mint

[quote user="sweet 17"][qm Lacking the time, I haven't as yet heard it all but be assured that that will be listened to many times over. [/quote] Last night, a very entertaining prog on BBC TV 4 with Villazon talking about Don Giovanni and visiting Praque for a taste of the very first staging of the opera. Villazon was his usual exuberant self (I do like him and have a couple of DVDs though he is far from being my favourite).  They showed a bit of a production with a period orchestra and it was interesting even though I didn't rate the production too highly.  I do think Villazon is a wonderful communicator and I love his enthusiasm. BUT, tonight, same channel, a most thrilling production, certainly the best I have ever heard.  Stage sets, lighting, costumes superb, as you would expect.  It was the SINGING...............utterly beautiful, compelling, extraordinary.............what can I say except WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!! Edit:  er....perhaps the reviews were not great.  However, I loved the singing (apart from that of the woman singing Anna's role) but then I am no opera buff, merely someone who just love everything surrounding opera.  I also agree that the ending could have been left unshortened but I don't really mind not having the descent into hell.....too gruesome!   

[quote user="NormanH"] Have you ever watched this version? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LsZpitl-cI&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs&html5=1 [/quote] Thank you; that is just so  magnifique with the signing I don't have the words to describe what I feel. Lacking the time, I haven't as yet heard it all but be assured that that will be listened to many times over.

[quote user="sweet 17"] Are you catching the BBC Young Musicians? I swear standards are going up all the time. [/quote] Sorry about quoting myself[:-))]  No other way to be able to write a post. This evening just finished BBC 2 TV, a very enjoyable programme about Handel's Messiah.  For me it was a perfect end to a beautiful day; one of those days where nothing out of the way happened but you felt somehow uplifted and glad to be alive [:D]   

[quote user="NormanH"]Thank you for that...I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was for me too just what was needed.. [/quote] Are you catching the BBC Young Musicians? I swear standards are going up all the time.

[quote user="Patf"]Very entertaining Norman [:D] But I felt a bit sorry for the young man having to stretch and swing about between the piano and the keyboard, like a gymnast. What strikes me is the quality of the lyrics, they were so poetic in those days. Irving Berlin's and Ira Gershwin's too. [/quote] Nothing to do with your message, Pat, for which apologies.  Just has to quote somebody before I can reply. Anyway, Norman et al,  there was just the most delightful programme on BBC TV 4 that has just finished.  Presented by Suzy Klein who I absolutely adore. I have had a very challenging day which I won't go into now but it was truly NOT nice.  But, no surprise, what was it that Shakespeare said about music being soothing and so I was very soothed and very comforted. But enough of me and my difficult day.  Just watch the programme; I promise that you will not be disappointed.

The Wooly One is concerned that he hasn't seen you; so, can I tempt you out of the barrel? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq3ZOgkBSOk

[quote user="NormanH"]Jealous? Not me [:'(] But then to be really jealous you need to be in something approaching the same league, so no I'm not... [/quote] Huh???  What are you talking about, Norman? Am I being obtuse?  Are you being deliberately at a tangent?

Are you supposed to "enjoy" obituaries? If the answer is "yes", then I think you will enjoy this one: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10583860/Claudio-Abbado-obituary.html  

A bit different to hear les nuits d'été with just piano accompaniment: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03pd8x6/Radio_3_Lunchtime_Concert_Wigmore_Hall_Sarah_Connolly_and_Julius_Drake/ Very enjoyable though; but then you can't go much wrong with Sarah Connolly and Julius Drake accompanying, can you?

Yes, but did you notice how beautiful the co-leader of the orchestra was?  Beautiful and can play the violin as well, so they just HAD to sign her![:D] It's strange how you notice different things when you watch a programme.  There were many items that were new to me, so it was doubly pleasurable.  However, when they played the "Helena Quadrille", I immediately noted that Offenbach's "La Belle Hélène" was based partly on it.  This is no surprise to me because I always detect a Germanic flavour to Offenbach though I am not sure where he is from apart from Paris. Then, I noted with amusement the girl going round marking the bowing (up bow or down bow) on the violinists' music when they were setting up the stands. Barenboim, of course, was his usual maestro-ly self, no scores needed for him to conduct![:D] Then, I always look at the double-bass players and I saw that all six were using the German bow (hand facing outwards instead of inwards to the instrument) and they looked to be very good too I thought there were some very beautiful-looking instruments and some looked very old.  I note these things as we know many musicians and have examined closely some old insturments, such as an Amarti double-bass dating from the 1600s. As for OH, on account of his work before retirement, he pointed out a large, structural crack on the underside of one of the balconies![:-))] Truly something for everyone, don't you think, MacBuck? I hear that they even broadcast the concert in Palestine....because Barenboim was the conductor, I dare say.

Sorry, folk, this first bit is more directed to Norman than others.  This is because I know he manages to get iplayer in his barrel. Nrman, if you are going to be watching the New Year concert from Vienna, please do also watch the programme before the start of the concert.  It's interesting with behind-the-scenes footage:  Vienna itself and its architecture (some a bit OTT but still ravishing to the eye), the designing of the dancers' costumes, the orchestral rehearsals and Barenboim's meticulous preparations, the flowers being cut and arranged, the choreographer and the dancers being put through their paces..... Also, a reminder to everybody to watch out for programmes on Radio 3 for Richard Strauss's music as it's the 150 anniversary of his birth.  OH for one will be really pleased as he loves RS's music.  I love it too but I am only familiar with a couple of the operas so this will be a very good opportunity for me to find out more. Happy New Year and Happy Listening.....

Hi, MacQuarter, are you there? I tried to find you Stille Nacht arranged by Donald Cashmore, Joseph Mohr performed by the Bach Choir with Sir David Willcocks but I didn't find it on YouTube and I am short of time. Perhaps you could find it for yourself or, if you asked Norman nicely, he might find it for you. Norman, thanks d'avance for the clip, I am on the old ordi and also in the midst of baking yet more goodies but will listen later. BTW, the Handel Messiah Halleluja Chorus never fails to lift me up. 

[quote user="NormanH"]There is a particular mannerism that comes from the singers of popular music and which consists of starting just under pitch and then sliding up onto the note to give an impression of an increase of tension such as one might get from a crescendo, but which is very waring once one has spotted it. Never mind... There are some magic moments still to be found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQlt1UxjvWU&html5=1 I can't help believing that when she sung this she had already had the diagnosis of cancer... So from virtuous toils well borne raise the hopes of endless light.... [/quote] Wow, many thanks for that! As I have said here before, I came to opera late in life (30) and I don't really know a great deal about early operas, so this was a special treat. 

OH, being more tolerant, or more desperate (I don't know which) saw Songs of Praise with Michael Ball and that girl with the name beginning with W (Westernra or some such) and another programme with Aled Jones presenting where the singers were either out of tune, breathing in the wrong place or generally murdering some very well loved tunes that have stood the test of time. They now have microphones held right up to their lips and NEVER seem to sing hitting the middle of the note; oh no, they glide up or down to the note and have never had the benefit of being taught breath control.  In any case, most of them mime and are incapable of singing live. I also think that classically trained singers should not be seduced by money or their agents to do this "cross-over" stuff because it never seems to work.  As an early Christmas present to himself, OH bought Renee Fleming,s "Haunted Heart" and it was excruciating listening, to the point that neither of us could bear the torture after a couple of tracks; we soon turned it off. 

May I be allowed one final rant for 2013?[+o(] I was so looking forward to some enjoyable music programmes on BBC TV but, alas, I looked in vain.  There was some execrable singing, including singing of carols.  OH persisted but I resolutely stayed in another room; even so, what I overheard was enough to make me pull faces.  Even when the singing is of a good standard, like the nine lessons and carols from King's, I hadn't liked many of the arrangements and certainly I loathed the readings.  No more the language of the King James bible (and Shakespeare, of course [:)]).  All, modernised, sanitised, made banal, made "accessible".....how I hate that word "accessible" or "relevant" used in that particular sense [+o(] Norman, it's come to pass, all that you have spoken and warned about....perhaps they should have a programme called "Dumb and Dumber"[:-))] And, just leaving music aside for the moment, I wonder what on earth has happened to the past continuous tense?  I heard presenters, politicians, the PM himself using the construction "I was sat there......."  So, nobody was any longer sitting or standing but was sat or stood? As for "amazing"........you'd think it's the only word left in the whole planet to describe any experience that might be remarkable, astonishing, enjoyable, spendid, wonderful, heart-warming etc etc etc.    

Pat, as you know, anything technological is more or less beyond me. However, if I described to you the simple method that I use, it might be of help? You go to the clip you want to post.  You right click on the "subject bar" at the top of the screen.  That will highlight the whole bit of text.  You then go to "Edit" and you click "Copy". Then, you come back on the Forum, you click on wherever you want the clip to go.  You return to "Edit" and you click "Paste". If you already do it this way, then please excuse me.  I just want to help [:)]

I meant to post this link last night but I didn't get round to it after I got interrupted, so here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1dcG4EeywY

Hello all Apologies, not now able to listen to all the clips.  Not long back from gym, played with dog, eaten, showered and now bed pretty soon as French class is in the morning and we all know that lack of sleep does not help  the learning process, n'est-ce pas? Ute Lemper I do like. BTW, when I went to google something today, I learned from the google-doodle that it is Maria Callas' 90th birthday.  Yeah, I know she didn't live to 90, but it was what the doodle said! Edit:  I went to google MC and her Visi d'arte.  This is an aria that I could never tire of hearing.  Her version is perfection, IMHO, of course!  

In that case, Mr McDollar, you will certainly not enjoy Curlew River [:)] Last week, there was a performance in the Barbican and, were we still in the UK, we would almost certainly have made the trip from darkest Wales to London.  Not only do we know some of the orchestra (though only a few members of the Britten Sinfonia were involved on this occasion), we have also met two of the singers.  Plus, we would have had complimentary tickets. Here is a review of that concert (one of three or four that I have read and which are all very positive): http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=14410 But, like you, I also like "tuneful" music but that could be because I am not what you would call an informed listener.  Much of modern music is way over my head.  However, if I do go to a concert, I usually manage to enjoy it. There is nothing like an orchestra tuning up to make me perk up and the sheer anticipation, a frisson of excitement, is enough to make me very glad to be there [:D]

I see I have a lot of catching up to do on this thread![:D][:D][:D] I, too, am not a tremendous fan of the organ except the VERY notable exceptions listed by Norman.  Too many hours of enforced church attendances, perhaps. Oh, but Albinoni. he's an exception too! There was a longish programme last night about Britten and there was some good discussion of his music (amongst other aspects of his life).  I didn't watch it all because I was out for the early part of the programme. I know that the Britten Sinfonia is touring and playing some of the music that was discussed.  If interested, just google their programme.

Ah, St Albans Cathedral...spent many happy days down there in my youth.  The Norman part is very majestic. Back to the subject, I think they might have shown this one on the programme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icBAjzpLdAM Though, as Norman has pointed out, they did not expand their brief to music for masses; more's the pity. BTW, watch out for the Britten season, folk!  Sure to be interesting....

I know exactly what you mean about people talking over the music.  I could scream with frustration ....and sometimes DO! Thanks for the links.  Will listen on the new ordi.  It's about the only thing where it's a GREAT improvement on the old one......[:(]

Pat, I do hope that you manage to watch the programme because I just KNOW that you'd enjoy it![:D] As for the Dream of Gerontius, I got to know the Newman poem first (as a spotty and very serious teenager...urgh) and didn't know about Elgar's compostion.  It was many years later when OH first introduced me to that. I have to disagree about Gareth Malone, he gives me the creeps![+o(]

Yes, what on earth was all that about?[8-)] David, if you watched the programme or will be watching it, why don't you give us your thoughts on it? I'm always ready to talk music and always interested to hear an informed opinion. There's always something to learn and always something to discuss. Come back, all is forgiven?[:P] Norman, did you you like the programme, BTW?

Last night BBC TV4, a programme on requiems with some wonderful singing.  Unfortunately, I missed several minutes of the beginning as a friend from the UK rang and we had a lot of catching up to do. Perhaps, Norman, you could give a computer link so that Patf could watch the programme as well? I have a feeling she'd really enjoy it. OH is going to have Duruflé but I shall go for the Fauré....phew, another of life's little problems solved!