Pickwick Readings—III
'Mr. Bob Sawyer 's Party'

Conductor, Sir DAN GODFREY
SONIA MOLDAWSKY (Violin)
Relayed from THE PAVILION, BOURNEMOUTH

At THE ORGAN of THE BEAUFORT CINEMA
From WASHWOOD HEATH, BIRMINGHAM

MUSIC FOR Two PIANOFORTES
Played by CARL WEBER and MAUD DIXON

Mr. MICHAEL SADLEIR

Sir DANIEL HALL , K.C.B., F.R.S., Chief Scientifio
Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture

WEATHER FORECAST, SECOND GENERAL
NEWS BULLETIN

A Fairy Tale in Four Acts and Six
Tableaux
Poem by HENRI CAIN (after the Tale of PERRAULT)
English Translation by HENRY GRAFTON CHAPMAN
Acts I and II
The First Minister
The Herald
Six Spirits
Chorus of Servants, Courtiers, Doctors, Ministers, Ladies and Lords
THE WIRELESS CHORUS
The B.B.C. STUDIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conducted by PERCY PITT
Act I: At the Home of Madame de la Haltière
Act II : At Court
As La Cenerentola, Cendrillon, Aschonbrodol, and many other names, Cinderella has been the prima donna of more operas, and in more languages, than it would be easy to count. The story, with its changing scenes and costumes, is, of course, one which lends itself well to operatic treatment, especially on stages where the corps de ballet must be given a good innings. Some seven years before producing this opera on the old fairy tale, Massenet had composed a ballet with the same name: in one act, it was produced at Vienna in 1892. Part of its music is still popular in the form of a suite; it has often been broadcast. The opera, like all Massenet's (a complete success on its appearance at the Opera-Comique in Paris in 1899) is hardly known in this country; listeners owe their introduction to it, as to so many similar works, to Percy Pitt's comprehensive knowledge of the whole realm of opera, and to his long experience of the best way to present it. Massenet's is full of the melodious charm which made him a popular idol in his own day; it is typical of his almost uncanny knack of knowing just what would win the hearts of music-lovers in an age which took its opera somewhat light-heartedly. The libretto by Henri Cain breaks with tradition in its setting; the story is transferred bodily to the period of Louis XIII, with its atmosphere of gaiety and brilliance. Comic interludes are introduced; the love scenes are treated with simple tenderness, and Massenet was given chances, of which no one knew better how to take advantage of writing graceful dance melodies. The most famous piece in the opera is a Gavotte.
(Acts III and I V will be broadcast on the Regional wavelength on Christmas Day from 9.0-10.15 p.m.)

JACK HARRIS 'S BAND, from GROSVENOR
HOUSE, PARK LANE