Poetry of the brothel

[Dave2002]

A moderately interesting programme about La traviata on BBC Two TV tonight. I'm not going to comment as to whether it was dumbed down, or otherwise - as many round here seem to take that as a starting point. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b060cdrm

Nevertheless it was amusing to see what various critics wrote after some early performances in London - and the view that it would never catch on, and that the music was very poor.Mid 19th Century writing in the Times would now seem very entertaining to read.

Similar predictions were made in the 20th Century about computers, even by some who made computers their business.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The historical aspects (literary/sociological and reception) were very interesting and the programme was well worth watching for those. Musically, quite a lot of flannel; and the soprano's timbre I found vinegary.

[jean]

The moral outrage displayed in the press at the time was extraordinary; but people flocked to it all the same.

(Who was the older soprano with white hair?)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The moral outrage displayed in the press at the time was extraordinary; but people flocked to it all the same.

"but"? Then, as now, moral outrage is a guarantor of posteriors on seats.

(Who was the older soprano with white hair?)

Dame Josephine Barstow.

[visualnickmos]

The moral outrage displayed in the press at the time was extraordinary; but people flocked to it all the same.

Exactly the case in the 70s when Mary Whitehouse was at her 'height' and anything she cried 'moral outrage' at was guaranteed to be a box office success.
Stupid old bat.

[Mary Chambers]

"but"? Then, as now, moral outrage is a guarantor of posteriors on seats.


Dame Josephine Barstow.

She could still have a bash at it, couldn't she? She's 74.

I knew most of the background to this. I became interested in the story when I saw the Ashton ballet version, Marguerite and Armand, in the 60s with Fonteyn and Nureyev. All very interesting.

Not sure whether to be grateful or not that my Gerontius earworms have now been replaced by Traviata earworms.