Prom 49 (19.8.12): Gilbert & Sullivan – The Yeomen of the Guard

[salymap]

"Sprechstimme" is just a (normal-ish) speaking voice over a Musical accompaniment (some of Stanley Holloway's monologues were like this, as was William Shatner's recording of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds ). "Sprechgesang" is "speech/song", where the rhythm and contour of a melody is sort-of followed by a sort-of speaking voice. Rex Harrison was closer I think to the latter in both My Fair Lady and Dr Doolittle.

Sprechgesang, I am so embarrassed when I worked with mainly Breitkopf parts. Old age and the heat here

[salymap]

The only G&S I know (that I own) is Patience, aka the Bride of Bunthorpe. I think it is deliciously camp with the references to Oscar Wilde (btw film on tonight about him with Stephen Fry) and lesbian overtunes throughout. In fact, Patience is wonderful, but YotG, shall I listen? Probably not

Anna, Patience is one of my favourites. I think years ago it was considered quite daring, and when Bunthorne sang and danced 'And everyone will say, as I go my mystic way, if he's content with a vegetable love, which would certainly NOT suit me, then what a particularly pure young man, this pure young man must be. it caused a lot of catcalls ans laughter at times. The lovesick maidens get rather tiresome though.

The trouble is I forget important thngs but have almost total recall with Gilbert's words.

[Anna]

The trouble is I forget important thngs but have almost total recall with Gilbert's words.

Bless you saly I will indeed listen to YotG!!

[amateur51]

Sprechgesang, I am so embarrassed when I worked with mainly Breitkopf parts. Old age and the heat here

Nurse! A bucket of cold water - she's on heat!

[salymap]

Bless you saly I will indeed listen to YotG!!

Not a lot of immediate humour in YotG but their attempt at a semi-grand opera, I suppose.

Trial by Jury is good IMHO and still seems relevant today. Relationships breaking up etc.

[Prommer]

Is Jane Glover a slightly odd choice for this rep?

[Northender]

Iolanthe and Princess Ida are listed in the 'Repertory' section of her website.

[pmartel]

I've been enjoying what I've heard so far while at work here. It's DEFINITELY NOT D'Oyly Carte(?) as that's what I was used to hearing in my teens.

It's been a LONG TIME since I heard a G&S production as someone I knew here burned me out being a member of a G&S society. This is a nice way to get back into it again.

We had many years ago the Stratford, Ontario productions of G&S on tv back in the '80's, clips can be found on Youtube.

I really don't have a lot of quams on the singing I've heard so far, but needs to be heard at home. The only thing I felt was the overture just didn't have quite the 'bite' that I'm used to.

Just my 2 cents

[salymap]

No the Overture lacked something and I shall attempt to catch up on the whole thing later. I must look out the libretto as my radios aren't too good, also I have tinnitus.

Music comes over better that the dialogue and YotG has a lot of the latter.

[marvin]

It is a great shame that yet another Televised Prom this Saturday evening has to be wasted showing some G&S nonsense. Bring back a good concert programme with Rach pc 2 and some Tchaikovsky et. al but please, not G&S. Most of the TV Proms this year have not been much cop, to be honest.

[VodkaDilc]

It is a great shame that yet another Televised Prom this Saturday evening has to be wasted showing some G&S nonsense. Bring back a good concert programme with Rach pc 2 and some Tchaikovsky et. al but please, not G&S. Most of the TV Proms this year have not been much cop, to be honest.

But wait for the Bernstein Mass!! If it's any reflection of the actual event it will be very memorable.

Just a thought: hasn't the television coverage been less gimmicky this year - with fewer pointless interviews and slightly better presenters? (i.e. less Hazelwood). Almost watchable without fast-forward facility, in fact.

PS Apologies if we are not supposed to mention names in a critical way.

[Northender]

It is a great shame that yet another Televised Prom this Saturday evening has to be wasted showing some G&S nonsense. Bring back a good concert programme with Rach pc 2 and some Tchaikovsky et. al but please, not G&S. Most of the TV Proms this year have not been much cop, to be honest.

With the notable exception of the Vaughan Williams symphonies, I agree. Also, whereas in previous years BBC2 tended to show recorded Proms and BBC4 Proms that were live (or 'as-live', i.e. deferred but on the same night), most of this year's offerings on BBC4 also seem to have been recordings, which does reduce the sense of occasion.

[Flosshilde]

It is a great shame that yet another Televised Prom this Saturday evening has to be wasted showing some G&S nonsense. Bring back a good concert programme with Rach pc 2 and some Tchaikovsky et. al but please, not G&S. Most of the TV Proms this year have not been much cop, to be honest.

Depends on what you like, doesn't it? It seems to me to make more sense to televise (? ) something that has a strong visual element (eg semi-staged operas) than yet another symphony, where all you get are fiddlers sawing away, or, even more like paint drying, wind players puffing into their instruments.

[marvin]

Perhaps it the price for living too long. I can listen every afternoon, should I wish to all the proms but when it comes to a televised prom I like something fairly standard without any gimmicks. The thoughts of Bernstein's Mass is anathema to me as I have a dislike of choral, religious music. I did watch the Turangalila Symphony with my fingers on the fast forward button but that concert, again, was full of gimmicky nonsense. Still it is a matter of personal taste.
Yes, it has been a blessing to be spared too much of CH this year and some of the interval chats have been interesting, in the main.
I don't know how many weeks we have left of the proms but I haven't felt the need to commit any recorded ones to DVD as I have in the past.

[Anna]

The thoughts of Bernstein's Mass is anathema to me as I have a dislike of choral, religious music

I have the tv broadcast of the Bernstein marked on my kitchen calendar! (Sept 6th) How can you dislike choral religious music if you like classical music? That seems a very contradictary statement.