Relayed from the Queen's Hall, London
Sir Henry J. Woof and his Symphony Orchestra
Rosina Buckman (Soprano)
George Parker (Baritone)
Anthea Bowring, Virginia McLean, Eunice Norton, Hilda Bor (Pianoforte)

Orchestra
First 'Leonora' Overture ..... Beethoven
Second 'Leonora' Overture .....Schubert
Third 'Leonora' Overture.........Schubert

For his solitary Opera, Fidelio, Beethoven wrote four Overtures (or, since a new version of one of them has recently come to light, we ought strictly to say five). Three of these are known by the name of the heroine, Leonora, and only the last is called after the title of the Opera, Fidelio. The three 'Leonoras' are wrongly numbered, for that which was used at the unsuccessful first production of the work in November, 1805, when it only ran for three performances, is always known as 'Leonora No. 2.' Shortened and altered, the Opera was brought out again some months later, with the Overture we know as 'Leonora No. 3' substituted for that used at the first production.
This time the Opera was more successful, but now Beethoven quarrelled with his partner in its production, and insisted on withdrawing it.
The next Overture (our 'Leonora No. 1') was written for a performance that should have taken place in 1807, but did not.
In 1814 both libretto and music were again revised with a fourth Overture-that known as Fidelio, and this time the Opera became a stable success.
To-night we have the rare opportunity of hearing the three Leonora Overtures in succession
Nos '2' and '3' are the most dramatic. Both deal' with -much the same material, using it in differing proportions. In both, note the dramatically interrupting Trumpet-call m the middle of the Overture (generally performed, in the concert-room by a player out of sight behind the Orchestra) - this represents the crucial moment in the play, when the Minister of State appears—just in time to save the hero from execution.

George Parker and Orchestra
Busslied (A Song of Penitence) ...... Beethoven

Anthea Bowring, Virginia McLean, Eunice Norton, Hilda Bor, with Orchestra
Concerto for Four Pianofortes and Strings .. Bach

Besides writing an enormous amount of music of his own invention, Bach occasionally arranged other composers' works, This
Concerto is an example of his skill in that direction It was originally a Concerto for four Violins by Vivaldi, the great eighteenth-century virtuoso on that instrument.

Rosina Buckman
Leonora's Air. 'Abscheulieher!' (Abominable one! from 'Fidelio') Beethoven

Orchestra
Eighth Symphony ................ Beethoven