Britten on the Beach

[ardcarp]

Is anyone going to Grimes on Aldeburgh beach next week?

http://www.aldeburgh.co.uk/events/grimes-aldeburgh

I gather the orchestra is pre-recorded but that the singing (including the chorus of Opera North) will be live (i.e. not total karaoke). Unfortunately I live about as far away as one can get from East Anglia, but it would be good to hear from someone who attends in person. Fingers crossed for reasonable weather.

[Mary Chambers]

Apparently the dress rehearsal went very well. I don't think I could stand the discomfort now, but (karaoke or not) I do think it's a brilliant, mad idea.

I suspect there's been another thread on this.

[salymap]

I know the beach Mary and it will always be associated with Britten to me, as the Malverns are to Elgar.

Sadly I relied on unmusical relatives in Suffolk to get me there so never attended the Aldeburgh Festival.

Good luck to all concerned, they'll need it.

[ARBurton]

According to the paper today, it`s being filmed for showing in cinemas later

[mercia]

I remember looking at that webpage before and wondering why under 27s (in particular) can go half-price

[Mr Pee]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jun/12/peter-grimes-on-the-beach

[gradus]

I'm going on Friday so am eagerly scanning the weather forecasts. It seems the performance will transfer to the church hall if the weather is too inclement.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It seems the performance will transfer to the church hall if the weather is too inclement.

Oh, no! Surely, it should be a hostelry?!

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm going on Friday so am eagerly scanning the weather forecasts. It seems the performance will transfer to the church hall if the weather is too inclement.

At the moment the weather for that part of the world looks OK for Friday, gradus.

[amateur51]

I'm going on Friday so am eagerly scanning the weather forecasts. It seems the performance will transfer to the church hall if the weather is too inclement.

I hope that you get good weather & that the whole enterprise is a great success, gradus - may we have a report in due course, please?

[ardcarp]

Thanks for the Guardian article, MrPee. It seems I was wrong (#1) in suggesting Opera North Chorus was going to be there live. It's just the soloists, so it is going to be a bit karaoke. Two facts (a) that under 27s go free and that (b) it starts at 8.30pm explains why my youngest daughter is driving all the way from Leicester, after work, to see it! I'll report back with her comments.

[Mary Chambers]

I think the chorus is singing live with their own recording as back-up!

[Mr Pee]

I think the chorus is singing live with their own recording as back-up!

From that article I linked to, one would certainly surmise that the only live aspect will be the soloists, with the rest pre-recorded.

[Mary Chambers]

From that article I linked to, one would certainly surmise that the only live aspect will be the soloists, with the rest pre-recorded.

I was just reporting what I'd heard on the grapevine. I think one has to accept that a venture like this won't be a normal theatrical performance, any more than a film is, and accept it for what it is.

[ardcarp]

I'll let you know about the chorus after Monday night! I mean, there need to be some villagers actually present, so maybe it will be a reduced team karaokiing to a recording of the whole lot.