54. Although television has reduced the appeal of radio drama there is still a small but insistent demand for the special merits of the radio play and indeed considerable talent within the department anxious to satisfy this demand. With this in mind, a series of auditions were held during the year for those interested in drama, resulting in the discovery of a number of talented people who may form the nucleus of a new Actors Studio, similar to that which was formed by Radio Hong Kong some years ago.
55. Serious music continues to enjoy a place of great prestige in the total output, commanding a high percentage of broadcast time of about five to six hours daily with the majority of programmes being broadcast on the FM transmission.
56. Many local artists have appeared in the series 'Recital from the Concert Hall' and visiting musicians with international reputations have been guests in this programme. These have included violinists Gyorgy PAUK and Ronald WOODCOCK, harpist Josef MOLNAR, pianists Walter HAUTZIG and Geoffrey PARSONS and groups such as the Sydney String Quartet and the Adelaide Wind Quintet. All visits of importance have been marked by special broadcasts and these have featured live relays from the City Hall of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, pianists John OGDON and Fou TSONG, the German Bach Soloists, the Rostal TRIO and the Consortium CLASSICUM,
57. While the School Music Festival was in progress, one of the adjudicators, Anthony HOPKINS, the celebrated composer and broad- caster was invited to record a special illustrated talk on Haydn's 'Creation' to mark the occasion of a full performance of this oratorio by the Combined Christian Choir.
58. In December, Radio Hong Kong commissioned the Hong Kong Festival Suite to mark the Festival of Hong Kong. Four Hong Kong Chinese composers each wrote part of this piece which received its first performance in the City Hall on 15th December. Finally, many festivals of music throughout the world were featured on the FM transmission including the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, and Festivals at Salzburg, Gottingen, Hitzacker, Bayreuth, Aldeburgh, London and Cheltenham.
Topics
59. The news magazine section continued to produce two “Topics' news magazines each weekday with additional special programmes on local and overseas events. A further programme officer was appointed
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