The Villa d'Este and the real Hans Sachs

[doversoul1]

Saturday
The Villa d'Este's gardens are a triumph of Baroque architecture and design. Catherine Bott travels to Tivoli to explore the many fountains there and the music connected with the gardens and the man who commissioned them: Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, patron of many composers, among them a no lesser figure than Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j0hb9

(First broadcast in March 2009)

Sunday
Immortalised by Wagner in his famous opera, Lucie Skeaping looks back on the life and music of the real Hans Sachs and his fellow Mastersingers in 17th Century Germany.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007gb26

(First broadcast in March 2007)
Wagner makes a guest appearance.

CD Review 10.20am
Jean Richafort – Requiem; Tributes to Josquin Desprez
The King's Singers

Palestrina - Missa Ad coenam Agni
The Brabant Ensemble, Stephen Rice (conductor)

Gesualdo – Maione, Tribulationem
Concerto Soave, Jean-Marc Aymes (harpsichord), Mara Galassi (harp)

Monteverdi: Selva Morale e Spirituale Volume 3
The Sixteen, Harry Christophers (conductor)

Louis Le Prince: Missa Macula non est in te
Le Concert Spirituel, Herve Niquet (conductor)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There does seem to be some historical inaccuracy in the BBC's trailer. By the 17th century, the Mastersingers were on the wane, and Hans Sachs himself was long dead.

An interesting programme nevertheless. A pity that on the website, there's a picture of Lucy Skeeping that has nothing whatever to do with Hans Sachs or the Mastersingers.

[ardcarp]

Just heard the Villa d'Este programme. Much amused by CB's thoughts on the translation of the guide-book. We really needed a TV show today, because in spite of CB's eloquence, a mental picture was hard to conjure. Marenzio in La Venexiana's hands sounded wonderful as did the Le Prince (whom I've never heard of) sung by women's voices (Les Concerts Sprituelles?) Alas the latter doesn't seem to be on the playlist. Maybe the voices of the Huelgas Ensemble though accurate sounded less focused. Nice idea for a show, though.

[Old Grumpy]

Just heard the Villa d'Este programme. We really needed a TV show today, because in spite of CB's eloquence, a mental picture was hard to conjure.

Try this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HQjOtN9PMU

I heard the show the first time round (and saw the clip on TV). I just caught the end today and will certainly listen again.

I was rather hoping to use the EMS as a Wagner-free zone this week, but from tomorrow's listing it seems it is not to be!

OG

[ardcarp]

Thanks for the Youtube clip, OG. All revealed. Sorry not to see the 'water organ' though!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Even though the announcer repeated the assertion that Hans Sachs lived in the 17th century, at least it was acknowledge that H.S. actually lived in the 15th/16th centuries. I wonder what qualifications you need to be a continuity announcer (or website contributor).

[Richard Tarleton]

Just heard the Villa d'Este programme. Much amused by CB's thoughts on the translation of the guide-book. We really needed a TV show today, because in spite of CB's eloquence, a mental picture was hard to conjure.

Greatly enjoyed this in the course of a long car journey - I missed the very start and kept hitting the "Search" button on the car radio to retune until I realised the hiss was because Catherine was standing next to the fountains .

I also enjoyed today's EMS, (during part 2 of car journey, after an overnight stop in Hook Norton country ) - CB featured briefly in the Mastersingers as well, singing this time . I was interested to learn more about both Minnesingers and Mastersingers tho' I fear the latters' work more of an acquired taste.

[Richard Tarleton]

Even though the announcer repeated the assertion that Hans Sachs lived in the 17th century, at least it was acknowledge that H.S. actually lived in the 15th/16th centuries. I wonder what qualifications you need to be a continuity announcer (or website contributor).

I thought Lucie started by saying Sachs was born in "the late 1400s", meaning the late 15th century. I find this usage confusing, to me as a (former) historian "the late 1400s" means the latter part of the decade 1400-1410

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I thought Lucie started by saying Sachs was born in "the late 1400s", meaning the late 15th century. I find this usage confusing, to me as a (former) historian "the late 1400s" means the latter part of the decade 1400-1410

This new usage means that, nowadays, to make clear that you mean "the first decade of the xth Century" and not the whole century, you have to say "the first decade of the xth decade"! Well I REFUSE!!

[decantor]

Greatly enjoyed this in the course of a long car journey.......

Me too, though merely sitting at home at an open French window. Not only is Lady Bott-Skeaping a thoroughly amiable hostess, but the music of both 'shows' was of appealing genre and quality, pandering to a taste first evolved under David Munrow's inspiration. There was a time when I feared that EMS was going to delve no further back than the baroque: recent editions have allayed those fears to a satisfying degree. I am in truth not well pleased by the prospect of a week devoted to Richard Wagner, but a programme of Minnesingers and Mastersingers is fair compensation.

Yes, TV would have served us well at the Villa d'Este, but Google Images leave little to the imagination.

[vinteuil]

I thought Lucie started by saying Sachs was born in "the late 1400s", meaning the late 15th century. I find this usage confusing, to me as a (former) historian "the late 1400s" means the latter part of the decade 1400-1410

... and what's wrong with quattrocento anyway??

[Old Grumpy]

I thought Lucie started by saying Sachs was born in "the late 1400s", meaning the late 15th century. I find this usage confusing, to me as a (former) historian "the late 1400s" means the latter part of the decade 1400-1410

I think you mean the 14-noughties!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I thought Lucie started by saying Sachs was born in "the late 1400s", meaning the late 15th century. I find this usage confusing, to me as a (former) historian "the late 1400s" means the latter part of the decade 1400-1410

Yes. Lucie said that, which was rather more accurate than the trailers and continuity mob, who just talk rubbush, like politicians.

[doversoul1]

I also enjoyed today's EMS, (during part 2 of car journey, after an overnight stop in Hook Norton country ) - CB featured briefly in the Mastersingers as well, singing this time . I was interested to learn more about both Minnesingers and Mastersingers tho' I fear the latters' work more of an acquired taste.

We know we can depend on CB to pronounce any foreign names and titles (of the music, not the person) but here, she demonstrates her amazing Avianese? Avianian? Do listen.