Listings
: Weather Forecast
for Farmers and Shipping: THE WHITBY MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA
Conducted by FRANK GomezRelayed from The Spa, Whitby
Rossini was only twenty-one when his opera-buffa, L'Italiana in Algeri, appeared in Venice. But his position as one of the most popular composers of the day was already established, by the charm of his own personality almost as much as by his genius for music, and in the previous year, 1812, he had produced no fewer than six operas. It was in one of these that he first made notable use of a device which was afterwards recognised as peculiarly his own, although he could make no claim to its invention—a long crescendo, rising gradually from quite soft tone to the fullest volume of sound which could be drawn from the orchestra of that simpler age. He made use of it so frequently that for years he was known to a very wide circle of admirers as ' Signor Crescendo '.
Except for the recent Covent Garden revival, L'Italiana in Algeri has long ago gone from the repertoire, but the Overture is still a popular item in concert programmes. It is, indeed, a characteristic example of Rossini's wonderful gift for sparkling melody, and his favourite device of the crescendo is used very effectively.
Contributors
: ARTHUR SALISBURY AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Relayed from The Savoy Hotel: THE B B C NORTHERN IRELAND ORCHESTRA
Leader, Philip WhitewayConductor, E. GODFREY BROWN
The plot of Danse Macabre is of the simplest. The scene is a graveyard at night ; the clock strikes and Death appears, knocks on the graves, and starts tuning his fiddle. In answer to his summons, several skeletons appear and dance wildly to Death's fiddling. Presently the cock crows, the dance ceases, and all disappear as day breaks.
Contributors
: THE HUNGARIA GYPSY BAND
Conducted by GEORGE GARAY (Cymbalom solo played by ELEK RACZ)(Violin solo played by GEORGE GARAY)Contributors
: A Ballad Concert
HEBE SIMPSON (soprano)CUTHBERT MATTHEWS (baritone)
Contributors
: The Children's Hour
Pianoforte Solos by CECIL DixoN' Mr. Dock's Garden ' (No. 4) (
Barbara E. Todd ), told by BARBARA THE Zoo MAN
A New Competition
Contributors
: Time Signal, Greemvich THE FIRST NEWS
including Weather Forecast and Bulletin for Farmers: ENGLAND V. SOUTH AFRICA
A Commentary by Captain H. B. T. WAKELAM on the Second Test MatchRelayed from Lord's Cricket Ground
Contributors
: The BBC Choral Society and The BBC Orchestra
(Section F)Contributors
: THE LESLIE BRIDGEWATER HARP QUINTET
ELEANOR KAUFMAN(mezzo-soprano)
Contributors
About this project
This site contains the BBC listings information which the BBC printed in Radio Times between 1923 and 2009. You can search the site for BBC programmes, people, dates and Radio Times editions.
We hope it helps you find information about that long forgotten BBC programme, research a particular person or browse your own involvement with the BBC.
Through the listings, you will also be able to use the Genome search function to find thousands of radio and TV programmes that are already available to view or listen to on the BBC website.
There are more than 5 million programme listings in Genome. This is a historical record of the planned output and the BBC services of any given time. It should be viewed in this context and with the understanding that it reflects the attitudes and standards of its time - not those of today.
To read scans of the Radio Times magazines from the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s, you can navigate by issue.
Welcome to BBC Genome
Genome is a digitised version of the Radio Times from 1923 to 2009 and is made available for internal research purposes only. You will need to obtain the relevant third party permissions for any use, including use in programmes, online etc.
This internal version of Genome, which includes all the magazine covers, images and articles as well as the programme listings from the Radio Times, is different to the version of BBC Genome that is available externally/to the public. It is only available inside the BBC network.
Your use of this version of Genome is covered by the BBC Acceptable Use of Information Systems Policy and these terms.