BaL 30.11.19 - Purcell: Dido & Aeneas

[vinteuil]

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... and thanks to your reference, and Richd: B's recommendation - I'm going to get a copy!


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[MickyD]

Mea culpa.

Merely a clumsy way to distinguish the two in Alpie's list, but of course I should have said (the one with.....)!
No disrespect intended.

If my memory serves me well, wasn't this version originallly issued a long time ago on Chandos?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If my memory serves me well, wasn't this version originallly issued a long time ago on Chandos?

No - the CHANDOS is the one with Emma Kirkby. The BBC MusMag disc is the one also released by SONY:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dido-Aeneas-Parrott-Taverner-Choir/dp/B000023ZZ1

[vinteuil]

No - the CHANDOS is the one with Emma Kirkby. The BBC MusMag disc is the one also released by SONY:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dido-Aeneas.../dp/B000023ZZ1

... also on Avie, it seems :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IJKZ4Q8

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[MickyD]

Thanks for the correction, fernie...must say I've got lost over the years with all these recordings!

[Darloboy]

The Hogwood has always been a favourite of mine, but some time ago by chance I happened upon the René Jacobs version and was really impressed. It has a real whiff of the theatre about it.

The Hogwood was first choice in 2009 and the Jacobs in 2001 so you have both the previous recommendations. Back in 1998 there was a Purcell Stage Works BaL in which Christie was the recommendation for Dido alongside a special recommendation for Lewis because of Janet Baker’s interpretation.

[doversoul1]

9.30 today.

[Master Jacques]

I don't want to say too much, except a word in support of Andrew McGregor today. Because without him there wouldn't have been any BaL worth talking about this morning: just about everything said in the way of useful, descriptive commentary on what we heard, and what options there might be, were articulated by him.

His nervous reviewer had about three adjectives at her disposal ("dark", "fiery" and "iconic"), thought "counterfoil" meant the same as "foil", and despite a wealth of academic period knowledge, displayed little talent for conveying anything illuminating to newcomers or old hands about the piece's recorded history or dramatic range, both of which were left to McGregor. This was a good example of what happens if you let perfectly pleasant academics who have no broadcasting experience, and only a mite more knowledge of recorded history, loose on BaL.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This was a good example of what happens if you let perfectly pleasant academics who have no broadcasting experience, and only a mite more knowledge of recorded history, loose on BaL.

Surely a "bad example"?

But Dr Gibson does have "broadcasting experience", though - she has appeared on RR twice before, reviewing Dowland (18th March 2017) and on 30th March this year, discussing how recordings have illustrated changing performing styles over the years.

[doversoul1]

I don't want to say too much, except a word in support of Andrew McGregor today. Because without him there wouldn't have been any BaL worth talking about this morning: just about everything said in the way of useful, descriptive commentary on what we heard, and what options there might be, were articulated by him.

His nervous reviewer had about three adjectives at her disposal ("dark", "fiery" and "iconic"), thought "counterfoil" meant the same as "foil", and despite a wealth of academic period knowledge, displayed little talent for conveying anything illuminating to newcomers or old hands about the piece's recorded history or dramatic range, both of which were left to McGregor. This was a good example of what happens if you let perfectly pleasant academics who have no broadcasting experience, and only a mite more knowledge of recorded history, loose on BaL.

That’s very interesting. I was going to say Andrew McGregor was particularly overbearing today and I thought the reviewer would have done a good BaL had she been given a solo slot. A good example of ‘someone’s helping is another man’s overbearing’.

Did you like the top choice?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Although Andrew McGregor's interruption were as unnecessary and annoying as ever, I thought this was a very interesting BaL. Both informative and entertaining.

[ardcarp]

I don't want to say too much, except a word in support of Andrew McGregor today. Because without him there wouldn't have been any BaL worth talking about this morning: just about everything said in the way of useful, descriptive commentary on what we heard, and what options there might be, were articulated by him.

Yes but. The 'options' had of course all been worked out beforehand, and he just anticipated Kirsten in saying them! Dido is a work Mrs A and I both grew up with (though maybe not all the versions) and we both found it painful...no, not painful, just annoying... listening. When an 'early work' is discussed on BAL, do we really have to rehearse all the ins and outs of HIPP every time?

[DracoM]

Yes, yes, oh YES!!

[underthecountertenor]

That’s very interesting. I was going to say Andrew McGregor was particularly overbearing today and I thought the reviewer would have done a good BaL had she been given a solo slot. A good example of ‘someone’s helping is another man’s overbearing’.

Did you like the top choice?

I agree with you. He just got in the way, and made it difficult for her to get started, so I don’t think it’s fair to judge her broadcasting ability on this showing.

I loved the top choice. But I’m a big Connolly fan, so I would.

[gurnemanz]

Although Andrew McGregor's interruption were as unnecessary and annoying as ever, I thought this was a very interesting BaL. Both informative and entertaining.

I agree with all of that. This one made me more than ever wish that the reviewer could just be left alone.

I am a Sarah Connolly fan but note that Tim Ashley in the Guardian was not convinced: "Her Dido sounds neither "prest with torment" in the opening scenes nor anguished at the close." I'm curious to see if I agree when I get to listen.