Monteverdi: Vespers and Operas

[Stanley Stewart]

I've just given an off-air DVD a spin, from 10 Sept 2010 PROM, of the Vespers; several choirs, English Baroque Soloists, His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts, Monteverdi Choir/JEG. An enormous sense of ritual and occasion in the capacious space of the RAH. Refreshing.

Incidentally, I recall a discussion on the R3 boards some years ago covering one of the early post-war performances of the Vespers at York Minster, June 1957, as part of the York Festival of the Arts. I was playing in the Mystery Plays at the time and we were given access to the afternoon rehearsal. I knew nothing about the impact of the work or the extraordinary experience of hearing the voice of Alfred Deller in performance. No subsequent performance has passed that particular occasion.

[JFLL]

... why are they bookending the programme with the first Gardiner recording's opening and closing movements? Pioneering and all that, but unlistenable in terms of both solo singing and instrumental playing.

You know, this sort of comment, I'm afraid, is just the sort of thing that puts neutrals off HIPP zealotry. Would anyone these days say that, for example, Walter's Mahler 9 of 1938 was unlistenable?

[hmvman]

Damn. Had I known, I would have gone myself.
Incidentally, this is not the musical fare I associate with St Michael le Belfrey.

Sorry I couldn't have posted about it sooner, EA. It was an excellent performance in my humble opinion and it was good to see the church well filled with audience.

You'll be pleased to know the drum kits and keyboards were pushed well out of the way

[DracoM]

Heavens! How appallingly dated that JEG first 1610 Vespers sounded. I bought it and I really wish I hadn't.

[doversoul1]

L’Orfeo and Poppea

I thoroughly enjoyed the programme.
Jordi Savall’s L’Orfeo seems to be the only one entire opera on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mD16EVxNOM&feature=related

As for Poppea (I posted these on the other thread but just in case), there are a couple of recent productions on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lu_m6V6J-0

Poppea - Sonya Yoncheva
Nerone - Max Emmanuel Cencic
Ottavia - Ann Hallenberg
Ottone - Tim Mead
Le Concert d'Astrée, ensemble en residence à l' Opéra de Lille.
Emmanuelle Haïm conductor
Opera de Lille 22 Mars 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijDi-2RADX0

Poppea Danielle de Niese
Nerone Philippe Jaroussky
Ottavia Anna Bonitatibus
Ottone Max Emanuele Cencic
Les Arts Florissants
Conductor William Christie.
Teatro Real Madrid, 2010.

And this was the Disc of the Week 22 May 2010
Claudio Cavina and La Venexiana

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/q6nv

[Simon]

I know Poppea far better than Orfeo. I'm now wondering why. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole programme and CB as the messaggera was an eye-opener. Thanks to all involved. S-S!

[LeMartinPecheur]

Oh, and by the way, Don Smithers (whom the gods preserve) was 80 last month and still seems to be going strong. (And then
there was Edward H Tarr, and , and ......

...Roger Voisin? Or was he not HIP enough??

[doversoul1]

I know Poppea far better than Orfeo. I'm now wondering why. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole programme and CB as the messaggera was an eye-opener. Thanks to all involved. S-S!

Is this the CD?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lorfeo-Ga-Audior-Philip-Pickett/dp/B001495A8I

I have looked at a number of video clips of L’Orfeo but have more or less decided that I prefer it just as music. None of the Orfeo fits my own image.

[Old Grumpy]

None of the Orfeo fits my own image.

Why, who were you modelling yourself on Dovers?

[JFLL]

Heavens! How appallingly dated that JEG first 1610 Vespers sounded. I bought it and I really wish I hadn't.

I know what you mean. The other day I played an old recording of the Busch Quartet in Beethoven quartets. The rubato and portamenti that they used! How could we ever listen to those appalling performances in these enlightened times? I put them straight in the bin.

[Old Grumpy]

Heavens! How appallingly dated that JEG first 1610 Vespers sounded. I bought it and I really wish I hadn't.

Agree, I didn't like the sound of it as broadcast on the EMS. How long after it was issued did you purchase it though Draco? Was anything else available? Sometimes you just have to take a chance. Although nowadays there are plenty of opportunities to try before you buy.

OG

[teamsaint]

You know, this sort of comment, I'm afraid, is just the sort of thing that puts neutrals off HIPP zealotry. Would anyone these days say that, for example, Walter's Mahler 9 of 1938 was unlistenable?

the original and best, the first JEG !

(and not really unlistenable, surely, even if other versions are more to a particular taste?)

[BBMmk2]

I prefer JEG's DG ARchiv recording, than his Decca! I also have this on DVD too, showing a very dated hair cut
. I also have New College Oxford and higgiboton and Andrew parrott(who, incoidentally goives a more kind spiritual performance?

[ardcarp]

I just keep feeling the need to express my excitement as a young person at hearing the 1610 Vespers being performed in public, and at being lucky enough to be involved in its airing at a time when it was not widely heard. So when decent recordings came along...however un-HIPP...the joy was compounded. Of course the Vespers were known about, and I'm sure there were earlier performances of it. But my recollection of it before, say 1960, is that it was sung and played through by profs and their students (usually using a grand piano) and that pioneers such as Nadia Boulanger made it and other Monteverdi known to her (often illustrious) composition students....also via a grand piano.

If my recollections are wrong, no doubt someone will tell me!