BaL 27.04.19 - Gershwin: Porgy and Bess

[Dave2002]

Shame - this was on offer a while back. Now I don't suppose we'll ever see a CD version again! https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Gershwin-...r=8-1-fkmrnull

I thought about it at the time, but didn't hit the buy button.

[mikealdren]

Despite my dislike of the twofer format, Ed Seckerson was excellent and McG was relatively retrained, a very good BaL that could have been even better with a single presenter.

[richardfinegold]

Discussion begins with comments about Gershwin being an over-writer, and Porgy being a prime example. Makes me think that perhaps my highlights disc will be enough...

Music starts with Maazel's introduction followed by various Summertimes - staring with Rattle's Harolyn Blackwell, "very slow, pure, tiny bit arch, blues projected operatically...", followed by Helen Colbert, rougher, gospel singing approach. Barbara Hendricks for Maazel occupies the middle ground and is preferred by Seckerson (personally I prefer Blackwell's purer soprano.)

The starter for Porgy is a troubled sounding Winters, but I prefer Willard White's warmer performance (Rattle)

For Seckerson, Harnoncourt's Porgy, Jonathan Lemalu, sounds "muddy, caricatured, a pastiche of Al Jolsen". I agree! And he slams Harnoncourt's white chorus (!) "embarrassment, pedestrian, delegation from the Vienna town council..." :)

He uses Houston Grand Opera (DeMain) to demonstrate how the chorus should sound. Wilma Shakesnider "raising the heavens". This is powerful stuff! I can see what got Richard going.

Nashville Symphony Chorus, John Mauceri, "pedestrian", so the locals don't always get it right!

Ed finds a Parsifal section in Rattle, including White's & Hendricks tremendous performance of "Bess, you is my woman now", with Rattle's divine slowness bringing out the full beauty of the song, which is played at length. Well done Seck! "Just gorgeous", he says. But he's missing Broadway. He wants "earthiness" and more of a "conversational tone" and finds it in the other critics favourite Leontyne Price. But I preferred Hendricks, and do you even get Porgy on that disc? Price's disc is ultimately dismissed for being just bits and pieces.

Robert Mack overcooking "It ain't necessarily so", just sounding ridiculous. Rattle's "Sporting Life" can't be accused of this, might be accused of under cooking. That boat "leaving for New York" sounds much better from Larry Marshall, Houston Grand Opera, as Ed says, "you know the right thing when you hear it". You can really feel Bess would run off with Marshall.

Houston blew Seckerson "for six" and is his library choice. Caveat - he's sad about losing Willard White, and I don't think the Houston Porgy comes up to Willard's standard in Porgy's "On his way" song at the end.

In summary, if I was to add anything to my library, I would certainly take Ed (and Richard's...) advice and go for Houston. Listening to Rattle's highlights disc didn't have me jumping up and down thinking, "I must leave for the CD shop to get the full version"; it doesn't have the "shake, rattle and role" in Sporting Life's set pieces to make my want to dive into the full drama.... and the Houston performance sounds to have that, from Ed's examples, and from what Richard says. But I'd want Wlllard White's takes on Porgy's big songs, and Harolyn Blackwell's Summertime, so I'd be keeping my highlights disk.

I thought this was a great BAL.

I enjoyed your summary. After scrolling through multiple complaints about the format it’s a relief to find a post about what actually transpired. I had listened through the Rattle a few days ago and enjoyed it, and Willard White, very much. I dug up an album of White singing Copland Old American Songs and have been playing that for the last two days. The Rattle does have great leads and I did warm more to the Sportin Life (my favorite character) this time around

[DracoM]

Mal: thx. Far more succinct and informative than the air time schemozzle.
Yes, Mr Seckerson IS good, but not when diluted.

[richardfinegold]

Shame - this was on offer a while back. Now I don't suppose we'll ever see a CD version again! https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Gershwin-...r=8-1-fkmrnull

I thought about it at the time, but didn't hit the buy button.

I used to own the lps but never acquired it digitally. The lps did have some great photos from the production

[edashtav]

A dissenting voice here. I enjoyed every minute and wondered again why Ed Seckerson, whose knowledge, love and joy in the piece was evident throughout isn't given his own programme on music theatre. My only quibble -I wish more time had been allowed for Ed to develop his views on the respective merits of the performances.

I'm with the dissenters after today's twofer which was the best so far. ES was superb and Andrew made some useful interjections. I was disappointed like you, gradus, that Ed wasn't given a full hour for his analysis. However, punches were not pulled and I found this BAL to be authoritative, educational and enlightening. We should give the new format time to settle. Learning is happening and I shall keep my powder dry in the hope that the advance shown by this 'one-off' will be sustained.

Do I detect that R.3 is following R.5 in creating Shows based around lead presenters: 'Emma Barnett's, Stephen Nolan's and soon, maybe, "Andrew MacGregor's Record Review"?

[Bryn]

Shame - this was on offer a while back. Now I don't suppose we'll ever see a CD version again! https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Gershwin-...r=8-1-fkmrnull

I thought about it at the time, but didn't hit the buy button.

Not a bargain price but https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gershwin-Po.../dp/B000003EMO

That said, I managed to find a "Used - Very Good" condition set from amazon.de for £21.31including p&p. There was a slightly cheaper "As New" copy, but only for delivery within Germany.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

thanks for your summary.
Can you do one each week, then I'll not bother listening if the work or presentation doesn't appeal, but still get the gist of what's been said?

I enjoyed your summary.

Mal: thx. Far more succinct and informative than the air time schemozzle.

[teamsaint]

Thinking about other shows led by duel presenters , eg Kermode and Mayo, Radcliffe and Maconie, despite the fact that those combos clearly work well at some level, and are popular, they do have a tendency to emphasise specific broadcasting tics in the individuals at the points where they are interacting with each other.
Might be down to them having a great deal more experience/ training in communicating individually.

[DracoM]

But some of those named above are very regular duellists with same partner - but AMcG is the BAL fixed point of the solar system and other reviewers merely revolve in and around the orbit.

[Dave2002]

Not a bargain price but https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gershwin-Po.../dp/B000003EMO

That said, I managed to find a "Used - Very Good" condition set from amazon.de for £21.31including p&p. There was a slightly cheaper "As New" copy, but only for delivery within Germany.

Not the same version as the recommended one, but there is this Blu-Ray video also conducted by Demain. Did the review cover video versions at all? I’m sure earlier BALs did this, if there were obvious video recordings.

https://www.amazon.it/George-Gershwin-Porgy-Eric-Owens/dp/B00IAV084Y/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_it_IT=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=Demaine+porgy&qid=1556373075&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell

[ardcarp]

Does anyone remember Spitting Image doing David Owen and David Steele? Ed Seckerson was definitely the former in this BAL !

[Pulcinella]

I have received a reply; has anyone else?

************************************************** ******************************

Dear xxxxxxxxxxx

Many thanks for writing. Very sorry you don't like the live format. A lot of people, including firm fans of the programme, tell us that they find they prefer it. But obviously it is great to get feedback so thanks for letting us know your thoughts.

We hope you find something to like in forthcoming programmes. Thanks again for taking the time to write in.

Record Review Team

[Sir Velo]

I have received a reply; has anyone else?

************************************************** ******************************

Dear xxxxxxxxxxx

Many thanks for writing. Very sorry you don't like the live format. A lot of people, including firm fans of the programme, tell us that they find they prefer it. But obviously it is great to get feedback so thanks for letting us know your thoughts.

We hope you find something to like in forthcoming programmes. Thanks again for taking the time to write in.

Record Review Team

That's a really insultingly poor, mealy mouthed reply, capped off by that stock straw man argument again - other people like it!

So what? You don't. Most of us don't. For precisely the reasons I'm sure you gave - the lack of serious and in depth analysis being the chief among many crimes.

One wonders whether they tell the people who (allegedly) tell them they like it, "Well thanks for the feedback, a lot of people don't like the new format but we're going to keep on with it until there's no one left listening"?

If they had any guts, they would organise an independently run poll for all listeners so as to settle the argument once and for all.

[Pulcinella]

That's a really insultingly poor, mealy mouthed reply, capped off by that stock straw man argument again - other people like it!

So what? You don't. Most of us don't. For precisely the reasons I'm sure you gave - the lack of serious and in depth analysis being the chief among many crimes.

One wonders whether they tell the people who (allegedly) tell them they like it, "Well thanks for the feedback, a lot of people don't like the new format but we're going to keep on with it until there's no one left listening"?

If they had any guts, they would organise an independently run poll for all listeners so as to settle the argument once and for all.

I didn't actually spend that much time writing in detail, and merely sent this:

Good morning

I am yet another (now ex)listener who is completely put off Building a Library because of the now predominant changed format into a 'discussion' rather than an expert presentation.

I hope you will consider the complaints that I know you are receiving, and will restore the segment of CD review to its former style.

Better still, encourage the powers that be to bring back Interpretations on Record too.