Introduced by Eric Maschwitz and 'The First-Nighter'
Written by Gale Pedrick
Chapter 16 - The music of: Emmerich Kalman, Fraser-Simson, Jean Gilbert, Noel Coward, Edward German, Lionel Monckton and Paul Rubens
with Billie Baker, Lucille Graham, Bruce Trent, Dudley Rolph, Jan van der Gucht
BBC Chorus (Chorus-Master, Leslie Woodgate )
BBC Concert Orchestra (Leader, John Sharpe)
Conductor, Gilbert Vinter
Produced by Michael North
Leading ladies have had it very much their own way in past editions of 'Nights of Gladness.' This week we remember two West-End hits in which it was the leading man - Harry Welchman - who won the laurels. The plays are 'The Lady of the Rose,' in which Mr. Welchman, one of our most handsome and accomplished actors, made a great personal success, and 'The Street Singer.' In a single programme we evoke the melodies of Jean Gilbert and Fraser-Simson - 'The Lady of the Rose' and 'The Street Singer' respectively - and also of Kalman's 'Gypsy Princess.' There have been many requests that the 'Nights of Gladness' company should play and sing extracts from German's 'A Princess of Kensington' and from 'A Country Girl' by Lionel Monckton and Paul Rubens). Both shows figure in this week's programme - with a dash of sophistication provided by Noel Coward's 'Words and Music' (G.P.)