Opera on 3 - Weinberg's The Portrait

[french frank]

Sounds interesting:


Opera On 3 – Weinberg's The Portrait
Saturday 28 May
6.00-8.30pm BBC RADIO 3

Jewish composer Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-1996) was born in Poland, but fled from the Nazis to Russia where he became a close friend of Shostakovich. However, today his music is much less well known than that of his contemporaries.

His three-act opera The Portrait is based on a short story by Nikolai Gogol, and tells the cautionary tale of painter Chartkov who yearns for fame and fortune until he acquires a portrait which brings him exactly that.

This new production by Opera North is directed by David Pountney, a leading figure in the revival of Weinberg's music. Tenor Paul Nilon takes the lead role of Chartkov and the Orchestra of Opera North is conducted by Rossen Gergov.

Presenters/Christopher Cook with David Nice, Producer/Sam Philips

[amateur51]

Sounds interesting:


Opera On 3 – Weinberg's The Portrait
Saturday 28 May
6.00-8.30pm BBC RADIO 3

Jewish composer Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-1996) was born in Poland, but fled from the Nazis to Russia where he became a close friend of Shostakovich. However, today his music is much less well known than that of his contemporaries.

His three-act opera The Portrait is based on a short story by Nikolai Gogol, and tells the cautionary tale of painter Chartkov who yearns for fame and fortune until he acquires a portrait which brings him exactly that.

This new production by Opera North is directed by David Pountney, a leading figure in the revival of Weinberg's music. Tenor Paul Nilon takes the lead role of Chartkov and the Orchestra of Opera North is conducted by Rossen Gergov.

Presenters/Christopher Cook with David Nice, Producer/Sam Philips

You're in the groove with your heads-ups today, ff!

Another interesting evening in store - well done Radio 3/Opera North!

[french frank]

And there are a few more goodies in the latest press information but I didn't want to overwhelm the board ["too much information, ff"]

[Frances_iom]

He also wrote many string quartets - indexed under 2 names
Mosei or Mieczyslkaw, Vainberg or Weinberg, would be good to hear a couple of these

[amateur51]

He also wrote many string quartets - indexed under 2 names
Mosei or Mieczyslkaw, Vainberg or Weinberg, would be good to hear a couple of these

[Frances_iom]

am51 - your point ? - possibly badly phrasing of my post - 2 versions of 1st name + 2 versions of 2nd name depending on Polish or Russian links.
Those I have heard have been well worth listening to but like too much away from the common repertoire no longer seem to get a broadcast on R3 during daylight hours

[french frank]

And two violin concertos, of which the second, Op 67 of 1960 is now playing. Sort of Shostakovichian, perhaps.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Will certainly try and catch this. Weinberg/Vainberg is one of those neglected masters, and though born in Poland, and was IMO the 3rd greatest composer (after Shostakovich & Prokofiev) working in the Soviet Union in the 20th century after 1940. Credit to Opera North for staging the work and to R3 for broadcasting it. Now can we please have more broadcasts of his symphonies and chamber works?

[french frank]

I see there was an item about the opera on In Tune back in January. (Mmmm, lovely Adagio playing atm ). Paul Nilon has the tenor lead - he sang a fine Tom Rakewell for WNO a few years back, I remember.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Yes, I heard the extracts performed in the studio with piano and they were intriguing.