VERA KASTELIAN (Soprano)
THE GRINKE Trio: Frederick Grinke (Violin); Florence Hooton (Violoncello); Dorothy Manley (Pianoforte)
(Daventry National Programme)
By MAURICE COLE
CZECH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Conducted by F. STUPKA
Relayed from THE SALLE SMETANA, PRAGUE
Scenes from Verdi, Humperdinck and Flotow
Produced by Gordon McConnell
Programme:
In Act I, Rigoletto, the humpbacked, sardonic jester, aids and abets his unscrupulous master, the Duke of Mantua, in amatory escapades, one of which has involved Count Monteione's daughter. Subsequently, the curse of Monterone fills the superstitious jester with fears for the safety of his own child, Gilda, hitherto well guarded from the Duke's attentions. Three of Rigoletto's many enemies, Count Ceprano, Marullo, and Borsa, wreak vengeance. Blindfold, under the impression that he is helping to abduct the Countess Ceprono, Rigoletto participates in the kidnapping of his own beloved daughter.
A familiar story-two hungry children sent by the mother to gather berries in a haunted forest, where a wicked old witch lives in a sugar-candy house. In the first scene of Act I, the children are heard making the best of their poverty-stricken existence.
Lady Harriet Durham, weary of court life and her persistent suitor, Sir Tristan, goes with her maid, Nancy, to Richmond Fair, both disguised as peasant girls. Put up for auction by the Sheriff, they are bound for a year to the highest bidders, Lionel and Plunkett. In Act I, despite Sir Tristan's attempts to cut short the escapade, Lady Harriet (alias Martha) and Nancy (alias Julia) are driven away in the farmer's wagon to fulfil their contract.
Cast:
Garda Hall (Soprano)
Betsy de la Porte (Contralto)
Jan Van Der Gucht (Tenor) Stuart Robertson (Baritone)
Franklyn Kelsey (Bass) Mary Hamlin (Soprano)
Gladys Winmill (Contralto)
Doris Owens (Contralto)
Rosalind Rowsell (Soprano)
Stanley Riley (Bass)
Bradbridge White (Tenor)
Victor Utting (Bass)
Narrator, Ivan Samson
The Wireless Chorus
(Section B)
(Chorus-Master, Cyril Dalmaine)
B.B.C. Orchestra
(Section B)
(Led by Marie Wilson)
Conductor, Stanford Robinson
directed by HENRY HALL
