Mozart Requiem from ENO on BBC2 (14/11/20)

[Keraulophone]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pjfg

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/mozart-requiem

.

Forgive me if this has been flagged up elsewhere (I did look).

Quite apart from the musical qualities of the performance, this was a moving tribute by resting, dedicated musicians to those who have suffered and continue to do so during the current pandemic. The soloists alone are definitely worth hearing (well at least 3/4 of them), and it is interesting to hear a professional opera chorus singing a work more usually presented by amateur choral societies, in the UK at any rate. What better masterwork to give us at the present time than this? It contains every high and low emotion, and Mozart’s widow seems to have fuelled the myth that he wrote it for his own funeral.
.

[Barbirollians]

I thought it was a very fine and moving performance and great to see and hear Dame Sarah Connolly in fine form and excellent singing and playing all round. Balm to the soul and terrific that it was on BBC2 rather than BBC4.

[Leinster Lass]

I've recorded it and am pleased to read about the undoubted pleasure in store later today!

[oddoneout]

The gents were in fine voice... I'm assuming it was due to equipment deficiencies at my end(old TV) but it was certainly interesting to have the usual positions of women prominent men less so reversed. There were some 'exciting' moments in fugue sections. They can be places where lines come adrift in normal performances, but in these circumstances, with so many performers all so spread out, it would be difficult to totally avoid 'differences of opinion' I think.
I thought the solo quartet worked well together(which one were you not so keen on Keraulophone?) and, nothing to do with the music, I thought Dame Sarah looked very striking, like a classical Greek statue - hair, profile, dress - befitting her stature in the singing world.
This was an admirable venture, I'm glad I watched, and I hope the performers found it a satisfying undertaking, being something rather different for the choir.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I enjoyed the performance but I did think the balance either through lack of chorus numbers or through the mixing desk favoured the orchestra over the chorus . The quartet were fine but perhaps the soprano was a teensy bit sharp in places ?

[gurnemanz]

I also watched this with great pleasure.

Such a shame that it could not be done as originally planned, four performances with a socially distanced audience. Details here if interested. Slightly different personnel.

[Pulcinella]

Watched and enjoyed last night.
An opportunity missed by the BBC not to provide text/translation subtitles, though, I thought.
Not everyone they might have wanted to attract/appeal to as a viewer would be familiar with the words.

I couldn't help having a wry smile at the fact that the chorus, who must have to learn much more complicated music by heart, used scores.

And by the looks of Danielle de Niese, an addition to the family is on its way.

[LHC]

Watched and enjoyed last night.
An opportunity missed by the BBC not to provide text/translation subtitles, though, I thought.
Not everyone they might have wanted to attract/appeal to as a viewer would be familiar with the words.

I couldn't help having a wry smile at the fact that the chorus, who must have to learn much more complicated music by heart, used scores.

And by the looks of Danielle de Niese, an addition to the family is on its way.

Not just on the way, but delivered. Sheherazade Mary Christabel Christie was born on 13 November