Monteverdi: Vespers: BBC Singers: Monday 19. R3 in Concert

[Stanley Stewart]

Instant memories of first hearing the Vespers at an afternoon run-through in York Minster during the 1957 local Festival of the Arts and the invited audience included those of us who were appearing in the Mystery Plays in the evening and the eminent cast of The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Theatre Royal - a moment of wonder comparable with seeing a first performance of Hamlet - a memory prompt reminds me that it may have been the LSO but, apart from being a remarkable experience, I also recall the sensational experience of hearing the unearthly tones of Alfred Deller wafting through the Minster. A further memory prompt, I also recall discussing this occasion with another member of this forum on the old R3 boards who was present as part of the production team. It was great to be young then and hear the chimes of midnight at regular post-performance do's at rented flats in Marygate!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Were the voices not too rich? Too much vibrato?

It wasn't what I expected

Initially, I thought - things are getting better with the BBC Singers, but as soon at the music became more polyphonic, it was back to the bad old days - wobbly singers sticking out.

[teamsaint]

Non. (Not if you trust the innovation and creativity of the composer - and, fine Musician as he is, Mr Hill's creativity doesn't begin to match Mr Greenhill's.)

I wasn't particularly upset by the singing, but I felt that the broadcast sound was rather congested and muffled - and I prefer a little more impudence in a performance of the "Vespers" than that provided by this conductor.

Well I would more or less agree about the " congested and muffled" comment. This would be directly contary to the intention that Hill expressed, but nonetheless, at least he did seem to have a positive purpose in mind. Perhaps it just didn't work. Or he was justifying the exercise. Or the engineers weren't too hot.
i would think that part of the trick in this work involves styling the performance to the space,although a good choice of space is a help. Be interesting to hear a response from somebody in the hall.

That said, it is good to see this ensemble having an expressed purpose. And I still quite enjoyed it.

The BBC should be aiming higher than " quite enjoyed", I suppose, but some might see that as a move in the right direction.

[ardcarp]

I wonder why the BBC Singers and the rest didn't perform a lesser-known work than the Vespers, which has been done and recorded so superbly by other groups? For instance they could have done, with similar forces, one of the rarely performed Masses of Biber or of (the much later) Zelenka. We could then have congratulated them on being a bit pioneering..

[jean]

Just catching up with this on iPlayer - enjoying it very much. If individual voices stand out as less than suitable, they aren't the sopranos.

True, it's not spacious, but it gains in clarity.

Tempi are slower than usual, but that seems to be Robert Hollingworth's idea, and he's not the non-HIPP interloper here.

[light_calibre_baritone]

Did anyone catch the BBC singers concert last night on Live in Concert? Nordic choral music... A contrast to Monteverdi!

[BBMmk2]

I not so keen on The BBC Singers, too much vibrato etc.

[DracoM]

Contemporary repertoire similar to the Nordic material is what the BBCS shine in. I wish they would stick to it. For me, the Monteverdi outing was not as distinguished as they might have hoped.

[Roehre]

Contemporary repertoire similar to the Nordic material is what the BBCS shine in. I wish they would stick to it....

Exactly my thoughts too.