Afternoon Concert - general thread

[Bryn]

I sang Bass in the chorus in the "20th Anniversary" work (+ Seven we are Seven) not so long ago so I'll have a listen to that. I can now say I've sung texts from the usual Christian liturgies to the speeches of Lenin and Stalin and various shades between.......

Rozhdestvensky was quite a character. When Kondrashin recorded the 20th Anniversary cantata, the Stalin Constitution was omitted. When Rozhdestvenky conducted it, the Stalin movement was restored, and when Neeme Järvi recorded the work, Rozhdestvensky played the role of Lenin.

[Serial_Apologist]

Today's Afternoon Concert, just finished, was a delight, including as it did a Parryish violin concerto by Arthur Somervell - a composer about whom I know practically nothing; two works by the late romantic Chaminade, who is always difficult to "place" in French music; a stylistically Ibert and Poulenc-influenced late Flute Concerto by Jean-Michel Damase whom, along with that generation whose neglect by the BBC I have obsessed about more than once here; a lively work by the little-known German late romantic Walter Braunfels; a Piano Concertino by an American - somewhat after the manner of Gershwin - John Alden Carpenter; and lastly a very early tone poem, "This Earth" (1929), by the British composer Elisabeth Maconchy - written I believe while studying with Holst, and harmonically very daring for its time in terms of British music.

[ardcarp]

Somervell wrote quite a lot of (IMO) mediocre church music. His Passion of Christ was sung very frequently when I was young. It was probably aimed at being easy stuff for parish choirs to sing. All very predictable harmonic progressions. Happily it has faded from popularity. His 'O Saviour of the World' was sometimes sung as a stand-alone piece. He wrote a similarly predictable anthem, 'The King of Love my Shepherd is' which is a bit of an ear-worm, so one has to admit, grudgingly, that it had something of a tune.

I was interested to read above about his Violin Concerto. He must have composed 'proper' music at something of a higher lever of artistic integrity. Must try and listen!

Big fan of Cecile Chaminade, BTW.

On the subject of Elisabeth Maconchy, I sang in one of her few choral works (can't remember what it was called but it was quite difficult) in her presence. She attended the rehearsal, and the conductor consulted her several times about interpretation. The embarrassing thing was that he addressed her each time as 'Miss Lutyens'. No amount of polite coughing from us got the message through.

[Roslynmuse]

Somervell was a fine song writer - his Shropshire Lad cycle is almost up there with Butterworth's. The cycle based on Tennyson's Maud is perhaps a little more of its time but is still worth hearing. There's a lovely recording by John Carol Case and Daphne Ibbott (the piano part is quite virtuosic at times, and Daphne Ibbott was a brilliant pianist - she did some great work with Nona Liddell too.)

Love the Maconchy/Lutyens story! I believe the same happens now with Bingham/Weir...

[Edgy 2]

Somervell was a fine song writer - his Shropshire Lad cycle is almost up there with Butterworth's. The cycle based on Tennyson's Maud is perhaps a little more of its time but is still worth hearing. There's a lovely recording by John Carol Case and Daphne Ibbott (the piano part is quite virtuosic at times, and Daphne Ibbott was a brilliant pianist - she did some great work with Nona Liddell too.)

Love the Maconchy/Lutyens story! I believe the same happens now with Bingham/Weir...

He wasn’t the English Schumann for nothing.
There are a couple of nice versions of Shropshire Lad on Naxos and Somm
As well as the Violin Concerto his Symphony and Clarinet Quintet are worth a listen IMVHO

[Leinster Lass]

He wasn’t the English Schumann for nothing.
There are a couple of nice versions of Shropshire Lad on Naxos and Somm
As well as the Violin Concerto his Symphony and Clarinet Quintet are worth a listen IMVHO

I think the Clarinet Quintet is a fine work - wasn't it broadcast recently? I, too, like his Shropshire Lad.

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks indeed for all the contributions on yesterday's concert. The comments about Somervell were enlightening, and the story about Elisabeth Maconchy being mistook (!) for Ms Lutyens was mentioned a number of years ago on a broadcast about Maconchy in which her composer-daughter, Nicola LeFanu, told of such!

[Bryn]

Anyone here have further information re next Thursday's "Judith: Concerto for Orchestra/Bluebeard's Castle', a novel production of music by Bartok devised by Katie Mitchell for Bavarian State Opera which was recorded early last year in Munich"?

[Serial_Apologist]

Anyone here have further information re next Thursday's "Judith: Concerto for Orchestra/Bluebeard's Castle', a novel production of music by Bartok devised by Katie Mitchell for Bavarian State Opera which was recorded early last year in Munich"?

The BBC link is too short of info to be worth posting, other than for the iplayer after the event, but I can't find anything more, except Ms Mitchell appears to be a "big noise" in opera productions - I expect opera buffs know all about her?

[Cockney Sparrow]

On a very quick look, seems relevant:

https://www.staatsoper.de/en/news/judith.html

https://www.staatsoper.de/en/productioninfo/concerto-for-orchestra-herzog-blaubarts-burg.html

(Googled "Bavarian State Opera Katie Mitchell 2020")

[Bryn]

Many thanks. They make it far more clear. I will try to remember to access the video in a few weeks time.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Just scrolled back on my Roy Opera H account, ah..... just scrolling past- a lot of happy memories - when will I go again??

I went to Mitchell's production of Lucia di Lammermoor in 2017. I thought I remembered that name. Generally not too off beam production.

I did give "feedback" - I was in the upper reaches of The House, and in the scene in the bathroom the running water sound effects went on an awfully long time - and it sounded to me like I was right next to the plumbing!

[Richard Barrett]

Ms Mitchell appears to be a "big noise" in opera productions - I expect opera buffs know all about her?

A non-opera buff writes: I imagine she's far better known in theatre circles, having been one of Britain's leading theatre directors for some years, with the inevitable result that she works more abroad than in the UK (hence the operas, since they don't involve the same kind of language barrier).

[Nick Armstrong]

Afternoon Concert - general thread

(Strangely I can find no previous general thread for this programme)

Greatly enjoyed hearing Dvořák’s lovely and underrated (in terms of frequency of performance) Third Symphony today, beautifully played and conducted

Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 3 in E flat, op. 10

German Symphony Orchestra, Berlin
Jakub Hrůša

It starts around 49 minutes into the programme

[Bryn]

There have been several posts on a thread using its old name today: http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...Afternoon-on-3