from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
(For cast and full particulars see foot of page)
The opening night of the International Season of Opera at Covent Garden is one of the most important social and artistic events of the season. No opera could be more suitable to open with than Wagner's brilliant and 'ever popular comedy music drama The Mastersingers. It is also a notable occasion from a broadcasting point of view, for The Mastersingers is to be heard in its entirety over the microphone : Acts I and III on Regional at 6.35 and 9.45 respectively, and Act II as timed above. The story of The Mastersingers is given on page 11 in a special article by Ernest Newman.