BBC WNO perform Verdi's Requiem for St David's Day

[Hornspieler]

Any comments on the performance?

HS

[Roehre]

Any comments on the performance?

HS

Not on the performance. But I think it is a bit weird to celebrate St.David's Day with a Requiem.
What next? Celebrate the Queen's birthday with a Funeral March?

[Resurrection Man]

Any comments on the performance?

HS

Pedestrian?

[Flosshilde]

What next? Celebrate the Queen's birthday with a Funeral March?

But I think I'd agree with RM about the performance

[salymap]

Disappointing. Later today I hope to play my old recording of the RIAS Kammerchor, choir of St Hedwig's Cathedral and RIAS Symphony Orchestra, Berlin, conducted by Ferenc Fricsay. It takes some beating, old though it is.

[mercia]

I enjoyed it - excellent in all departments I thought, soloists, chorus particularly - slightly slow tempi occasionally, none the worse for that except I thought the soprano soloist wanted to move things on a bit - perhaps worried she might run out of puff

indeed an odd choice for St David's Day ? - could Libera me be a motto for devolution ?

more importantly what was HS's opinion of the performance ?

[Hornspieler]

I enjoyed it - excellent in all departments I thought, soloists, chorus particularly - slightly slow tempi occasionally, none the worse for that except I thought the soprano soloist wanted to move things on a bit - perhaps worried she might run out of puff

indeed an odd choice for St David's Day ? - could Libera me be a motto for devolution ?

more importantly what was HS's opinion of the performance ?

To me, everyone's opinion is of importance and mine is no more so than other people's.

The opening was a bit too subdued for me, but the chorus came into their own later.

When the Tenor and Bass started, the whole room shook with those incredible vibratos - Beethoven's headphones nearly fell off and I was wondering whether our friend waldhorn was writhing in agony at that excessive wobbling.
The lady soloists entered a little tentatively but soon settled to their tasks and their nervous trembles almost disappeared.

All confidence was restored by the Dies Irae and by then, I was starting to enjoy what is, for me, one of Guiseppe Verdi's greatest masterworks.

This is a big trial for the soprano and I think she just managed it. As for the tenor, all I can say is "Go Compare"

I've heard better, but I've certainly heard a lot worse.

HS

[salymap]

Thanks for that HS. Actually I gave up before the end

[Richard Tarleton]

As for the tenor, all I can say is "Go Compare"

HS

They've actually given him a solo concert at this year's St David's Festival - "International opera star [sic] Wynne Evans, of Go Compare fame, who is sure to dazzle us with his wonderful voice..."

Doesn't say what he'll be singing. The whole point of the ads is that he's exceptionally annoying...I expect it'll be quite difficult to play it straight.

[amateur51]

No word yet about the chorus, which of course is one of the reasons why it was chosen for St David's Day.

Many many years ago I was 'stepping out' with a young man (I was young in those days too ) whom I was eager to impress and I took him to the Royal Festival Hall for a performance of Verdi Requiem conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes and featuring a Welsh choir. I enjoyed it hugely but my friend wriggled quite a lot. Weeks later he took me to a Dolly Parton concert which I think I enjoyed more than he had enjoyed Verdi

[Hornspieler]

No word yet about the chorus, which of course is one of the reasons why it was chosen for St David's Day.

I thought the chorus did very well.

It reminded me of when we played for the National Eistedfford(Sp?) in Merthyr Tydfil.

Beethoven's Choral symphony featuring among others the great Geraint Evans.

Mansel Thomas had gathered together small choirs from all over the Principality and they sang the Ode to Joy in Welsh.

There was a row of tenors sitting behind me and one of them leaned forward.

"Can you play all those notes, man?"

"Oh yes, most of them"

"We're not very good at this, but you should hear us singing hymns, man!"

HS

[Nick Armstrong]

No word yet about the chorus, which of course is one of the reasons why it was chosen for St David's Day.

Many many years ago I was 'stepping out' with a young man (I was young in those days too ) whom I was eager to impress and I took him to the Royal Festival Hall for a performance of Verdi Requiem conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes and featuring a Welsh choir. I enjoyed it hugely but my friend wriggled quite a lot. Weeks later he took me to a Dolly Parton concert which I think I enjoyed more than he had enjoyed Verdi

Nice HS!

Was it really the 'Go Compare' bloke singing the tenor solos in the Verdi?

[Rosie55]

Having searched 'verdi requiem st david's hall' for the performance on google (for an iplayer link) I came across a link for this 1980s live performance with the soloists margaret price, della jones, stewart burrows and robert lloyd. a rare performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE8orNCAOl0

i enjoyed the one from last week too, but not as much as the above link

[Hornspieler]

Nice HS!

Was it really the 'Go Compare' bloke singing the tenor solos in the Verdi?

I have no idea, Cali. It was the vibrato that got me. "Shaken but not stirred".

Just to let you all know: I am having computer trouble at the moment and can neither send nor receive emails, but I can receive messages on this forum (until that packs up as well)

Good morning everybody!

HS

[amateur51]

I have no idea, Cali. It was the vibrato that got me. "Shaken but not stirred".

Just to let you all know: I am having computer trouble at the moment and can neither send nor receive emails, but I can receive messages on this forum (until that packs up as well)

Good morning everybody!

HS

Sorry to hear about your computyer problems HS - I hope that they can be resolved swiftly ;ok:

Thanks for the review of the chorus in the Verdi.