by FRIDA LEIDER the Distinguished Operatic Soprano
PART I
THE WIRELESS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conducted by the COMPOSER ORCHESTRA
Fantastic Scherzo
Suito from the Ballet ' Petroushka '
(For Cast see centre column)
The background of the story is this:
King Laius, the husband of Jocasta, and father of Oedipus, was told by an oracle that his death would be brought about by his own son. When Oedipus was born, therefore, Laius sent him away to be got rid of; but the child was taken by a shepherd to Polybus, King of Corinth, who brought him up as his own son. Oedipus, ignorant of his parentage, has been told by an oracle that he will slay his father and marry his mother. Already part of the prophecy has come true, for he has met his father and, all unknowing, killed him in a quarrel. He goes to Thebes, and is given the kingdom by Creon (Bass-Baritone), brother of Jocasta, who, unknown to Oedipus, is his mother. Her he marries.
Act 1. 1
At the beginning of the Opera the people beg Oedipus to free the city from pestilence. He promises to do so, and consults Tiresias (Bass), the blind soothsayer. This oracle tells him that the murderer of Jocasta's late husband, King Laius, is himself a king. The city, he says, can only be freed from the plague if the murderer be banished. The Act ends with a chorus of the people, who acclaim Jocasta.
Act II.
This opens with a repetition of the chorus that ended Act I. Jocasta (Mezzo-Soprano) does not believe in oracles, for did not one predict that her husband Laius would be slain by her son, and was not the king killed by robbers, far from Thebes ?Oedipus with horror begins to realise the horrible truth of his position and relationship.
A Messenger (Bass-Baritone) comes telling of the death of Polybus, King of Corinth, Oedipus' adopted father, and saying that Oedipus was not really Polybus' son. A Shepherd (Tenor), who accompanies him, brings out the truth - that Oedipus is the son of Laius and Jocasta.
Soon the Messenger re-enters to tell how Jocasta, on hearing the dread news, hanged herself, and Oedipus put out his eyes. The Chorus closes the work with a sad song of farewell.
THE present generation is very far in spirit from the Augustan Age with its classical felicities, though indeed there are signs of a reaction towards it. In any event, there can bo no two opinions about the claim to a place among the great English poets of Dryden and Pope, whoso works will form the greater part of this afternoon's reading. Amongst the poetry included in it will bo Dryden's ' Song for St. Cecilia's Day,' Pope's ' The Dying Christian to His Soul,' and extracts from ' Absalom and Achitophel ' and the ' Essay on Criticism.' They will be read by Miss Edith Evans , the actress who has excelled most notably in speaking the lines of those Restoration and eighteenth-century dramatists who were the contemporaries oi Dryden and Pope.
Order of Service :
Hymn, 'Jesus lives ' (E.H., 134) Confession and thanksgiving Psalm No. 122
Lesson
Jubilate-Psalm No. 100
Prayers
Hymn, ' He who would valiant be ' (E. H., 402)
Address by the Rev. PAT MCCORMAC
Hymn, ' Lead us, Heavenly Father ' (E.H., 504)
Blessing
Appeal on behalf of the National Association of Boys' Clubs by Mr. J. HERON-ECCLES , J.P., Chairman of the National Association of Boys' Clubs, and of the Liverpool Boys' Association.
S.B. from Liverpool
TN the squalid and unhealthy surroundings of our big cities, in which so many boys of the 'working classes' are now compelled to grow up, the boys' club can be a centre not merely of comfort and recreation, but of enlightenment and education in the fuller sense. The, National Association of Boys' Clubs exists to establish and develop clubs throughout the country, to provide them with a means of co-operation, act as their agent towards outside bodies, and generally extend and aid their work. More than .500 clubs are affiliated to it, either through local federations, or direct.
Contributions should be sent to [address removed]
MEGAN FOSTER (Soprano); JOHN THORN
(Baritone)
'The Rindly Fruits of the Earth'
S.B. from Cardiff
