KATE WINTER (Soprano)
OWEN BRYNGWYN (Baritone)
THE WIRELESS MILITARY BAND
Conducted by B. WALTON O'DONNELL
ONLY the Overture of Semiramide now survives. It is interesting, however, to recall that the opera itself made something of a success at the King's Theatre, London, in 1824, after being a somewhat discouraging failure on its original production at Venice the year before.
The Overture begins with a vigorous measure where brass and woodwind combine, over a continued roll on the drums, to build up a thrilling climax. Then there comes a more slowly moving section, based on a duet which is sung in the opera by the heroine Semiramis. Empress of Nineveh, and Arsaees, the leader of her armies and, though she does not know it, her son. This slower section is followed by another Allegro, which brings the work to an end with all Rossini's usual brilliance and energy. 3.44 KATE WINTER.
COLERIDGE - TAYLOR'S enthusiasm for the story of Hiawatha is probably the best-known thing about him. He composed, as listeners know, settings for solo voices, choir, and orchestra, of three different parts of Longfellow's poem. This Suite, although inspired by the same subject, is not music taken from these choral works. It was originally devised as a separate ballet, and dates from the year 1912. The five numbers in the Suite are called, respectively :—
1. The Wooing.
2. The Marriage Feast. 3. (a) A Bird Scene.
(b) Conjuror's Dance.
4. The Departure. 5. The Re-union. 1.14 OWEN BRYNGWYN