Alphabet associations - I

[rubbernecker]

In theory, a performance of a work written in the early 1930s could have been attended by the composer, whose initials would have been exactly the same as those of the baritone soloist and the conductor.

Sorry, which performance are you referring to, the first?

EDIT: Or does 'in theory' mean this is a hypothetical performance, or that the composer didn't attend?

[rubbernecker]

In so far as there are rules to this game, can the "3 elements to the question" rule be flexible? (he asked having just posted one with only 1 element)

I think we should maintain the rule that there should be three pointers or three elements. It was an enjoyable puzzle, nonetheless, Hercule

[Nick Armstrong]

In theory, a performance of a work written in the early 1930s could have been attended by the composer, whose initials would have been exactly the same as those of the baritone soloist and the conductor. Who are the three people concerned? (The work in question does not begin with 'W').

That strikes me as almost the perfect AA question - a real mind expander, elegant and intriguing, not directly googlable, and the sacred three elements snugly integrated.

Now, I wonder what the bloody answer is....

[Nick Armstrong]

Damn! Suddenly thought of a Royal Flush of Ws - William Walton, Walter Widdop and Walter Weller ... but Widdop was a tenor and he died too early ...

[rubbernecker]

Damn! Suddenly thought of a Royal Flush of Ws - William Walton, Walter Widdop and Walter Weller ... but Widdop was a tenor and he died too early ...

I had the same thought about Belshazzar, but with Willard White... in theory

[Norfolk Born]

Congratulations to Caliban and rubbernecker for identifying, respectively, the composer and conductor, and the baritone. I got the idea for the question from my BBC Music Magazine CD of the work, which features Willard White. I'm not sure who gets to go next - Caliban for getting 2 of the 3? (The unenviable choice of letter - X, Y or Z -or A - to be left, I suggest, to individual discretion....)

[Nick Armstrong]

Is it literally just the W that is in common, or must there be three identical names e.g. 3 Williams or 3 Walters.... ? I'm assuming not and that e.g. your answer could have worked even through there are 6 different names involved.

[Nick Armstrong]

Congratulations to Caliban and rubbernecker for identifying, respectively, the composer and conductor, and the baritone. I got the idea for the question from my BBC Music Magazine CD of the work, which features Willard White. I'm not sure who gets to go next - Caliban for getting 2 of the 3?

Bloody hell... Cross-posted, egad.

No - rubbers clearly got the full house of Walton, Weller and White.

Knock yourself out, Monsieur Le Cou de Caoutchouc. I must do some work!

[Norfolk Born]

Is it literally just the W that is in common, or must there be three identical names e.g. 3 Williams or 3 Walters.... ? I'm assuming not and that e.g. your answer could have worked even through there are 6 different names involved.

Perhaps I should set up a new website at: www.wwwwww.cantatacoincidences.org.uk

(By the way, rubbernecker works well in German, too: Gummihals )

[rubbernecker]

[COLOR="blue"]

No - rubbers clearly got the full house of Walton, Weller and White.

Actually I only had Walton and White, but was struggling to find the Weller. So the next letter is yours, Caliban, although I am happy to provide as you are evidently busier than me... yawn.

[rubbernecker]

(by the way, rubbernecker works well in german, too: Gummihals )

I love it! I want to change it right now!

[Norfolk Born]

Actually, 'Gummihals' literally means 'rubber neck'. I've just found the German term for 'rubberneck' (i.e. a person rather than a part of one's anatomy), and it turns out to be ....Gaffer... Please feel free to use either or both.

[Nick Armstrong]

Actually I only had Walton and White, but was struggling to find the Weller. So the next letter is yours, Caliban, although I am happy to provide as you are evidently busier than me... yawn.

We each got 2 Ws then - and yes I cede the next letter to you, to amuse you during the long reaches of the mid afternoon....

Go for it, Gummi

[rubbernecker]

All right, me ol' gaffer:

What Z appears in:
- an opera, but doesn't sing;
- a children's novel based on the same;
- the class of the Prince of Wales?

[BetweenTheStaves]

Would the opera and book be Where the Wild Things Are?