Tom Jones - 1928 Radio Broadcast
The London Times listed the following programme highlights and details in the edition published on Thursday, November 15th, 1928; page 10:
BROADCASTING - THE PROGRAMMES
"TOM JONES"
"Sir Edward German will conduct the Wireless Chorus and Orchestra in a performance of Tom Jones to be broadcast tonight from Daventry ( 5GB ). The cast will include Miss Hilda Blake, Miss Olive Sturgess, Mr. George Baker, Mr. David Brazell, and Miss Doris Owens.
PROGRAMMES...
DAVENTRY - Call 5GB (610 kc) (491.8 m.)
8.35 [PM]:— The concert version of Tom Jones. Lyrics by Chas. H. Taylor. Composed by Edward German.
Cast: Hilda Blake, Olive Sturgess, George Baker, David Brazell, Doris Owens. The Wireless Chorus (Stanford Robinson, Chorus Master) and the Wireless Orchestra, conducted by the composer. [Concluded at 10 PM.]
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On Friday, November 16th, 1928, The Times noted under the 'Broadcasting' column on page 10 that Tom Jones would be re-broadcast that night at 9.35 PM on radio stations: LONDON - Call 2LO (830 kc.) (361.4 m.) and DAVENTRY, with the same cast, chorus and orchestra, concluding at 11 PM. This amounted to a second 'live' radio performance of the opera as facilities for recording radio programmes, (on 16-inch Electrical Transcription discs which ran at 33 1/3 rpm and played for up to 15 minutes per side), did not become available until 1932.
Given his prominence in the cast list, (together with his background as a singer), George Baker presumably sang the title role in the broadcasts.
