Directed by ERNEST LEGGETT
RITA MACKAY (soprano)
Ernest Leggett studied the violin at the Royal College of Music. For three years he was a member of the Queen's Hall Orchestra and then signed a contract for five years to play in Sir Thomas Beecham 's Orchestra at Covent Garden. From 1918 for several years Mr. Leggett acted as leader and sub-conductor at various theatres devoted to musical comedy. In 1929 he was appointed musical director at Streatham Hill Theatre.
About four years ago he hit upon the idea to form a gypsy bartd, the outcome of which was the London
Zigeuner Orchestra. It took him a year to arrange a special repertoire of music in the gypsy idiom, to form the band, rehearse, and finally get ready for public appearance.
Every member of this celebrated orchestra is a first-rate orchestral player, and every one is British. Yet under Ernest Leggett 's direction they have assimilated the gypsy style of playing so perfectly that no one can tell them from a gypsy band. They have been broadcasting regularly since March,
1932.