R3 Carol Competition

[ardcarp]

Comments, anyone? I haven't heard any yet, but a relation texted me this morning to say...not very complimentary things.....about the short list.

[Serial_Apologist]

Who's this Carol that everyone keeps referring to??

[vinteuil]

Who's this Carol that everyone keeps referring to??

https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/590x/secondary/Roma-Courtney-630018.jpg

[ ... if only. This annual bloody carol-bludgeoning is one of THE most tiresome things on ray-dyo-three. And lord knoze there is plenty tiresome stuff here at the moment... ]

.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I heard nos. 3 & 4 on EC at around 11.25. I liked no. 3.

Ruthlessly sung by the BBC Singers.


BUT, if you expected me to go on to have a rant about the aforementioned group of singers, I heard a superb soprano on 2nd December. She had the perfect singing voice - unforced, technically excellent, matchless tone, enunciation spot on, not a wobbly voice at all. I thought, "Not the kind of voice you hear in the BBCS". Then I read the programme notes; she is in the BBC Singers.

But then, I suppose we all knew they were excellent singers. It's just when they're all together that things aren't always what they should be.

[Serial_Apologist]

I heard nos. 3 & 4 on EC at around 11.25. I liked no. 3.

Ruthlessly sung by the BBS Singers.


BUT, if you expected me to go on to have a rant about the aforementioned group of singers, I heard a superb soprano on 2nd December. She had the perfect singing voice - unforced, technically excellent, matchless tone, enunciation spot on, not a wobbly voice at all. I thought, "Not the kind of voice you hear in the BBCS". Then I read the programme notes; she is in the BBC Singers.

But then, I suppose we all knew they were excellent singers. It's just when they're all together that things aren't always what they should be.

I have noticed an improvement in the BBCS in very recent times in respect of the uncoordinated vibrato that for long seemed to go unchecked, I have to say.

[Old Grumpy]

I have noticed an improvement in the BBCS in very recent times in respect of the uncoordinated vibrato that for long seemed to go unchecked, I have to say.

New broom perhaps?

OG

[DracoM]

Carling?

[Oldcrofter]

Here's the "new broom" conducting the BBCS. She does have a name, by the way - Sofi Jeannin (Swedish mother, French father).

Wait & see what sort of a welcome she gets on this board

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoYqsVpCS50

[Stanfordian]

I heard nos. 3 & 4 on EC at around 11.25. I liked no. 3.

Ruthlessly sung by the BBC Singers.


BUT, if you expected me to go on to have a rant about the aforementioned group of singers, I heard a superb soprano on 2nd December. She had the perfect singing voice - unforced, technically excellent, matchless tone, enunciation spot on, not a wobbly voice at all. I thought, "Not the kind of voice you hear in the BBCS". Then I read the programme notes; she is in the BBC Singers.

But then, I suppose we all knew they were excellent singers. It's just when they're all together that things aren't always what they should be.

Hiya Eine Alpensinfonie,

As Britain's only full-time professional chamber choir the BBC Singers should be excellent.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Hiya Eine Alpensinfonie,



As Britain's only full-time professional chamber choir the BBC Singers should be excellent.

I wonder whether this is the cause of the problem. I don't know what their schedule is like, but judging by their December agenda, it could be that their work is so relentless that the finer points of interpretation are sidelined?

[Old Grumpy]

Here's the "new broom" conducting the BBCS. She does have a name, by the way - Sofi Jeannin (Swedish mother, French father).

Wait & see what sort of a welcome she gets on this board

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoYqsVpCS50

Googling "BBC Singers vibrato" brings up some interesting reviews, both favourable and unfavourable.

[Stanfordian]

I wonder whether this is the cause of the problem. I don't know what their schedule is like, but judging by their December agenda, it could be that their work is so relentless that the finer points of interpretation are sidelined?

Hiya Alpie,

At this time of year BBC Singers will be extremely busy I should think. Early in his career tenor Peter Pears was member but I'm sure you know that.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I am glad this has been started as a thread . I caught most of the entries this morning . Clearly there are some very competent composers in the final six . But I have to say that the words of the carol in most of the settings were very difficult to make out . Whether this was a consequence of the setting , the recording or the performance or a combination of all three I leave the many choral experts on this strand to comment on. Without getting too 'Council Of Trent' about it surely in this genre above all being able to make out the words is a sine qua non?

[Vox Humana]

Who's this Carol that everyone keeps referring to??

I think she's the sister of Mary Christmas.

[underthecountertenor]

I am glad this has been started as a thread . I caught most of the entries this morning . Clearly there are some very competent composers in the final six . But I have to say that the words of the carol in most of the settings were very difficult to make out . Whether this was a consequence of the setting , the recording or the performance or a combination of all three I leave the many choral experts on this strand to comment on. Without getting too 'Council Of Trent' about it surely in this genre above all being able to make out the words is a sine qua non?

I’d say that the principal fault of all the settings with piano accompaniment were that they seemed very generic and bore no particular relation to the words they were setting. Rutter-lite if you like. John Rutter, at his considerable best, is a wonderful setter of words. But so often I hear imitators who attempt all the Rutter tropes to no effect. Last year’s winner was a case in point.
The two a cappella settings this year struck me as at least offering something a little bit different, with a bit of bite. But I doubt that either of them will win.
None of them comes near Mathias’s setting, IMVVHO.