Britten on BBC4

[Mary Chambers]

not sure that it's worth a new thread but Radio 4 this morning 11am has this..........."In Britten's Footsteps"

To mark the centenary of Benjamin Britten's birth, wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson follows in the footsteps of the composer, presenting a soundscape based on the daily walks which Britten took around Aldeburgh to reflect on his morning's work

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03h7grq

This is a repeat, I think. I'm sure I've heard it.

[amateur51]

This is a repeat, I think. I'm sure I've heard it.

I think I have too and it's worth listening to

The Bridcut is on my list now, thanks to all these positive reviews ... and the 'live' War Requiem - what riches!

[mercia]

This is a repeat, I think. I'm sure I've heard it.

you may well be right, it looks as if the programme started life as a live 'event'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-21292884

[Paul Campbell]

A Dvd of last night's film is available from Monday. I must say I found it profoundly moving. By the way, the Grimes on the Beach Dvd is out on the 25th.

[Boilk]

A Dvd of last night's film is available from Monday. I must say I found it profoundly moving. By the way, the Grimes on the Beach Dvd is out on the 25th.

In these days of digital home recording, I find it a somewhat questionable business model to broadcast a new documentary and only then release it on DVD. Thinking about it, I've probably saved a fortune over the last decade, transferring select arts documenatries and concerts from my trusty Humax PVR to blank DVDs. As a BBC licence fee payer, I have no qualms about this, at least with BBC-funded productions. (By the way have not seen this Bridcut programme and have no idea who funded it.)

[Tevot]

A Dvd of last night's film is available from Monday. I must say I found it profoundly moving. By the way, the Grimes on the Beach Dvd is out on the 25th.

Fully agree here. A moving and engrossing documentary.

Best Wishes,

Tevot

[Alain Maréchal]

Moving and engrossing indeed. I had not expected anything other than a hagiography, but I found it looked deeper into the subject of the title and I had to pay close attention. The musical extracts, in context, were very moving. There was much discussion of whether or not BB should have insisted on finishing Death in Venice before the operation, but he must have been aware that his music is what defined him as a person. Would it be too fanciful to suggest that by portraying so movingly a triumph of Dionysus, BB was celebrating Apollo? (answer: probably, but it seems so to me).

[ardcarp]

The strong point of Bricut's films is their cool voice-only presentation. Thank God he does not have to follow the usual BBC line, where a presenter cavorts on camera and says, "I'm so-and-so and I'm going to discover dah-di-dah".

The people I found fascinating were the non-musical members of the Red House coterie, especially the nurse. Of the other talking heads, I found MichaelBerkeley's contribution most profound and informed.. He made an interseting point about changing mores over the past 40 years.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Yet another wonderful and very moving film from John Bridcut, I sat enthralled and moved for the full two hours. There is still hope for the BBC when programmes of this quality are produced. The only things I piece I would have also included would have been the 'Lord Melbourne; movement from 'A time there was' still for me the most poignant, agonised looking back of Britten's last years. Death in Venice has long haunted me although I didn't take to the tenor's voice at all, but that's just a personal thing. I have felt the haunting shadow of Britten hanging over me since my late teens, being born in the same town (though I was born north of the bridge) and also finding I could compose, but knowing that I would never ever come anywhere near Britten's mastery.

[aeolium]

I thought the Bridcut film was beautifully and impressively made, framed principally around the composition of Death in Venice but with other valuable commentaries on late works such as Phaedra and the last string quartet as well as plenty of extracts from earlier works. The music was frequently used to interpret the life rather than, as so often, the other way around. The Passacaglia from the last quartet was movingly played by the Fitzwilliam Quartet.

Here is a Gresham College lecture about plus performance of the 3rd quartet which may be of interest (transcript of the lecture is also available here if you don't want to listen to it).

[eighthobstruction]

Thankyou....I wanted to explore the 3rdQ a little more.... the film was riveting both musically and biographically....i would have loved to hear more from several of the contributors....

[Lordgeous]

The strong point of Bricut's films is their cool voice-only presentation. Thank God he does not have to follow the usual BBC line, where a presenter cavorts on camera and says, "I'm so-and-so and I'm going to discover dah-di-dah".

The people I found fascinating were the non-musical members of the Red House coterie, especially the nurse. Of the other talking heads, I found MichaelBerkeley's contribution most profound and informed.. He made an interseting point about changing mores over the past 40 years.

Indeed, I've always considered JB to have the most perfect 'voice over'. Un-actorish and an ideal tone and attitude. He is also one of the best music documentary makers in recent years, though I'm not sure the Death in Venice back projection worked all that well? Budgetory restrictions maybe? Some interesting new interviews, though I found the heart surgeon rather aloof and smug! All in all I agree, it was an enthralling 2 hours.

'Britten on Camera' coming up on BBC4 sunday night too.

[Paul Campbell]

Thanks for the reminder about Britten on Camera, Lordgeous, although I believe its actually tomorrow (Sat). Billy Budd is on Sunday.

[Mary Chambers]

Indeed, I've always considered JB to have the most perfect 'voice over'. Un-actorish and an ideal tone and attitude..

Yes. He's a pleasure to listen to. The voice-over can make or ruin this sort of documentary.

I've just watched it again, and it's even better the second time. Since I have strong opinions about Britten, I could easily have disliked this film, but in fact it said most of what I would say if I was making something similar.

[Black Swan]

I enjoyed this immensely. Although, it left me a bit sad but hungry to hear more Britten. I do not know his String Quartets but found the segment concerning the final movement of the 3rd quartet enthralling. So now, I need to get a recording, not sure which one and can anyone recommend a DVD of Death in Venice. I want to hear more.