Railroad Hour 50 02 27 (074) Mademoiselle Modiste

# The Railroad Hour: Mademoiselle Modiste

Step aboard for an enchanting journey into the heart of Paris, where the clash of love and ambition plays out beneath gas-lit streets and elegant boulevards. In this February 1950 broadcast of *The Railroad Hour*, listeners will experience Victor Herbert's beloved operetta *Mademoiselle Modiste* brought to vivid life through sweeping orchestration and sterling vocal performances. As the curtain rises on our tale, we meet a charming young modiste caught between her dreams of stardom and the competing affections of a wealthy patron and a poor lieutenant. The drama unfolds with the elegance befitting Herbert's masterwork, while the orchestra soars through such timeless melodies as "Kiss Me Again"—a song that once made hearts flutter in Broadway theaters and continues to captivate radio audiences with its impossible beauty.

*The Railroad Hour* represented something remarkable in American broadcasting: a weekly commitment to preserving the golden age of operetta and musical theater at a moment when popular tastes were rapidly shifting. Between 1948 and 1954, the program became a cultural sanctuary where composers like Victor Herbert, Rudolf Friml, and Sigmund Romberg received the reverent, full-orchestral treatment they deserved. These weren't mere excerpts or condensed versions, but complete dramatic presentations that transported audiences to Vienna, Paris, and the romantic corners of the imagination. Each episode was a small miracle of production values and artistic integrity.

Don't miss this exquisite evening in the company of great music and timeless romance. Settle into your favorite chair, tune in with the static crackling warmly around you, and let *The Railroad Hour* remind you why America once fell in love with operetta. Some melodies, after all, were never meant to fade away.