Opera North's Siegfried 'live'

[amateur51]

Teamsaint, I'm delighted that you're enjoying the ENO Ring. ARBurton, I'm sorry that you didn't care for the Goodall Mastersingers. I was never lucky enough to encounter it in the theatre but I still remember how bowled over I was the first time I heard the recording - and that was back in the seventies on a terrible quality quarter-track reel-to-reel tape copy peddled by a slightly shady chap in the street outside the Coliseum.

You paint a lovely picture, Bert

[teamsaint]

You paint a lovely picture, Bert

That was exactly what I was going to say.

A kind of up very up market version of recording the top 40 from fluff Freeman !

[Bert Coules]

It's not easy to convey the way that the ENO Ring affected those of us who grew up with it as the company did the same: that shared experience of discovering the power of the work, blindingly illuminated by hearing it in English, the sheer struggle to get it cast, rehearsed and performed, the way that everybody concerned, on both side of the footlights, lived through the early doubts, the slowly mounting confidence, the final triumph.

I've never known anything like it, that intense identification with the performers, the creative team and the administrators, before or since. And if like me you didn't see the Mastersingers which preceded the Ring, then you knew that the experience was never going to be available again: Goodall declared that he would conduct no more performances and of course the same "can they actually bring it off?" feeling that I was living through with the Ring had also passed me by. The closest I could get would be to hear it - and I would have done almost anything to achieve that: buying a poor quality third-generation dub on cheap and nasty tape stock from a shady character who hung around the Coli as the shows came down was nothing compared to the lengths I would have gone to.

[Stanley Stewart]

Thanks for the memories, Bert. Sheer nectar. I was fortunate to see The Mastersingers, conducted by Goodall, a couple of times and the production was a substantial gift of a legacy from Sadler's Wells and remained "an experience" when Charles Mackerras took over the podium a few years later. The last time I saw this production was in 1976 and it was a joy to see Norman Bailey again as Hans Sachs with Scottish Opera in 1977, conducted by Alex Gibson. I also have a video/DVD transfer of the Farewell to George, ENO Gala, when Goodall returned to conduct Act 3, Sc I, in its original setting. Now prompted to get the video/DVD of "The Quest for Reginald Goodall" (1985 - 62 mins) off the shelves for Satutrday afternoon viewing. A treasure chest of memories. A surprise reception for Reggie at Covent Garden - initially discomfited, as expected, but he quickly rose to the occasion in the company of Joan Cross and Constance Shacklock, eager to exchange memories.

[Bert Coules]

Thanks for the reply; glad you enjoyed my ramble. I had no idea that the Farewell to George gala was filmed: was it televised? I'd love to see that Mastersingers scene.

I do have The Quest For... which is a marvellous programme. As well as that reception, it's rewarding to see Goodall slowly relaxing and opening up during the interview with Humphrey Burton.

[teamsaint]

Bert, i had no idea about the history of this . It is fascinating. Many thanks for your informative and entertaining posts.

[amateur51]

Here's Goodall's ENO Tristan 'live'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2EeQVwp1WY

How remarkable!

[Prommer]

Bert, Goodall reminiscence highly welcome! I would love to see The Quest again, but have never been able to track it down. I do have the complete 'Goodbye George' Gala, however, with Reggie conducting Gwynne Howell in the Wahn monologue. Good footage of Reggie conducting in the pit, and the set you mention is indeed marvellous.

[Stanley Stewart]

# 50 The "Goodbye, George, Gala" was recorded at The Coli in 1985 and transmitted by C4. The 'Power House' champions, David Pountney & Mark Elder - both looking suitably boyish - were interviewed near the Stage Door alleyways by Jonathan Miller, before the performance, and the stage presentation undertaken by the stentorian Donald Sinden, reminding us of his Major-Domo in 'Ariadne auf Naxos' a few years earlier. All skilfully staged on a platform of black and white squares with neat cut-outs as required. Running time: 93 mins.

Lots of ENO stalwarts, Jo Barstow literally stopping the show with 'pace, pace' but it was also good to see Valerie Masterson, Rosalind Plowright, Sarah Walker, Emile Belcourt, Richard van Allan et al. The 'surprise' guest was Jessye Norman whose 'Elizabeth's Greeting' not only brought down the house, but the building next door as well.
The programme was tightly edited and I noticed Norman Bailey in the final walkdown, although Gwynne Howell sang Sachs Act III monologue but I recall that he'd taken over the role at this time; Reginald Goodall was very much at the helm for this part of the Gala.

I've just transferred the DVD to hard disk, Bert, and would be glad to send you a copy with my complements - a PM will suffice. The companion piece is the Masterworks, Six Pieces of Britain from July 1999; Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings, recorded at Blythburgh Church in Suffolk. Ian Bostridge is the soloist with Timothy Brown as horn soloist with Sir Colin Davis exquisitely conducting the strings of the BBC SO. A treat is so many respects. Running time, 74 mins.