BaL 27.05.17 - Sullivan: The Mikado

[vinteuil]

There are other knighted conductors of whom it can be said "knew his G & T"

... G & T - so infinitely preferable to G & S.


In fact I don't think I could endure G & S unless incapacitated by half a dozen serious G & Ts...






.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

(And professionals often do G&S so badly - deliberately "playing for laughs", which kills the fun of any kind of comedy.)

The Opera North Ruddigore ( few years ago) was excellent. (They even used a real stage. )

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The Opera North Ruddigore ( few years ago) was excellent.

I suppose so - if you wanted singers who couldn't keep up with the conductor (& orchestra) tempi, the "hilarity" of one of the women in the chorus leaping up an octave in the "Hail the Bridegroom, Hail the BRIDE!" EVERY time, and mugging "acting". It was actually that very production that I had in mind when I posted about bad professional performances.

(They even used a real stage. )

Ah! That must've been why the transformation from painted portraits to real singers didn't work well. (And the Vicar who voted "against" the others was so far upstage he couldn't be seen! Did you really think it was "excellent", Alpie?! )

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I suppose so - if you wanted singers who couldn't keep up with the conductor (& orchestra) tempi, the "hilarity" of one of the women in the chorus leaping up an octave in the "Hail the Bridegroom, Hail the BRIDE!" EVERY time, and mugging "acting". It was actually that very production that I had in mind when I posted about bad professional performances.

I don't think we were there one the same day, ferney.

(And the Vicar who voted "against" the others was so far upstage he couldn't be seen!

Well, Frau A and I were in a box - a joint birthday present from our daughter, so we could see even the things we weren't supposed to see.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/7130347/Opera-Norths-Ruddigore-review.html

https://bachtrack.com/review-ruddigore-opera-north

http://www.theartsdesk.com/opera/ruddigore-opera-north

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/oct/03/ruddigore-opera-north-review

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/review-ruddigore-opera-north-theatre-1406871

[pastoralguy]

Mrs. PG and I have been listening to the Sargent's EMI recording tonight. Brought back some happy and unhappy memories from years spent playing it.

[Prommer]

Anyone been to the all-male Mikado which has been touring, and getting very good reviews? How do they manage the vocal parts for a start?

[ChrisBennell]

Curiously, I bought the Sydney Opera DVD of this only last week - we found this a glorious production with excellent sound, dialogue and acting. The only drawback is the narrow screen size. Otherwise it made for a highly enjoyable evenings entertainment. This followed buying the Gondoliers last Christmas, and now Patience. These are highly professional productions with snappy choreography (particularly Gondoliers). Just a few Aussie jokes to contend with.

Took me back to trips with my family in the 50s to the D'Oyly Carte at the Princes Theatre (now the Shaftesbury).

[pastoralguy]

Bump.

[pastoralguy]

So, Mackerras carries the flag. Surprisingly, not a terrible strong field. Most recordings illustrated were either poor performances, poor recordings or both.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

So, Mackerras carries the flag. Surprisingly, not a terrible strong field. Most recordings illustrated were either poor performances, poor recordings or both.

Yes - it confirmed my preference for my memories of the productions I've been involved in over recorded professionals (although Valerie Masterson ... )

Curious, following ChrisBennell's enthusiasm for the Sydney Opera performance in #22, that the reviewer stated that the D'Oyly Carte d'Or DVD was the only available recording with dialogue. I don't think that this version was even mentioned?

[visualnickmos]

I'd been looking forward to this BaL - more out of curiosity than anything else, but found myself becoming increasingly irritated as the programme developed. Those irksome 'music-hall' chunks - not at all my bag. It kind of confirmed my life-long general disdain of G&S. The nearest I could get is Sargent's. It has at least a semblance of quality about it. But in general (my loss, which I fully accept) it is not something I well ever listen to... I have tried - many times over the years. Meanwhile, back to my Mahler 7 with Bernstein and the New Yorkers.
Is G&S a bit of a 'marmite' thing, I wonder?

[ChrisBennell]

Yes - it confirmed my preference for my memories of the productions I've been involved in over recorded professionals (although Valerie Masterson ... )

Curious, following ChrisBennell's enthusiasm for the Sydney Opera performance in #22, that the reviewer stated that the D'Oyly Carte d'Or DVD was the only available recording with dialogue. I don't think that this version was even mentioned?

Yes - a slightly disappointing BAL. I will stick with the Sydney (Australian Opera) version. I have played one of these productions to friends (from the same 1950s vintage as me!) and all have been highly enthusiastic!

[ardcarp]

Reading the posts so far, I've been so glad that not too many people (tut tut vinteuil!) have been sniffy about G&S. It was a thing of its time and both the humour, satire and music have to be enjoyed in that context. And of course Sullivan knew he was wielding his 'popular' pen..doing so with great effect, especially his orchestrations, dashed off at who knows what speed.

Taking part in school performances in the 50s and 60s...an all-boys school to boot....was a profound formative influence and I shall be ever grateful to the staff (probably all dead now) who gave so much time and commitment to put on shows which filled a local town hall 5 nights on the trot. My own experience of Mikado was as an alto in the chorus as my voice was on the change. What I do remember about it though was our Katisha, a sixth-former with a counter-tenor voice that could pierce armour plateing at 100 metres. He was a truly scary figure on stage...knitting needles in the hair and all that....and the line, "And I think I am sufficiently decayed" sung an octave lower in basso profundo brought the house down without fail.

So glad the D'O Carte DVD came in second as it had that wonderful period feel to it, and I'm glad the reviewer mentioned what light voices some of the principals had. Didn't they do "Sing a Merry Madrigal" beautifully?

Apart from being The Defendant in a student performance of Trial by Jury (put on by medical students, not musos!) I have had no further involvement in G&S, but I resolve never to be sniffy about it. I fully accept it is not to everyone's taste, of course.

[Bryn]

So, Mackerras carries the flag. Surprisingly, not a terrible strong field. Most recordings illustrated were either poor performances, poor recordings or both.

Now where do I find a copy of this "<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />" recording mentioned in the Record Review listing?

(Not the I actually want even the MacKerras recording).

[pastoralguy]

Now where do I find a copy of this "<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />" recording mentioned in the Record Review listing?

(Not the I actually want even the MacKerras recording).

Huh?