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Parsifal and Canada: a Documentary Study
Parsifal and Canada: A Documentary Study The Canadian Opera Company is preparing to stage Parsifal in Toronto for the first time in 115 years; seven performances are planned for the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts from September 25 to October 18, 2020. Restrictions on public gatherings imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic have placed the production in jeopardy. Wagnerians have so far suffered the cancellation of the COC’s Flying Dutchman, Chicago Lyric Opera’s Ring cycle and the entire Bayreuth Festival for 2020. It will be a hard blow if the COC Parsifal follows in the footsteps of a projected performance of Parsifal in Montreal over 100 years ago. Quinlan Opera Company from England, which mounted a series of 20 operas in Montreal in the spring of 1914 (including a complete Ring cycle), announced plans to return in the fall of 1914 for another feast of opera, including Parsifal. But World War One intervened, the Parsifal production was cancelled, and the Quinlan company went out of business. Let us hope that history does not repeat itself.1 While we await news of whether the COC production will be mounted, it is an opportune time to reflect on Parsifal and its various resonances in Canadian music history. This article will consider three aspects of Parsifal and Canada: 1) a performance history, including both excerpts and complete presentations; 2) remarks on some Canadian singers who have sung Parsifal roles; and 3) Canadian scholarship on Parsifal. NB: The indication [DS] refers the reader to sources that are reproduced in the documentation portfolio that accompanies this article. -
ARSC Journal
ing notes is a welcome one. I do wish they spread out onto three sides to avoid the Adagio side-break. Peter Burkhardt's appreciation of Knappertsbusch is particularly appropriate in his paragraph noting the conductor's insistence, against general critical opinion, on Bruckner's "sensuousness." Given the extraordinary richness of this performance, that observation is particularly apt. Henry Fogel Alexander Kipnis from Historic Broadcast Recitals Given in 1943/44 and Now Issued for the First Time. MUSSORGSKY: Boris Godounov--Monologue; Clock Scene; Farewell (Shostakovich orchestration) (Philharmonic-Sym phony; Fritz Reiner, conductor, 23 July 1944); Prayer (Rimski-Korsakov orchestration); Song of the Flea (Orchestra; J. Stopak, conductor, 1 May 1943); MOZART: Don Giovanni--Madamina (29 May 1943); VERDI: Don Carlo- Ella giammai m'amo (12 June 1943); NICOLAI: Lustigen Weiher von Windsor--Als BUblein klein (29 May 1943); KOENEMANN: When the king went forth to war; KNIPPER: Meadowland (1 May 1943) (Stopak, conductor). SCHUMANN: Dichterliebe, (Op.48) (Wolfgang Rose, piano) (1943); SCHUBERT: Aufenhalt; Gute Nacht; Der Wanderer; Erlkonig (with piano) (1936). Comments by Kipnis from interview with Robert Sherman on WQXR Listening Room. DISCOCORP 210, 211, 2 discs. The first of these two discs is a historic document of first importance, for the Boris Godounov broadcast with Reiner was the world premiere of the Shostakovich orchestration. The three excerpts, with Kipnis in magnificent voice, are followed by Boris' prayer in the familiar Rimski-Korsakov version. Mussorgsky's Song of the Flea, with orchestra, follows, and the first side is filled out with some comments on Boris. Perhaps one does not think of Kipnis as Leporello (though he did sing the part at the Met). -
MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL Recordings of the Year 2018 This
MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL Recordings Of The Year 2018 This is the fifteenth year that MusicWeb International has asked its reviewing team to nominate their recordings of the year. Reviewers are not restricted to discs they had reviewed, but the choices must have been reviewed on MWI in the last 12 months (December 2017-November 2018). The 130 selections have come from 25 members of the team and 70 different labels, the choices reflecting as usual, the great diversity of music and sources - I say that every year, but still the spread of choices surprises and pleases me. Of the selections, 8 have received two nominations: Mahler and Strauss with Sergiu Celibidache on the Munich Phil choral music by Pavel Chesnokov on Reference Recordings Shostakovich symphonies with Andris Nelsons on DG The Gluepot Connection from the Londinium Choir on Somm The John Adams Edition on the Berlin Phil’s own label Historic recordings of Carlo Zecchi on APR Pärt symphonies on ECM works for two pianos by Stravinsky on Hyperion Chandos was this year’s leading label with 11 nominations, significantly more than any other label. MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR In this twelve month period, we published more than 2400 reviews. There is no easy or entirely satisfactory way of choosing one above all others as our Recording of the Year, but this year the choice was a little easier than usual. Pavel CHESNOKOV Teach Me Thy Statutes - PaTRAM Institute Male Choir/Vladimir Gorbik rec. 2016 REFERENCE RECORDINGS FR-727 SACD The most significant anniversary of 2018 was that of the centenary of the death of Claude Debussy, and while there were fine recordings of his music, none stood as deserving of this accolade as much as the choral works of Pavel Chesnokov. -
An Interview with Robert Shaw: Reflections at Eighty
An Interview with Robert Shaw: Reflections at Eighty by Jeffrey Baxter RobertShaw .Robert Shaw's distinguished career began in New York City In 1979, Shaw was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to in 1938, where he prepared choruses for such renowned con the National Council on the Arts and he was a 1991 recipient of ductors as Fred Waring, Arturo Toscanini, and Bruno Walter. the Kennedy Center Honors, the nation's highest award given to In 1949 he formed the Robert Shaw Chorale, which for two artists. Musical America, the international directory of the per decades reigned as America's premier touring choir. Under the forming arts, named him Musician of the Year for 1992, and auspices ofthe U.S. State Department, the Chorale performed during the same year he was awarded the National Medal ofthe in thirty countries throughout Europe, the Soviet Union, the Arts in a White House ceremony. He was the 1993 recipient of Middle East, and Latin America. During this period Shaw also the Conductors' Guild TheodoreThomas Award, in recognition served as Music Director ofthe San Diego Symphony and then ofhis outstanding achievement in conducting and his contribu as Associate Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, working tions to the education and training ofyoung conductors. closely with George Szell for eleven years. He served as Music A regular guest conductor ofmajor orchestras in this country Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra from 1967 to and abroad, Shaw also is in demand as a teacher and lecturer at 1988, during which time the orchestra garnered widespread leading U.S. -
Michael Hurd
SRCD.363 STEREO DDD MICHAEL HURD (1928- 2006) Michael Hurd Choral Music Volume 1 Choral Music Volume 1 1 (1987) SATB/organ 7’54” 2 (1987) SATB 6’07” (1996) SATB 9’55” 3 I Antiphon 1’03” 4 II The Pulley 3’13” 5 III Vertue 2’47” 6 IV The Call 1’05” 7 V Exultation 1’47” 8 (1987) SATB/organ 3’00” (1994) SATB 20’14” 9 I Will you Come? 2’00” Vasari Singers 10 II An Old Song 3’12” 11 III Two Pewits 2’06” Jeremy Backhouse, conductor 12 IV Out in the Dark 3’07” 13 V The Dark Forest 2’28” 14 VI Lights Out 4’28” 15 VII Cock-Crow 0’54” 16 VIII The Trumpet 1’59” Vasari Singers Jeremy Backhouse, conductor c © 20 SRCD.363 SRCD.363 1 Michael Hurd was born in Gloucester on 19 December 1928, the son of a self- (1966) SSA/organ 11’14” employed cabinetmaker and upholsterer. His early education took place at Crypt 17 I Kyrie eleison 1’39” Grammar School in Gloucester. National Service with the Intelligence Corps involved 18 II Gloria in excelsis Deo 3’17” a posting to Vienna, where he developed a burgeoning passion for opera. He studied 19 III Sanctus 1’35” at Pembroke College, Oxford (1950-53) with Sir Thomas Armstrong and Dr Bernard 20 IV Benedictus 1’40” Rose and became President of the University Music Society. In addition, he took 21 V Agnus Dei 3’03” composition lessons from Lennox Berkeley, whose Gallic sensibility may be said to have (1980) SATB 5’39” influenced Hurd’s own musical language, not least in the attractive and witty Concerto 22 I Captivity 2’34” da Camera for oboe and small orchestra (1979), which he described in his programme 23 II Rejection 1’03” note as a homage to Poulenc’s ‘particular genius’. -
Verdi Week on Operavore Program Details
Verdi Week on Operavore Program Details Listen at WQXR.ORG/OPERAVORE Monday, October, 7, 2013 Rigoletto Duke - Luciano Pavarotti, tenor Rigoletto - Leo Nucci, baritone Gilda - June Anderson, soprano Sparafucile - Nicolai Ghiaurov, bass Maddalena – Shirley Verrett, mezzo Giovanna – Vitalba Mosca, mezzo Count of Ceprano – Natale de Carolis, baritone Count of Ceprano – Carlo de Bortoli, bass The Contessa – Anna Caterina Antonacci, mezzo Marullo – Roberto Scaltriti, baritone Borsa – Piero de Palma, tenor Usher - Orazio Mori, bass Page of the duchess – Marilena Laurenza, mezzo Bologna Community Theater Orchestra Bologna Community Theater Chorus Riccardo Chailly, conductor London 425846 Nabucco Nabucco – Tito Gobbi, baritone Ismaele – Bruno Prevedi, tenor Zaccaria – Carlo Cava, bass Abigaille – Elena Souliotis, soprano Fenena – Dora Carral, mezzo Gran Sacerdote – Giovanni Foiani, baritone Abdallo – Walter Krautler, tenor Anna – Anna d’Auria, soprano Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Vienna State Opera Chorus Lamberto Gardelli, conductor London 001615302 Aida Aida – Leontyne Price, soprano Amneris – Grace Bumbry, mezzo Radames – Placido Domingo, tenor Amonasro – Sherrill Milnes, baritone Ramfis – Ruggero Raimondi, bass-baritone The King of Egypt – Hans Sotin, bass Messenger – Bruce Brewer, tenor High Priestess – Joyce Mathis, soprano London Symphony Orchestra The John Alldis Choir Erich Leinsdorf, conductor RCA Victor Red Seal 39498 Simon Boccanegra Simon Boccanegra – Piero Cappuccilli, baritone Jacopo Fiesco - Paul Plishka, bass Paolo Albiani – Carlos Chausson, bass-baritone Pietro – Alfonso Echevarria, bass Amelia – Anna Tomowa-Sintow, soprano Gabriele Adorno – Jaume Aragall, tenor The Maid – Maria Angels Sarroca, soprano Captain of the Crossbowmen – Antonio Comas Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona Uwe Mund, conductor Recorded live on May 31, 1990 Falstaff Sir John Falstaff – Bryn Terfel, baritone Pistola – Anatoli Kotscherga, bass Bardolfo – Anthony Mee, tenor Dr. -
About the Exhibition Tenorissimo! Plácido Domingo in Vienna
Tenorissimo! Plácido Domingo in Vienna May 17th, 2017 - January 8th, 2018 Lobkowitzplatz 2, 1010 Wien [email protected] T +43 1 525 24 5315 About the exhibition An unmistakable dark timbre, highly dramatic expressiveness, an impressive, vast repertoire – all this enraptures the fans of the Spanish crowd-pleaser with waves of enthusiasm. The Theatermuseum celebrates Plácido Domingo on the anniversary of his stage debut: He has been singing at the Vienna State Opera for 50 years. When the Tenor, then still considered as insider tip, made his debut at the State Opera in the title role of Verdi‘s Don Carlo, not only he took stage and cast in storm, but also the hearts of the Viennese audience – a true love relationship, unbroken till today. This performance contributed to an unparalleled career, taking him to the world‘s leading opera houses. Vienna has always been a very special “home port“ for the opera star. Here he performed 30 different roles in 300 shows and was awarded the title Austrian Kammersänger. The exhibition at the Theatermuseum documents the most important appearances of the “Tenorissimo“ in Vienna with original costumes and props, photographs and memorabilia, video and audio samples. The presentation portrays him also as baritone, the role fach on which he concentrated almost exclusively in the past 10 years, and refers to his activities as conductor, taking him regularly to the orchestra pit of the Vienna State Opera since the end of the 1970s. Without hesitation Plácido Domingo can be described as one of the most versatile, curious and longest serving representative of his musical genre. -
Arturo Toscanini and Don Gillis in Rehearsal, Don Gillis Collection, University of North Texas
Arturo Toscanini and Don Gillis in rehearsal, Don Gillis Collection, University of North Texas. Reproduced with permission. MARK MCKNIGHT, SUSANNAH CLEVELAND Rediscovering “Toscanini: The Man Behind the Legend” The following article is based on the authors’ presentation at the ARSC Conference in Austin, TX, April 2005. The focus is on the Don Gillis Collection, which the University of North Texas (UNT) Music Library acquired after Gillis’s death in 1978. Gillis, a longtime associate of Arturo Toscanini, served as the conductor’s assistant and the producer for the NBC Symphony broadcast concerts from 1944 until they ended ten years later. The photographs that illustrate this article are from the collection and are reproduced with permission. __________________________________________________________________________________ he story of Arturo Toscanini’s rise to fame as one of history’s most celebrated con- ductors is well known. Having spent the first several years of his professional life in T the opera pit, Toscanini then gained a reputation for his symphonic conducting, serving as principal conductor of the New York Philharmonic from 1929 to 1936. When he left that post and retired to his native Italy, his American fans believed they would never again see the maestro conduct here. At the age of 70, however, when most individuals are happily settled into retirement, Toscanini returned to the podium, this time in a completely new and, in some ways controversial, forum, as head of the recently organized NBC Symphony. He would remain with the orchestra until his final departure in 1954. Toscanini died three years later in New York, just two months before his ninetieth birthday. -
A Culture of Recording: Christopher Raeburn and the Decca Record Company
A Culture of Recording: Christopher Raeburn and the Decca Record Company Sally Elizabeth Drew A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Sheffield Faculty of Arts and Humanities Department of Music This work was supported by the Arts & Humanities Research Council September 2018 1 2 Abstract This thesis examines the working culture of the Decca Record Company, and how group interaction and individual agency have made an impact on the production of music recordings. Founded in London in 1929, Decca built a global reputation as a pioneer of sound recording with access to the world’s leading musicians. With its roots in manufacturing and experimental wartime engineering, the company developed a peerless classical music catalogue that showcased technological innovation alongside artistic accomplishment. This investigation focuses specifically on the contribution of the recording producer at Decca in creating this legacy, as can be illustrated by the career of Christopher Raeburn, the company’s most prolific producer and specialist in opera and vocal repertoire. It is the first study to examine Raeburn’s archive, and is supported with unpublished memoirs, private papers and recorded interviews with colleagues, collaborators and artists. Using these sources, the thesis considers the history and functions of the staff producer within Decca’s wider operational structure in parallel with the personal aspirations of the individual in exerting control, choice and authority on the process and product of recording. Having been recruited to Decca by John Culshaw in 1957, Raeburn’s fifty-year career spanned seminal moments of the company’s artistic and commercial lifecycle: from assisting in exploiting the dramatic potential of stereo technology in Culshaw’s Ring during the 1960s to his serving as audio producer for the 1990 The Three Tenors Concert international phenomenon. -
BENJAMIN BRITTEN's USE of the Passacagt.IA Bernadette De Vilxiers a Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Arts University of the Wi
BENJAMIN BRITTEN'S USE OF THE PASSACAGt.IA Bernadette de VilXiers A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Arts University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Johannesburg 1985 ABSTRACT Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) was perhaps the most prolific cooposer of passaca'?' las in the twentieth century. Die present study of his use of tli? passac^.gl ta font is based on thirteen selected -assacaalias which span hin ire rryi:ivc career and include all genre* of his music. The passacaglia? *r- occur i*' the follovxnc works: - Piano Concerto, Op. 13, III - Violin Concerto, Op. 15, III - "Dirge" from Serenade, op. 31 - Peter Grimes, Op. 33, Interlude IV - "Death, be not proud!1' from The Holy Sonnets o f John Donne, Op. 35 - The Rape o f Lucretia, op. 37, n , ii - Albert Herring, Op. 39, III, Threnody - Billy Budd, op. 50, I, iii - The Turn o f the Screw, op . 54, II, viii - Noye '8 Fludde, O p . 59, Storm - "Agnu Dei" from War Requiem, Op. 66 - Syrrvhony forCello and Orchestra, Op. 68, IV - String Quartet no. 3, Op. 94, V The analysis includes a detailed investigation into the type of ostinato themes used, namely their structure (lengUi, contour, characteristic intervals, tonal centre, metre, rhythm, use of sequence, derivation hod of handling the ostinato (variations in length, tone colouJ -< <>e register, ten$>o, degree of audibility) as well as the influence of the ostinato theme on the conqposition as a whole (effect on length, sectionalization). The accompaniment material is then brought under scrutiny b^th from the point of view of its type (thematic, motivic, unrelated counterpoints) and its importance within the overall frarework of the passacaglia. -
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Symphony Society of New York Stadium Concert United States Premieres New York Philharmonic Commission as of November 30, 2020 NY PHIL Biennial Members of / musicians from the New York Philharmonic Click to jump to decade 1842-49 | 1850-59 | 1860-69 | 1870-79 | 1880-89 | 1890-99 | 1900-09 | 1910-19 | 1920-29 | 1930-39 1940-49 | 1950-59 | 1960-69 | 1970-79 | 1980-89 | 1990-99 | 2000-09 | 2010-19 | 2020 Composer Work Date Conductor 1842 – 1849 Beethoven Symphony No. 3, Sinfonia Eroica 18-Feb 1843 Hill Beethoven Symphony No. 7 18-Nov 1843 Hill Vieuxtemps Fantasia pour le Violon sur la quatrième corde 18-May 1844 Alpers Lindpaintner War Jubilee Overture 16-Nov 1844 Loder Mendelssohn The Hebrides Overture (Fingal's Cave) 16-Nov 1844 Loder Beethoven Symphony No. 8 16-Nov 1844 Loder Bennett Die Najaden (The Naiades) 1-Mar 1845 Wiegers Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3, Scottish 22-Nov 1845 Loder Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1 17-Jan 1846 Hill Kalliwoda Symphony No. 1 7-Mar 1846 Boucher Furstenau Flute Concerto No. 5 7-Mar 1846 Boucher Donizetti "Tutto or Morte" from Faliero 20-May 1846 Hill Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Choral 20-May 1846 Loder Gade Grand Symphony 2-Dec 1848 Loder Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor 24-Nov 1849 Eisfeld Beethoven Symphony No. 4 24-Nov 1849 Eisfeld 1850 – 1859 Schubert Symphony in C major, Great 11-Jan 1851 Eisfeld R. Schumann Introduction and Allegro appassionato for Piano and 25-Apr 1857 Eisfeld Orchestra Litolff Chant des belges 25-Apr 1857 Eisfeld R. Schumann Overture to the Incidental Music to Byron's Dramatic 21-Nov 1857 Eisfeld Poem, Manfred 1860 - 1869 Brahms Serenade No. -
Walton - a List of Works & Discography
SIR WILLIAM WALTON - A LIST OF WORKS & DISCOGRAPHY Compiled by Martin Rutherford, Penang 2009 See end for sources and legend. Recording Venue Time Date Orchestra Conductor Performers No. Coy Co Catalogue No F'mat St Rel A BIRTHDAY FANFARE Description For Seven Trumpets and Percussion Completion 1981, Ischia Dedication For Karl-Friedrich Still, a neighbour on Ischia, on his 70th birthday First Performances Type Date Orchestra Conductor Performers Recklinghausen First 10-Oct-81 Westphalia SO Karl Rickenbacher Royal Albert Hall L'don 7-Jun-82 Kneller Hall G E Evans A LITANY - ORIGINAL VERSION Description For Unaccompanied Mixed Voices Completion Easter, 1916 Oxford First Performances Type Date Orchestra Conductor Performers Unknown Recording Venue Time Date Orchestra Conductor Performers No. Coy Co Cat No F'mat St Rel Hereford Cathedral 3.03 4-Jan-02 Stephen Layton Polyphony 01a HYP CDA 67330 CD S Jun-02 A LITANY - FIRST REVISION Description First revision by the Composer Completion 1917 First Performances Type Date Orchestra Conductor Performers Unknown Recording Venue Time Date Orchestra Conductor Performers No. Coy Co Cat No F'mat St Rel Hereford Cathedral 3.14 4-Jan-02 Stephen Layton Polyphony 01a HYP CDA 67330 CD S Jun-02 A LITANY - SECOND REVISION Description Second revision by the Composer Completion 1930 First Performances Type Date Orchestra Conductor Performers Unknown Recording Venue Time Date Orchestra Conductor Performers No. Coy Co Cat No F'mat St Rel St Johns, Cambridge ? Jan-62 George Guest St Johns, Cambridge 01a ARG ZRG