retirement, away from his fellow-men, but when the trumpet calls him to action ho flings himself into the fight, finding in battle the full realization of his powers.
Lamartine's poetic ideas appealed to Liszt, and in the Symphonic Poem which we are now going to hear he very graphically depicts the scenes described.

For Daudot's play of Provencal life, The Maid of Aries, Bizet contributed a large amount of very attractive music. This was later put together for concert purposes in the form of two Suites, of which we are to hear the first. There are four Movements
(1) Prelude. A stirring, rhythmic, march-like piece, based on an old Provencal folk-tune.
(2) Minuet. A pleasant dance tune.
(3) Love Song. A very short piece for Strings alone. In the play it accompanies the passage where two old lovers meet, after half a century of absence from one another.
(4) Carillons. A simple little three-note bell-tune pervades the piece. There is a short contrasting middle section; otherwise, the three-note tune is heard throughout.