Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

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  • vinteuil
    Full Member
    • Nov 2010
    • 12782

    Originally posted by Lat-Literal View Post
    Beecham is to be Artist of the Week or some such.

    I don't often listen to EC but for this reason I will be tuning in at the appropriate times.
    .. if Beecham is to be Artist of the Week or some such ....well, I don't often listen to EC - but if only for this reason I will be certainly not be tuning in...

    Comment

    • Stanfordian
      Full Member
      • Dec 2010
      • 9308

      Originally posted by Lawrence View Post
      For me there is absolutely no way that I would ever consider Anne Boyd's "As I crossed a Bridge of Dreams", the last item on today's programme, an "Essential Classic".
      I agree. Unessential and not a classsic!

      Comment

      • Lat-Literal
        Guest
        • Aug 2015
        • 6983

        Originally posted by vinteuil View Post
        .. if Beecham is to be Artist of the Week or some such ....well, I don't often listen to EC - but if only for this reason I will be certainly not be tuning in...
        That has put the R3 programme makers who take notice of what we say in a spin.

        Luckily, they have a tray called Marmite.

        Comment

        • vinteuil
          Full Member
          • Nov 2010
          • 12782

          Originally posted by Lat-Literal View Post

          Luckily, they have a tray called Marmite.
          .


          Comment

          • Stanley Stewart
            Late Member
            • Nov 2010
            • 1071

            A double blessing on Essential Classics, a follow-up after the joy of listening to broadcaster, Hugh Sykes, last week; to select Simon Callow as guest from 6 Feb - a fine, distinguished actor, director, as well as an enticing writer! My book collection has shelf room for his biographies, My Life in Pieces, Shooting the Actor, as well as his fastidious research for his biographies of Orson Welles and Charles Laughton, and an informed scribe on NT productions.

            I first made casual acquaintance with Simon when he was a box office assistant at the Old Vic in the mid 70s - a shrewd move which kept him in the eye of NT casting directors - and you certainly couldn't miss him. Even when seated out-front, his laugh could be instantly identified! He was trained at the Drama Centre at Camden which specialised in the principles of Laban notation by two foremost practitioners, Yat Malmgren and Christopher Fettes. I've always deeply regretted being indifferent to their tuition when they taught at the RADA,early 60s, before they left to establish the Drama Centre.

            Simon Callow came into the limelight in Peter Hall's 1979 production of Peter Shaffer's, Amadeus at the NT, now well established at the South Bank. Paul Scofield, a master of human complexity, played Salieri, probably his major performance before his John Gabriel Borkman in the 90s. Useful reminisce about the rehearsals in Monday's programme. A key scene is a duo between the two men when Mozart thanks Salieri for his march - but, running over to the keyboard, "...if you changed this phrase here? altered the rhythm a little? used a little harmony?" - before he turned the Italian's anonymous exercise in note-spinning into what the world will soon know as 'Non piu andrai' from Le Nozze di Figaro', the dynamic of the play in a single scene, mediocrity mocked by genius. The anger and hatred of Salieri, blood freezing and electric moment which rippled through the auditorium.




            Lively broadcasting with a couple of days to go.

            Comment

            • cloughie
              Full Member
              • Dec 2011
              • 22114

              Originally posted by Lat-Literal View Post
              That has put the R3 programme makers who take notice of what we say in a spin.
              You say that assuming that they give a ......

              .....actually I like Tommy's recordings - hope there's one of his unHIPP Haydn Symphonies in there.

              Comment

              • Eine Alpensinfonie
                Host
                • Nov 2010
                • 20570

                Originally posted by cloughie View Post
                You say that assuming that they give a ......

                .....actually I like Tommy's recordings - hope there's one of his unHIPP Haydn Symphonies in there.
                I think I have every one of his Mozart recordings that have made it to CD.

                Comment

                • Mal
                  Full Member
                  • Dec 2016
                  • 892

                  Originally posted by Stanley Stewart View Post
                  However, the real teaser,today, was the performance of Tchai 6, CSO/Solti,...
                  It was superb, the Scheherazade, with Reiner, had this most exciting of bands going full out as well. 11am Essential Classics/Artist of the Week looks like a spot worth keeping an eye on - last week (Chicago SO) was a great selection, and this week (Beecham) has been as well - his Schubert 5 and Haydn 100 (with RPO) are must listens...

                  Comment

                  • Stanley Stewart
                    Late Member
                    • Nov 2010
                    • 1071

                    How refreshing to have a stimulating guest on EC for the third week running, the inimitable Maggi Hambling! Happy reminders of visits to Aldeburgh and the anti-Britten undercurrent which bars any prospect of a statue in his name. However, the main attraction for me here is MH's experience and directness in discussing her creative juices, today the conflict between light and colour, alongside her musical choice between Beethoven and DSCH. A treat.
                    R3 in fine fettle.

                    Comment

                    • french frank
                      Administrator/Moderator
                      • Feb 2007
                      • 30241

                      Originally posted by Stanley Stewart View Post
                      R3 in fine fettle.


                      Half an hour focusing just on Maggi Hambling the artist would be more my idea of 'R3 in fine fettle'. If there are to be celebrated 'guests', surely it's better for them to discuss, in more depth, what it is they're celebrated for rather than drag in snippets of their musical choices? And the whole of the Beethoven string quartet and Shostakovich violin sonata.
                      It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                      Comment

                      • Stanley Stewart
                        Late Member
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 1071

                        Originally posted by french frank View Post


                        Half an hour focusing just on Maggi Hambling the artist would be more my idea of 'R3 in fine fettle'. If there are to be celebrated 'guests', surely it's better for them to discuss, in more depth, what it is they're celebrated for rather than drag in snippets of their musical choices? And the whole of the Beethoven string quartet and Shostakovich violin sonata.
                        Indeed, ff, a consummation devoutly to be wished!

                        Comment

                        • french frank
                          Administrator/Moderator
                          • Feb 2007
                          • 30241

                          Originally posted by Stanley Stewart View Post
                          Indeed, ff, a consummation devoutly to be wished!
                          It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                          Comment

                          • Sir Velo
                            Full Member
                            • Oct 2012
                            • 3225

                            Originally posted by Stanley Stewart View Post
                            Happy reminders of visits to Aldeburgh and the anti-Britten undercurrent which bars any prospect of a statue in his name.
                            Interesting; is that feeling still rife? I would have thought the town would have had much to thank B&P for, but that's gratitude for you!

                            Comment

                            • Stanley Stewart
                              Late Member
                              • Nov 2010
                              • 1071

                              Originally posted by Sir Velo View Post
                              Interesting; is that feeling still rife? I would have thought the town would have had much to thank B&P for, but that's gratitude for you!
                              Indeed, Sir Velo, Maggi Hambling twice made a reference to a local unwillingness to erect a Britten statue but Sarah Walker was not in a giving vein on the issue. Apart from homophobia, there may be a resentment of out-of-towners buying second homes and inflating property prices for local residents...perhaps.

                              Comment

                              • french frank
                                Administrator/Moderator
                                • Feb 2007
                                • 30241

                                Originally posted by Stanley Stewart View Post
                                not in a giving vein
                                Thou troublest me, SS?
                                It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                                Comment

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