tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post8300147330885069640..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: A tale of three townsDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-70181260033946115752015-11-05T21:16:39.524+00:002015-11-05T21:16:39.524+00:00I hate to admit this here, but I haven't had t...I hate to admit this here, but I haven't had the pleasure of reading any Mrs. Gaskell. Yes, yes, I know, I must! And perhaps it will happen, but there are so many musts. Commiseration on the Corigliano. I'm right now immersing myself in the pleasure of Bach. It's a cloudy day and oak leaves, the surest sign of fall coming to its close, are dropping to the ground.Susan Scheidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09250142489341777926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-76684999336925695522010-10-09T09:13:19.676+01:002010-10-09T09:13:19.676+01:00Priceless. And from an earlier thread, you know ho...Priceless. And from an earlier thread, you know how I worship at the shrine of that Mrs Lovett.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-73753898007617131982010-10-09T00:58:26.618+01:002010-10-09T00:58:26.618+01:00Only the one, which is that I have never seen it, ...Only the one, which is that I have never seen it, to my shame.<br /><br />Although I worked with one of the cast of Cranford (name censored because this is the internet, but think Mrs Lovett) on a radio job shortly after they filmed it, and she told me the magnificent story that they had to do a lot of retakes because Eileen Atkins kept accidentally saying 'Ambridge' instead of Cranford.jondrytayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07014577384156823525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-49568793396752821902010-10-08T11:31:15.042+01:002010-10-08T11:31:15.042+01:00So ipso facto, you must both be Gaskell enthusiast...So ipso facto, you must both be Gaskell enthusiasts. Any thoughts on the Cranford adaptation + sequel?Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-59158552272982779682010-10-08T11:26:55.125+01:002010-10-08T11:26:55.125+01:00There is a wonderful adaptation of Gaskell's R...There is a wonderful adaptation of Gaskell's RUTH on the BBC iplayer- it was made as a Classic Serial for radio 4 and has just been repeated on BBC7. <br /><br />Then again, I would say it's wonderful. My ma adapted and directed it and I produced it.jondrytayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07014577384156823525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-40750990179451279262010-10-05T14:25:21.963+01:002010-10-05T14:25:21.963+01:00I believe the trimming was done in Chicago. The M...I believe the trimming was done in Chicago. The MET's music staff apparently recommended certain excisions during preparations for the world premiere but Corigliano and librettist Hoffman insisted on presenting the work whole the first time out, which I think is a defensible position. But if memory serves, Ghosts was done in Chicago in a revised edition.<br /><br />I have heard Corigliano praised here in the press and I think that the AIDS symphony may have been one of the pieces cited. Of course, critical reticence to reject a work on such an emotional and politically explosive theme may have been part of that, as you suggest. <br /><br />Ghosts was the first major piece by the composer I ever heard live, everything else having been heard over the radio and not very much of that to tell the truth. I do remember listening to Figaro's opening aria ("I've been a pirate, a poet, a pauper" or something like that) and thinking it was going to be a very long night.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14279473113628377106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-80999511791158219632010-10-05T10:31:03.978+01:002010-10-05T10:31:03.978+01:00Tell me, Will, what WAS Corigliano's finest ho...Tell me, Will, what WAS Corigliano's finest hour? I've heard enough now. Interesting you mention accusations of homophobia - I remember the awkwardness I felt when his 'AIDS' Symphony was performed in London - truly overblown, terrible stuff in a worthwhile cause, so what could one say in the press?<br /><br />Anyway, Ghosts has been trimmed and was done at Wexford, apparently, but who cares?Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-928257668648921402010-10-04T22:30:19.825+01:002010-10-04T22:30:19.825+01:00Ghosts of Versailles wasn't Mr. Corigliano'...Ghosts of Versailles wasn't Mr. Corigliano's finest hour on a couple of levels. Most of it is pretty blatant pastiche of a not always inspired quality; I only had a sense that I might be hearing Corigliano's real voice about two thirds of the way through, which is way too late for a long and self-indulgent work. <br /><br />I came away describing it to friends as window dressing. In doing so, I joined a rather large group condemned by the librettist and the composer who seemed to feel that any criticism of the work was homophobic. I have not been tempted to listen to it again.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14279473113628377106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-16770233443604254552010-10-02T08:13:16.841+01:002010-10-02T08:13:16.841+01:00Agreed, Elizabeth. There's precious little abo...Agreed, Elizabeth. There's precious little about GM anywhere, and it was hard work prising this image out of Polesden (I don't think we'll find it reproduced anywhere else) - though I did in the end have a very friendly correspondence wih the NT representative there, who was incredibly helpful. Only now have I been able to repay his diligence.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-17848447122457276102010-10-02T05:25:02.833+01:002010-10-02T05:25:02.833+01:00And I must go back and reread Mrs. Gaskell. Haven...And I must go back and reread Mrs. Gaskell. Haven't read her since college.<br /><br />The Manson self portrait is a gem and new to me. Thanks.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11889294120616809157noreply@blogger.com