BaL 20.06.15 - Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

[ardcarp]

I didn't hear Saturday's BAL. Anyway I thought I'd wait until the thread died down a bit to mention my experience as a student. A group of us went to see 'The Mastersingers' sung in English at Sadlers Wells. It must have been in the late 1960s. Unfortunately Hans Sachs had been taken ill, and they'd flown one in from Germany. He sang his part in German. It was in one sense quite comic, but although not a German speaker, I didn't 'lose the plot'.

[BBMmk2]

Did the reviewer, Nicholas Barawanath, cite what DVD recording he liked? I must have missed this section.

[Nick Armstrong]

Did the reviewer, Nicholas Barawanath, cite what DVD recording he liked? I must have missed this section.

... and also the reference above! Yes:

it was odd that he 'illustrated' the Jurowski DVD - and then didn' t mention it in his DVD recommendations, favouring Levine and Thielemann without playing any extracts... (incidentally, the Jurowski video is, amazingly, also on YouTube in its entirety, divided into two parts).

... and you already thanked ferney for answering that question the first time you asked!

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?13541-BaL-20-06-15-Wagner-Die-Meistersinger-von-Nürnberg&p=492827#post492827

[duncan]

I have seen the Levine/Met. production in the house and with some of the same principals, though not the DVD. It is a clear telling of the tale and very traditional which will appeal to many. I must admit I thought the Bavarian kitsch was unintentionally hilarious at times and I was fully expecting the brown shirts to march on at any moment in the finale. This says as much about me as it does about the production and you may not have these concerns.

It's a crying shame there do not appear to be visual recordings of either Welsh or London versions of Richard Jones' magnificent production of this wonderful work.

[BBMmk2]

... and also the reference above! Yes:



... and you already thanked ferney for answering that question the first time you asked!

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...827#post492827

Hmmm note to self: Must work harder in focusing on threads more!

[Nick Armstrong]

Hmmm note to self: Must work harder in focusing on threads more!

The ale is sure to help!

[David-G]

I didn't hear Saturday's BAL. Anyway I thought I'd wait until the thread died down a bit to mention my experience as a student. A group of us went to see 'The Mastersingers' sung in English at Sadlers Wells. It must have been in the late 1960s. Unfortunately Hans Sachs had been taken ill, and they'd flown one in from Germany. He sang his part in German. It was in one sense quite comic, but although not a German speaker, I didn't 'lose the plot'.

I had a similar experience at the ENO in the 1970s, at a performance of "Idomeneo". The Ilia was ill, and the part was taken by the divine Lucia Popp, who sang in Italian. An occasion to be treasured.

[slarty]

Also at the ENO in the 70s a performance of Siegfried was saved at the last minute when John Dobson of Covent Garden stepped in literally at the last minute to sing Mime
He sang the part in German, however at the entrance of the Wanderer in Act 1, Norman Bailey, who could sing the role in both languages, sang the whole question and answer scene with Mime in German, to at least keep it in synch with each other, Reggie Goodall in the pit seemed to catch the feeling for it as well and the scene was magnificent.
great stuff.

[visualnickmos]

I had a similar experience at the ENO in the 1970s, at a performance of "Idomeneo". The Ilia was ill, and the part was taken by the divine Lucia Popp, who sang in Italian. An occasion to be treasured.

She was the STAND-IN!!!!!!!


Putting it mildly! She is beyond wonderful......

[David-G]

She was the STAND-IN!!!!!!!


Putting it mildly! She is beyond wonderful......

I know!!

[Stanley Stewart]

I also attended this performance and recall the ripple of excitement in the auditorium when Lord Harewood announced that Lois McDonall was indisposed but he'd managed to persuade the ROH management, where Lucia Popp had been rehearsing 'up the road', to release the soprano at short notice to sing the role of Ilia, albeit in Italian. Not only a feast of glorious singing which brought the house down - and the building next door - at her curtain call. There was obviously minimal time for rehearsal and Rita Hunter, Elettra, indicated the stage moves to Ms Popp in their scenes together which added a fascinating piquancy to the occasion. Indeed, memorable.

[Flosshilde]

Also at the ENO in the 70s a performance of Siegfried was saved at the last minute when John Dobson of Covent Garden stepped in literally at the last minute to sing Mime
He sang the part in German, however at the entrance of the Wanderer in Act 1, Norman Bailey, who could sing the role in both languages, sang the whole question and answer scene with Mime in German, to at least keep it in synch with each other, Reggie Goodall in the pit seemed to catch the feeling for it as well and the scene was magnificent.
great stuff.

I thinkm I was at that performance, Slarty

[Prommer]

Great recollections... And later Siegfried Jerusalem singing Parsifal in German at the ENO in the 80s... I think!

[slarty]

I thinkm I was at that performance, Slarty

Do you remember at the first interval hearing some asinine comments from certain audience members that Bailey had no right to change into German as he did....and so on, ah.....happy days.

[Flosshilde]

My memory for the details isn't as good as yours, I'm afraid . Your account rang a bell & revived a long-burried memory.