Prom 29 - 4.08.13: Wagner – Tannhäuser

[Mary Chambers]

I notice that the Shepherd Boy was sung by a woman. Did Wagner intend this? The one and only time I've seen this opera, ages ago, it was sung by a boy. It was for me the most memorable part of the performance! I can't remember his name, but I think he was from the Manchester Boys' Choir.

[amateur51]

Apparently it was the 1875 Vienna version with some additions from the Dresden version in Act 1. In the talk at the RCM which was edited down for the interval broadcast, there was time for questions, but James Jolly asked "please no questions about versions "and I can understand why.

Tonight was a long haul standing in the Arena, but well worth it, excellent performances and orchestral playing and what a wonderful chorus!

The offstage horns were fantastic, and having a complete offstage orchestra for the echo of the Venusberg music in the last act was a master stroke. I'm not sure how these sounded on air, but the effect in the hall was magic.

I'm truly impressed by your stamina Ferret - how are the legs today?

[DracoM]

I notice that the Shepherd Boy was sung by a woman. Did Wagner intend this? The one and only time I've seen this opera, ages ago, it was sung by a boy. It was for me the most memorable part of the performance! I can't remember his name, but I think he was from the Manchester Boys' Choir.

Mary
Was this a performance in the Palace Theatre? I think I was there too. Boy's voice came as a fantastic and fine surprise after all those BIG Wagnerians.

[Mary Chambers]

Mary
Was this a performance in the Palace Theatre? I think I was there too. Boy's voice came as a fantastic and fine surprise after all those BIG Wagnerians.

Yes, I think it was at the Palace, as far as I can remember. I don't know what year it was.

[Ferretfancy]

I notice that the Shepherd Boy was sung by a woman. Did Wagner intend this? The one and only time I've seen this opera, ages ago, it was sung by a boy. It was for me the most memorable part of the performance! I can't remember his name, but I think he was from the Manchester Boys' Choir.

The Decca recording with Solti uses a boy soprano for the Shepherd Boy drawn from the Vienna Boys Choir, and reasoning that there would not be many girl pilgrims
the complete choir is used as well. Incidentally, the boy is supposed to be playing a shawm and Decca used a cornamuse as the nearest thing they could find.
In the hall last night, a cor anglais player performed at the top of the side stairs while the soprano sang from the opposite side of the hall, which was a little incongruous!

[DracoM]

Not incongruous - silly. Wish I hadn't known that!!

[bluestateprommer]

Absolutely agree. Heard it only by radio but it was gripping, played and performed at a really high intensity, and the major principals, particularly Robert Dean, were indefatigable and clearly totally committed. Terrific feather in the Scottish cap + Runnicles keeping the thing moving, and disciplined.

Agree as well, and it was interesting to hear Tannhauser "historically backwards", in a sense, in that I heard the Barenboim Ring before getting to the Runnicles Tannhauser, i.e. hearing the earlier opera refracted through the experience of the later ones. I suddenly realized later that I'd never heard Tannhauser complete before in any form, in whatever edition.