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What are you currently listening to?

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Author Topic: What are you currently listening to?  (Read 96671 times)
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cilgwyn
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« Reply #3150 on: October 21, 2021, 07:33:56 pm »



A concoction of Strauss Waltzes,Polka's and Marches arranged in the form of a,quite lovely,operetta,by Erich Wolfgang Korngold,Julius Bittner & Eugene Cool.First performed in Vienna in 1930, English versions were performed in London & on Broadway.There was even a film version by Hitchcock! This 1972 recording has a fine cast,Mady Mesplé on top form & the orchestra is expertly conducted by Jean Doussard. You get The Blue Danube in a sung,and quite beautiful choral arrangement,amongst other well known numbers! What not to enjoy in this 2 cd set?! Oh yes,no Williams Singers!! :)

Here they are in a recent performance of Mozart's Requiem...



...a bit of razzle-dazzle can liven up the gloomiest of evenings. Dies eerie...

 :D
;D
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Albion
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« Reply #3151 on: October 21, 2021, 07:51:11 pm »


Flippin' 'eck, worra pair! Just pop a dodgy wig on and adopt a rictus grin (are you sure it's not Bernard Manning?)...

 ::)

...but I'm sure it's a lovely recording.

 :)
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"A piece is worth your attention, and is itself for you praiseworthy, if it makes you feel you have not wasted your time over it." (Sydney Grew, 1922)
cilgwyn
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« Reply #3152 on: October 21, 2021, 08:05:46 pm »


Flippin' 'eck, worra pair! Just pop a dodgy wig on and adopt a rictus grin (are you sure it's not Bernard Manning?)...

 ::)

...but I'm sure it's a lovely recording.

 :)
I think they could could be on loan from the French Wax Museum?!

https://operafresh.blogspot.com/2011/06/opera-singers-as-wax-figures-at-musee.html
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cilgwyn
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« Reply #3153 on: October 21, 2021, 08:08:06 pm »



There was a time when you couldn't seem to open a local paper without a notice of the school or amateur operatic society putting on their production of a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta or this lovely,tuneful,colourful opera,The Bartered Bride by Bedřich Smetana! Although,not so lovely & tuneful in my own school's productions. (They were all tone deaf! Edith in 'Allo! 'Allo! is like Maria Callas by comparison!) Now,they seem to perform musical's by American & French composer's I've never heard of,and musical's wot they wrote themselves & I definitely,don't want to see or hear! It has been suggested that one of the reasons for the neglect of this opera is because some of the comedy revolves around a chap with a stammer!


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« Reply #3154 on: October 21, 2021, 08:17:52 pm »


Flippin' 'eck, worra pair! Just pop a dodgy wig on and adopt a rictus grin (are you sure it's not Bernard Manning?)...

 ::)

...but I'm sure it's a lovely recording.

 :)
I think they could could be on loan from the French Wax Museum?!

https://operafresh.blogspot.com/2011/06/opera-singers-as-wax-figures-at-musee.html

 :D

Well, at least the recording hasn't waned...



...time to revive Album Cover Hall of Shame, methinks...
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Albion
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« Reply #3155 on: October 21, 2021, 08:40:00 pm »

Now,they seem to perform musical's by American & French composer's I've never heard of,and musical's wot they wrote themselves & I definitely,don't want to see or hear! It has been suggested that one of the reasons for the neglect of this opera is because some of the comedy revolves around a chap with a stammer!

Having played for, scripted and directed musicals in schools for twenty years (thankfully no longer), the best that engage the kids have been The Wizard of Oz, Oliver! and Mary Poppins. All three are brilliant. I remember playing the piano for The Pirates of Penzance at school in the 1980s in Oldham - unthinkable now! The worst I ever had to do was Annie - worra pile of old, schmalzy



 :P

As neither of us are currently listening to any of the above, I think that counts as an excellent



 :D
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cilgwyn
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« Reply #3156 on: October 21, 2021, 09:56:47 pm »

To be honest,I think I was probably the only kid at my school who enjoyed Gilbert and Sullivan! I remember them holding the school,effectively hostage (No guns,but they still had the cane! :o ;D) until some of the kids agreed to participate in the school production of a G & S operetta (I forget which one!). In the end,faced with no 'tea' break,a few hands were,very reluctantly,raised! I'm talking about Secondary School,of course! I'm pretty sure The Wizard of Oz,Oliver and Mary Poppins would have had the same response! (Most of the kids were into punk rock!)
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cilgwyn
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« Reply #3157 on: October 21, 2021, 10:08:30 pm »



There was a time when you couldn't seem to open a local paper without a notice of the school or amateur operatic society putting on their production of a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta or this lovely,tuneful,colourful opera,The Bartered Bride by Bedřich Smetana! Although,not so lovely & tuneful in my own school's productions. (They were all tone deaf! Edith in 'Allo! 'Allo! is like Maria Callas by comparison!) Now,they seem to perform musical's by American & French composer's I've never heard of,and musical's wot they wrote themselves & I definitely,don't want to see or hear! It has been suggested that one of the reasons for the neglect of this opera is because some of the comedy revolves around a chap with a stammer!



The old Rudolf Kempe set has a stellar cast & wonderful singing,including the 'legendary' Fritz Wunderlich'! But,I've got to say,this set,is the one that does it for me! Not being a musician,like yourself,or being as musically inclined as The Williams Singers ;D,I just think it's got more "oomph!" And,imo,you can't beat a Czech orchestra & cast in this kind of repertoire!
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« Reply #3158 on: October 21, 2021, 10:15:24 pm »

To be honest,I think I was probably the only kid at my school who enjoyed Gilbert and Sullivan! I remember them holding the school,effectively hostage (No guns,but they still had the cane! :o ;D) until some of the kids agreed to participate in the school production of a G & S operetta (I forget which one!). In the end,faced with no 'tea' break,a few hands were,very reluctantly,raised! I'm talking about Secondary School,of course! I'm pretty sure The Wizard of Oz,Oliver and Mary Poppins would have had the same response! (Most of the kids were into punk rock!)


I'm damn sure that I was the only person in Oldham who eagerly purchased the D'Oyly Carte Decca LPs of Utopia Limited (1975) and The Grand Duke (1976) from "The Golden Disc", located next to the wind-tunnel, dog-turd-festooned, litter-strewn concrete 1970s shopping arcade...

 ::)

Not being a musician,like yourself,or being as musically inclined as The Williams Singers ;D,I just think it's got more "oomph!" And,imo,you can't beat a Czech orchestra & cast in this kind of repertoire!

You're truly as much of a musician as any of us, my friend.

 :)
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« Reply #3159 on: October 21, 2021, 10:29:33 pm »

To be honest,I think I was probably the only kid at my school who enjoyed Gilbert and Sullivan! I remember them holding the school,effectively hostage (No guns,but they still had the cane! :o ;D) until some of the kids agreed to participate in the school production of a G & S operetta (I forget which one!). In the end,faced with no 'tea' break,a few hands were,very reluctantly,raised! I'm talking about Secondary School,of course! I'm pretty sure The Wizard of Oz,Oliver and Mary Poppins would have had the same response! (Most of the kids were into punk rock!)


I'm damn sure that I was the only person in Oldham who eagerly purchased the D'Oyly Carte Decca LPs of Utopia Limited (1975) and The Grand Duke (1976) from "The Golden Disc", located next to the wind-tunnel, dog-turd-festooned, litter-strewn concrete 1970s shopping arcade...

 ::)

Not being a musician,like yourself,or being as musically inclined as The Williams Singers ;D,I just think it's got more "oomph!" And,imo,you can't beat a Czech orchestra & cast in this kind of repertoire!

You're truly as much of a musician as any of us, my friend.

 :)

I heartily agree with that opinion!
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« Reply #3160 on: October 22, 2021, 05:42:46 pm »

Thanks for the compliment! :) I can whistle,though! I was whistling on my way to the shop,yesterday! That's playing an instrument,isn't. I mean,technically! ::)



Okay,maybe not as well as this chap?! But,perhaps that's a good thing?!! ;D
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« Reply #3161 on: October 22, 2021, 05:57:42 pm »



This opera is full of lovely,lush,sumptous late romantic style music. It really is quite beautiful,a veritable feast of sound. The cast is all top notch & the recording quality is superb. But what a morbid plot! These opera character's don't have allot of fun! Not that I bother with the libretto! Just wallow in the gorgeous waves of sound! Lot's of choruses and orchestral interludes to ease you along. Wow! :o :) :) :)
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« Reply #3162 on: October 22, 2021, 07:25:23 pm »

This opera is full of lovely,lush,sumptous late romantic style music. It really is quite beautiful,a veritable feast of sound. The cast is all top notch & the recording quality is superb. But what a morbid plot! These opera character's don't have allot of fun!

"The Dead Eyes" - doesn't sound like a rib-tickler, but like you I don't tend to bother with librettos very much. That's where foreign language operas have the advantage, you can simply concentrate on the music without being distracted by frequently shoddy texts. It will be interesting when Glyndebourne does Ethel Smyth's The Wreckers in French! Eugen d'Albert wrote loads of operas - to my shame I know nothing of them, but he did an excellent job of the overture to Sullivan's Patience.

 :)
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« Reply #3163 on: October 23, 2021, 12:01:58 pm »



For those who like their Old Testament oratorios a la Mendelssohn's Elijah, Parry's Judith should engage their attention: for Baal substitute Moloch and, hey-presto, it's time for a jolly (prospective) human sacrifice. Bring now the children!...

 :o

...six hours on regulo 9 should suffice methinks. Best not to microwave as they don't crisp up so well. Plus a bit of the old chippy-choppy-chip-chop as Holofernes' head comes a cropper off-stage.

 :D

Certainly not Parry's strongest choral work, although RVW greatly admired it (I'd vote for Ode on the Nativity, 1912), it's nevertheless a very good listen in this highly accomplished recording. Great soloists, solid chorus, top-notch orchestra (don't imagine that the London Mozart Players are in any way under-powered) and vigorous conducting by William Vann.

 :)

I've never heard Parry use the gong before - thwack - but then when there's Gods to appease anything goes.
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« Reply #3164 on: October 23, 2021, 01:59:20 pm »

Certainly not Parry's strongest choral work, although RVW greatly admired it (I'd vote for Ode on the Nativity, 1912), it's nevertheless a very good listen in this highly accomplished recording.

God breaketh the battle or This helmet, I suppose (Princess Ida) - Parry and Sullivan both doing a Handelian tribute/ parody. I think Sullivan wins.

 ;)
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