tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post1616248907390411661..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: Jones sharpshoots againDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-41196748352366041572009-12-28T11:30:15.808+00:002009-12-28T11:30:15.808+00:00David Damant writes
I certainly do care, since Wa...David Damant writes<br /><br />I certainly do care, since Wagner is an evil force<br /><br />The human mind and soul <br />lay hid in night<br />The Enlightenment then bloomed<br />and all was light<br /><br />It could not last.<br />Wagnerians shouting "Ho!!<br />Unreason is unleashed !!"<br />restored the status quo<br /><br />(With aoplogies to J C Squire)David Damanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18409591480349323761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-67981742822435601092009-12-28T10:20:36.525+00:002009-12-28T10:20:36.525+00:00The cynical might say it had something to do with ...The cynical might say it had something to do with the fact that it now transpires Pappano is to conduct the world premiere of Henze's latest...but I'm sure he was sincere.<br /><br />Well, now we've had to make horrid lists over at the Arts Desk and among my top ten I settled on Pappano among the supremos because he has the biggest ship, and repertoire gamut, to run; and has done both impeccably. I except the Wagner, but you don't care about that, do you, Mr. D?Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-68637076394956611932009-12-28T07:38:21.160+00:002009-12-28T07:38:21.160+00:00David Damant writes
The concept of Pappano-as-her...David Damant writes<br /><br />The concept of Pappano-as-hero is supported by the spontaneous comment made to me by Hans Werner Hense after a performance of Birtwistle's Minotaur - that Pappano as a conductor was a genius.David Damanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18409591480349323761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-83294529815088061862009-12-28T07:27:12.623+00:002009-12-28T07:27:12.623+00:00David Damant writes
The comment that Irving Berli...David Damant writes<br /><br />The comment that Irving Berlin was originally named Isaiah adds a new dimension to the history of Irving's visit to Downing Street during the Second World War. Isaiah Berlin ( philosopher, historian of ideas, later OM) was then attached to the British Embassy in Washington and his despatches impressed the Prime Minister, so that, when Mrs Chrurchill returned from a charity event and reported that a visitor called Irving Berlin had been very helpful, Churchill took the supposed opportunity to meet Isaiah and invited him to lunch. Irving was flattered by being seated next to the PM and by the PM's requests for his views on the position of Hitler, Russia etc etc - whereas Churchill was somewhat puzzled until all was revealed. We can in any case be very grateful for the two concepts of culture left to us by the IsaiahsDavid Damanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18409591480349323761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-85703977597205762752009-12-25T12:55:24.341+00:002009-12-25T12:55:24.341+00:00The Kern disc isn't all Hampson by any means, ...The Kern disc isn't all Hampson by any means, JV: he only pops up to sing the later masterpieces, including 'The Song is You'.<br /><br />Season's greetings to you.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-9704314302290119402009-12-24T14:44:08.667+00:002009-12-24T14:44:08.667+00:00Again I am at a disadvantage for not being able to...Again I am at a disadvantage for not being able to follow this, or any other, recording with a score, but, from a purely-subjective point of view, I personally prefer my _Tristan_ on the mercurial side (e.g., Boehm/Bayreuth), and I feel this Papano falls into that category. I have not heard the Goodall, but was interested to hear that, when the Bernstein was being recorded, Dr. Boehm attended at least one session, and told the maestro afterwards that he had now heard _Tristan_ for the first time. I think I have written here previously that I like Mme Stemme's Isolde quite much, though the Act-II love duet does not move me quite as much as on the Boehm, with its softer dynamics in places (again one longs for a score to find out what saith Wagner). I think the outer acts are quite stunning, particularly Segnor Domingo's performance in Act III! <br /><br />Today, good sir, I did it, I did it, I did it! I said that I might buy it, and indeed I did! And that for under $6, including p&p! And I must _HEARTILY_ agree about the value of Mr. Krueger's notes since I have read them for both of the McGlinn recordings I have and mentioned! And this other Hampson disc, were I to buy it as well, would be more Kern, for which he seems to have a special affinity, having apparently written an entire book on _Show_ _Boat_! Assuming that it is included, I hope Mr. Hampson does well with a special favourite of mine and presumably others, "All The Things You Are," though it is an ensemble number in its original context if I am not mistaken. I can imagine him singing "The Song Is You." <br /><br />Now a bit under half an hour until I am hopefully off to King's College Chapel via radio! <br /><br />J. V.JVaughanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07468133975019785693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-390207845994210992009-12-24T11:41:19.162+00:002009-12-24T11:41:19.162+00:00Yes, and I found it very beautiful, but still - th...Yes, and I found it very beautiful, but still - the sweep? And I never thought I'd convert to Goodall, but his Tristan is just oceanic.<br /><br />Hampson sings 'The last time I saw Paris' better than anyone I've heard on the Jerome Kern Songbook (also McGlinn and EMI - have these not been deleted? The Miles Krueger notes are indispensible). Some of the early stuff is twee but then you hit the later heights. TH also does a wonderful 'Folk who live on the hill'.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-1193935882024488782009-12-24T11:29:06.298+00:002009-12-24T11:29:06.298+00:00So you still have not yet gotten to his _Tristan_?...So you still have not yet gotten to his _Tristan_? <br /><br />Is Mr. Hampson's "The Last Time I Saw Paris" on his new CD, the contents of which I did read but now have forgotten? <br /><br />I may need to give this McGlinn _Annie_ a go, though must rein in my expenditures just a bit since I have been a bit freer of late than perhaps I ought. <br /><br />J. V.JVaughanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07468133975019785693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-85216471276272446032009-12-23T14:20:27.278+00:002009-12-23T14:20:27.278+00:00Yes, Pappano has given the Royal Opera a real buzz...Yes, Pappano has given the Royal Opera a real buzz and sense of confidence (the same applies, I gather, to Monica Mason and the Royal Ballet - she's present at the start of every performance. And to Gardner, scoff as the Pareterreists may, at ENO - his Grimes and Turandot were electrifying).<br /><br />Mind you, on the evidence of Pappano's Ring I wouldn't yet wish him on you as your top Wagner man. Jurowski, yes.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-2001130924703870442009-12-23T13:53:41.880+00:002009-12-23T13:53:41.880+00:00Thanks for the pictures of this production which w...Thanks for the pictures of this production which we talked about briefly a couple of days ago. The thing is really put together extraordinarily well, even for an era in which structure was the icon in writing works for the stage. Annie was the first show I designed professionally.<br /><br />I wish we could have Pappano at the MET. There needs to be a charge of new energy there, particularly in Wagner. We keep reading wonderful things about him.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14279473113628377106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-10753930079139717292009-12-22T19:36:21.291+00:002009-12-22T19:36:21.291+00:00You see how I don't know these extras well eno...You see how I don't know these extras well enough - the first duet is 'I'll share it all with you'. Can sing the toon, though. <br /><br />The last extra is 'An old fashioned wedding', an adorable riff on the G&S double-chorus principle.<br /><br />Current obsession: Kern/Hammerstein's 'The last time I saw Paris', meltingly done by Hampson. Has to be sung with respect for its 1940 lump-in-throat bittersweetness.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-64384481803570509332009-12-22T19:14:31.401+00:002009-12-22T19:14:31.401+00:00Oh, good - it's so jolly, isn't it, and ev...Oh, good - it's so jolly, isn't it, and every inch a match for 'I'll take a chance on you'. Shame it had to go out of the window in the current show. <br /><br />Mind you, so did 'I'm an Indian too', which has ingenious whole-tonery but of course slightly dodgy lyrics. Jones had a nice homage to the Cabaret film's getting round some of the songs by having it played over a tannoy which Sitting Bull destroyed with a single shot.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-78644819350545640992009-12-22T17:47:01.632+00:002009-12-22T17:47:01.632+00:00One mention of the catchiness of the songs for the...One mention of the catchiness of the songs for the second couple and there goes 'Who do you love, I hope' lodged on my internal jukebox for the next week.jondrytayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07014577384156823525noreply@blogger.com