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NormanH

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    Norman, are you listening?

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    Well I would have liked to see the

    Portugese soprano Susana Gaspar and the Russian baritone Alexey

    Bogdanchikov in the last 5 finalists, both of whom seemed to have

    lovely voices and gave intelligently musical interpretations

    I really didn't understand how the

    Croatian chap who butchered Figaro and the Messiah got through, but

    perhaps he has an animal magnetism that comes over live and masks the

    roughness of his voice.

    Many people (mainly women) seemed to

    have been impressed but I was simply left cold by the brute

    insensitivity of his singing.

    Sadly the “song” recital seems to

    be more and more dramatic and semi-operatic, so it was no surprise

    that the large American lady won.

    There was almost no first-class lieder

    in the programmes: no Schumann, little Schubert and Brahms but lots

    of big 'emotional' songs by people such as Rachmaninov

    It showed how difficult it is to sing

    in French. I don't think that a single one of them who sang a French

    test really convinced, and in the case of the Ukranian girl I felt

    she was badly let down by the Gounod, where she her articulation made

    the words incomprehensible.

    There was a world of difference between

    the two orchestras and conductors too.

    The Welshman gave a jobbing performance

    going along with the singers in a genial sort of way, whereas Jun

    Märkl was enormously impressive contributing greatly to the

    interpretations.

    Similarly what a world of difference

    between the generous and intelligent comments of Bernada Fink and

    menopausal bitchiness of Karita Mattila who seemed incapable of being

    in the slightest bit gracious.

    Norman, are you listening?

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    I sympathise completely.

    It seems as if nobody really believes that classical music is of any intrinsic interest, and has to be dressed up and 'sold'. Dumbing down is rampant.

    One of the worst was the insufferable Simon Russell Beale talking over the music in the series 'Sacred Music' telling us of his days as a chorister as if that was more important than the Tallis in the background

    In another (I think it was the otherwise interesting programme about Delius) a 'critic' was talking loudly over the music telling us that this was a beautiful moment, and preventing us from hearing it...

    It is all part of the tendence to seek 'human interest' and  find dramatically  emotional moments in things where that is irrelevant.

    Even the Bach programmes by Eliot Gardiner had psycho-babble claptrap about the adult Bach showing signs of a neglected childhood

    Norman, are you listening?

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    Looking through the programmes I noticed that Ben Johnson has included the relatively unknown

    Anakreons Grab by Hugo Wolf. This was introduced to me by a friend of mine (worth listening to her Purcell on that link) whom I accompanied in the the last recital I played before illness struck...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW4yL5Dbe7w

    It is intense sombre and highly chromatic, but bears listening to (and playing) many times..

    As a child prodigy, Hugo Wolf was praised as
    an accomplished pianist and composer. He
    held high teaching positions
    and attended prestigious school
    s but was, unfortunately,
    known best as a wildly depressed and moody man. His music tends to express histemperamental demeanor, with wild chromaticism and dissonance.

    “Anakreons Grab” is
    a selection from Wolf’s
    Goethe-Lieder
    collection. The narrator of the song describes his
    surroundings at the grave of
    the legendary Greek poet, Anacreon. While the melody line
    and text of the song display a picturesque and contented scene, the
    piano brings out the
    wonder and slight bewilderment the protagonist feels in being at the same place where
    such a significant and ancient figure is buried.
    Anakreon Grab Anacreon’s Grave
    Wo die Rose hier blüht,   Here, where the rose blooms,
    Wo Rebuen um Lorbeer sich schlingen,   where the vines entwine the laurel,
    Wo das Turtelchen Lockt,    where the turtledove flirts,
    Wo sich Grillchen ergötzt,   where the cricket delights.
    Welch ein Grab ist hier What grave is this here?
    Das alle Götter mit Leben     that all the gods and Life
    Schöbefanzt und geziert?      Have so prettily decorated with plants.
    Es ist Anakreons Ruh.    It is Anacreon’s grave.
    Frühling, Sommer, und Herbst     Spring, summer, and autumn
    Genoß der glückliche Dichter;      did that happy poet enjoy;
    Vor dem Winter hat ihn endlich    from this winter now finally
    Der Hügel geschützt.    This mound has protected him

    The other one of Wolf's  we gave is less gloomy and had me chasing round the keyboard [:)]

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIjP3JK-8xM

    I have a lover living in Penna,
    Another one in the Maremma plain,
    One in the lovely harbor of Ancona,
    And for the fourth I must go to Viterbo;
    Another one lives in Casentino,
    The next lives in the same  place as I,
    And yet another one have I in  Magione,
    Four in La Fratta, ten in  Castiglione!

    Norman, are you listening?

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    One of my favourite Brahms sung by one of your favourite singers

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyY2Gy1Yfvw

    Dark, how dark it is in the forest and field!
    Night has fallen; the world now is silent.
    Nowhere a light and nowhere smoke.
    Yes, now even the lark is silent.
    From yonder village there comes the young lad,
    Taking his beloved home.
    He leads her past the willow bushes,
    Talking so much, and of so many things:
    "If you suffer shame and if you grieve,
    If you suffer disgrace before others because of me,
    Then our love shall be ended ever so fast
    As fast as we once came together;
    It shall go with the rain and go with the wind,
    As fast as we once came together."
    Then says the maiden, the maiden says:
    "Our love shall never end!
    Steel is firm and iron is firm,
    Yet our love is firmer still.
    Iron and steel can be recast by the smith
    But who would transform our love?
    Iron and steel can melt;
    Our love, our love will have to last forever!"

    Norman, are you listening?

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    Thank you.  She is wonderful. One of the few people who can stand up to Janet Baker in a certain repertoire.

    Thank you for the clip which has brought her to my notice[:)]

    Thanks to you post I spent a good deal of time in pleasurable listening[:)]

    I love this song, which I accompanied the last concert I played while  I was still able to do so.

    She is magnificent in it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRhzSh2bEcI

    and that reminded me of that recital and this magnificent sombre Brahms (nothing to do with Bernarda Fink)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyY2Gy1Yfvw

    Never more to go to you

    I resolved and swore

    And yet I go every evening

    For all strength, all strength and every  restraint I have lost

    I yearn to live no longer

    To perish in the blink of an eye

    And yet I long also to live

    With you, for you, and never never die

    Oh Speak, say one word only

    A single word a clear word

    Give life or death to me

    Just tell me your feelings, the true ones...

    Norman, are you listening?

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    You can catch up by watching on iPlayer.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qgd00/Howard_Goodalls_Story_of_Music_The_Age_of_Discovery/

    An easy way is to use Clair's recommendation and use Google Chrome as a browser, with this add-on installed:

    https://hola.org/chrome.html

    As I have previously explained to Sweets I bought some external speakers for my computer which means that I can use it as a CD player, and get excellent TV sound too as I watch on my monitor (a 27" HD screen so big enough for me)

    If ever you do buy speakers make sure they are with a separate bass unit..

    Norman, are you listening?

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    From a cheerful chappie[:D]

    Two more Bach. Idiosyncratic performances, controversial even, but I love them, even though they could be accused of being over emotional.

    Her 'voicing' of the parts, her legato and her spirituality are wonderful:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5PtaN8axU0

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEXWM94xwI8

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ML5qSNynI&list=PL1CB66D074BB4D434

    Ohne Musik wäre das Leben ein Irrtum.

    Without Music Life would be a mistake. ...

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