Unusual for me to read a book twice within a few months of publication but the sultry weather encouraged me to sit in the garden and revisit an extensive career outlined in "Charles Mackerras", edited by Nigel Simeone and John Tyrrell.
I have a generous CD collection on the shelves but decided to rummage in the garage for any off-air videos, now overdue for transfer to DVD. Usual cry of 'eureka!' when I traced a 2002 Proms video of Haydn's The Creation in which Sir Charles conducted the OA of E, a performance of breadth and intimacy, in the cavernous space of the RAH. Fine soloists performing at the front of the platform; Christiane Oeize, Paul Groves and John Relyea. Good, too, to see Nicholas Kenyon discussing the Proms season during the interval feature.
Luck, too, - dependent on your point of view
- when I also found a video with a sparkling performance of G & S, HMS Pinafore, also conducted by Sir Charles at a 2005 Prom performance. Richard Suart as Sir Joseph Porter and Felicity Palmer delicious as Little Buttercup. Clear enunciation throughout.
I'll comment on a few other 'finds' in due course. I'm confident that a few other forumites will already have super- tech copies of these gems on their shelves. The transfer from video to DVD improves the quality of picture and sound, more accident than design as I'm no techie!
Both concerts now on a single DVD.
I have a generous CD collection on the shelves but decided to rummage in the garage for any off-air videos, now overdue for transfer to DVD. Usual cry of 'eureka!' when I traced a 2002 Proms video of Haydn's The Creation in which Sir Charles conducted the OA of E, a performance of breadth and intimacy, in the cavernous space of the RAH. Fine soloists performing at the front of the platform; Christiane Oeize, Paul Groves and John Relyea. Good, too, to see Nicholas Kenyon discussing the Proms season during the interval feature.
Luck, too, - dependent on your point of view
- when I also found a video with a sparkling performance of G & S, HMS Pinafore, also conducted by Sir Charles at a 2005 Prom performance. Richard Suart as Sir Joseph Porter and Felicity Palmer delicious as Little Buttercup. Clear enunciation throughout.I'll comment on a few other 'finds' in due course. I'm confident that a few other forumites will already have super- tech copies of these gems on their shelves. The transfer from video to DVD improves the quality of picture and sound, more accident than design as I'm no techie!
Both concerts now on a single DVD.