Relayed from the Queen's Hall
(Sole Lessee: Messrs. Chappell and Co., Ltd.)
35th Season
MAVIS BENNETT (Soprano)
FREDERICK RANALOW (Baritone)
Angus MORRISON (Pianoforte)
GORDON WALKER (Flute)
J. C. PANTLING (Oboe)
Sir HENRY WOOD and his
Symphony Orchestra
(Leader, CHARLES WOODHOUSE )
(Solo Flute, GORDON WALKER )
(Solo Oboe, J. C. PAKTLING )
THIS, one of the most popular stage pieces with music which the English theatre has ever known, is not an opera in the ordinary sense. The book was made by John Gay , and the music consisted of popular ballads of the time, some seventy of them, which were fitted to the text by Dr.
Pepusch, a leading London musician of his day. The opera had a long and successful run when it first appeared, and has been so often revived since, that only short. periods have elapsed when it was not on the stage somewhere. It has recently had a successful run in a German adaptation in Berlin, and within the past few months has enjoyed the distinction of being banned by the Burgomaster of another German city, as being likely to be injurious to the morals of his towns-people. There is nothing in its broad merriment which might reasonably account for this, and these songs to be sung from it are all thoroughly fresh and wholesome ; it is easy to understand their long-lived popularity.
Frederick Austin , who is responsible for the brilliantly-successful arrangement of the opera known to the present generation, has had an unusually varied career. Making his reputation first as a brilliant baritone singer, he has been an organist, conductor, director of the British National Opera Company, as well as of other important musical undertakings. In the 1920 revival of the Beggar's Opera he himself took the part of Peachum, and was one of the outstanding successes of that wonderful production. Although he did not take one of the parts, his arrangement of the music of Polly was in every way as successful as the Beggar's Opera.
His successes in all those directions have tended rather to overshadow his gifts as a composer, but in that sphere. too, he has done really distinguished work.
