Beginning this week seven American operas —seldom heard even sandwiched in between Aïdas and Carmens —will be performed in a seven weeks' row —the first cycle of native opera ever to be given in the U.S. Put on in condensed, hour-long versions by Manhattan's station WOR in cooperation with the Treasury Department (to boost war bond sales), broadcast by a nationwide Mutual network (Thursdays, 8 to 9 p.m. E.W.T.), the series is a brainchild of Alfred Wallenstein, WOR's ebullient, businesslike music director.
Conductor Wallenstein pored over 120 operas, picked what he thought...
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