Who's watching Acis?

[LeMartinPecheur]

Heads up: "live" stream of ROH production of GFH's Acis and Galatea on YouTube and Facebook, starting 7pm.

[Dave2002]

Some snazzy dancing so far. Very melodious. Now trying to remember or work out what it's all about.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Some snazzy dancing so far. Very melodious. Now trying to remember or work out what it's all about.

Not one of the most complicated opera plots!

I've enjoyed the dancing doubles, but it's surely very interesting to think what it would be like without the Terpsichorean distractions. Terribly, terribly boring for modern audiences I suspect, which is I suppose why we got given them. Handel's age was presumably another country completely; they enjoyed themselves differently there! And with a much longer attention-span

[Dave2002]

Not one of the most complicated opera plots!

I've enjoyed the dancing doubles, but it's surely very interesting to think what it would be like without the Terpsichorean distractions. Terribly, terribly boring for modern audiences I suspect, which is I suppose why we got given them. Handel's age was presumably another country completely; they enjoyed themselves differently there! And with a much longer attention-span

Agreed - up to a point. Some lovely things in there, even if too simple for modern tastes.

[alywin]

Like the other ROH offerings, it should be available for a week, so (fortunately for me) no need to watch live!

[Dave2002]

Some people don't think the audio quality (and probably the video too) is good enough, and would probably rather have the Blu Ray - which is available from Amazon for a bit under £30. Others might think "gift horses".

[LHC]

Some people don't think the audio quality (and probably the video too) is good enough, and would probably rather have the Blu Ray - which is available from Amazon for a bit under £30. Others might think "gift horses".

You could also treat it as a ‘try before you buy’ option. If you enjoy it enough to want a permanent copy, buy the blu-ray; if not, don’t.

[duncan]

And with a much longer attention-span

Handel's audience would be tucking in to dinner, playing cards (none-too-silently, one might guess), promenading around, chatting or flirting with their neighbours, and making sure they were seen or not seen according to who they were with. Much of Handel's opera is background music: one might stop to listen to the star castrato perform his big number but then resume the serious business of seduction or deal-making afterwards. The auditorium lights were on for the duration of the performance as the off-stage action was at least important as the on-stage action. None of this suggests contemporary concentration spans are any worse than those of the original audience!

[LeMartinPecheur]

Handel's audience would be tucking in to dinner, playing cards (none-too-silently, one might guess), promenading around, chatting or flirting with their neighbours, and making sure they were seen or not seen according to who they were with. Much of Handel's opera is background music: one might stop to listen to the star castrato perform his big number but then resume the serious business of seduction or deal-making afterwards. The auditorium lights were on for the duration of the performance as the off-stage action was at least important as the on-stage action. None of this suggests contemporary concentration spans are any worse than those of the original audience!

Thanks Duncan, more of my illusions shattered

Though I'm not certain that the social milieu of the Handelian opera house that you describe would have been precisely the same at Cannons. Much more intimate surely?

[MickyD]

Hogarth gave us a good insight...

[Dave2002]

You could also treat it as a ‘try before you buy’ option. If you enjoy it enough to want a permanent copy, buy the blu-ray; if not, don’t.

Ah - but it wasn't for me. A friend of mine who has really good kit, and is a Handel enthusiast (amongst other things) tried just a few minutes, then decided that the overall quality wasn't good enough for him. OTOH we watched it right the way through, and were rather less bothered by the sound quality. When I thought about the audio quality of the stream there were quite a few things which were not great, but I don't think they interfered with our enjoyment too much. I have suggested my friend buys or borrows the Blu-Ray.

[ardcarp]

Watching ROH/Youtube now. First impression of 'overture'...too fast for Baroque oboes to articulate comfortably. Chorus not entirely synch-ing with orchestra at first. Were they in another room watching a screen? Better when on-stage. Dancing fantastic...as is the singing of Danielle de Niece. A piece by her:

https://www.tatler.com/article/royal-opera-house-danielle-de-niese-acis-and-galatea

Not so sure about either Acis or Damon. Anyone who has sung these parts (in concert setting) will know that the tessitura of both is high, and the strain shows, I think. Polyphemus is much the best vocally of the men's parts.

The balletic style, although uber-contemporary, is strangely in keeping with Handel/Cannons pastoral (and possibly outdoor) tableau.

Overall I think Hogwood's conducting was unrelenting and oddly inflexible.

[Oakapple]

Hearing "Oh the pleasures of the plains" on Essential Classics this morning reminded me of this performance, which I love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y29-RdloANM