opera and folk songs were broadcast in regular weekly concerts; Chiuchow instrumental music and songs from opera were also regularly broadcast and the masterpieces of Chinese classical instrumental music were broadcast in fortnightly programmes. In 'Songs of the Imperial Gardens' much of the best-known Peking opera repertoire was broad- cast weekly.
35. A weekly series of art songs recitals started in the autumn and carried on through the winter was broadcast on both Chinese and English services and the production of these programmes was notable in that many singers sang duets with themselves by means of a multiple recording technique.
36. Chinese musical schools and theories and comparisons between eastern and western music formed the basis of a series of thirty seven illustrated talks given during the year by contemporary Chinese com- posers and lyric writers. Western classical music was discussed at greater length in a series of illustrated talks. A short feature programme introduced the 1959 Schools Music Festival and three programmes were based on the prize winners concerts.
DRAMA
37. There was a slight increase in the number of radio plays produced, the average being seventeen per week compared with fourteen in the previous year,
38. The bulk of the drama output is in Cantonese, but weekly plays are produced in Chiuchow and Kuoyu. Most of the scripts are written in Hong Kong and include light domestic comedy, detective stories and serious drama. ‘Romeo and Juliet', 'Cleopatra' and King Lear' were produced in Cantonese translations and six other plays translated from English were broadcast. An adaptation of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' was produced for the 1958 Arts Festival. Only the shortage of translating facilities hampers an increased use of English script material.
TALKS AND STORYTELLING
39. Ten storytelling sessions per week were broadcast. The series of talks on aspects of Chinese culture continued, and were arranged in conjunction with the Education Department and the Hok Hoi Library. Other talks series dealt with poetry and with the great characters from China's past.
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