jmc's classics
LToday is the anniversary of the premiere of Rossini's opera La Cenerentola in 1817. it is based on the Cinderella story. Rossini's most famous works were The William Tell Overture which was from the opera of the same name. It was used in the Lone Ranger TV series. I was never into that show. Also, The opera The Barber of Seville or Il Barber De Seville. This was the first opera that I had ever heard of. My family had a copy of it on 78 RPM. Its most famous aria was "Largo al Factotum which is sung by the title character. It was made famous by Bugs Bunny in one of the Loony Toons episodes.
There are numerous versions of the tale of Cinderella dating back to ancient times. The main story that we have was written by French writer Charles Perrault (1828-1703). There are other operas based on Cinderella. Sergi Prokofiev (1891-1953) wrote an opera based on this subject. The opera by Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) is the best known. There are some differences. mainly the role of step mother is replaced by a step father. The role of a fairy Godmohter is replaced by Alidoro who is a philosopher and a tutor to the prince. The libretto is by Italian poet and writer Jacopo Ferretti (1784-1852). It was a hit when it was first performed. It overshadowed the Barber of Seville as Rossini's most famous opera. However it fell out of favor in the 20th century. I have seen this opera on TV but not in its entirety. Rossini wrote many other operas. He wrote one based on Othello by Shakespear. Verdi wrote a more famous version of that one. There was another opera based on The Barber of Seville by Italian composer Giovani Paisiello (1740-1816). This is based on a story by French writer (Pierre
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In the online edition of Classical FM there is an interesting article about the effects of Classical Music on Popular Music classicfm.com. it shows 17 songs and the classical piece that influenced them. I can not reprint the entire article. There were three songs not mentioned is the Carley Simon's song "Nobody does it Better" the movie The Spy who loved Me which was in the James Bond series. This song has themes from Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony (Opus#27) in it. The "Lovers Concerto" by the Motown group The Toys. this song uses a melody from J.S. Bach's Minuet in G Major (BWV#114). Although the Minuet in G is Attributed to J.S. Bach in is believed by some music scholars to have been written by Christian Petzold (1677-1733), The third which was not mentioned was "Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harem. which has melodies from J.S. Bach's Orchestral Suite #3 (BWV#1068), which is also known as Air on a G String. This song has also been sung by many other singers including Annie Lennox among others. It has been used in several Hollywood films including The Big Chill and Purple Haze. Neither of which I have seen. I like this song and have seen the YouTube video of it.
There were 17 songs listed. Two of which are Billy Joel's "this Night" Which draws from Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata and Little Me by the girl band Little Miz which draws from Gabriel Faure's Pavane (Opus#50). I like Faure's music but I am not familiar with this piece of song. This is an interesting article. I can't copy it in its entirety but check out the link. There are probably a lot of other Pop and Rock songs that draw on Classical melodies. Today is the anniversary of the premier of the Third symphony of Franz Berwald (1796-1868) which happened in 1905 37 years after the death of the composer. He wrote at least three other symphonies that have survived. Three other numbered symphonies plus another one without a number which I do not know anything about. The Third is his most famous. It is given the nick name Singuliere (or the single one).
Berwald was a Swedish composer. He also worked as a physician and worked in a glass factory. He spent time in Vienna. One of the critics in Vienna Edouard Hanslik said that he lacked creative power and fantasy. Now he is regarded as Sweden's first great symphoniest. He also wrote three string quartets and several operas. Sweden is not known for opera but they have produced some great opera singers over the years. the Third is his best known it is in three movements instead of the standard four. The movements are : Allegro, Adagio and Presto. it lasts around a half hour. The version that I have is of the Berlin Philharminic with Igor Markovitch conducting on the Deutsche Grammophon label. It also includes Berwald's Fourth symphony along with Schubert's fourth Symphony. I also have the Second coupled with Berwald's Violin Concerto. It features the Orchestra di Asssar which is an Italian orchestra conducted by Roberto Tigani. It is coupled with Berwald's Violin Concerto wiht Marco Rogliano on the violin. it is on the Bongioboni Label which is also Italian. I did not think that Italians were in to Swedish music! I also have a CD of the string quartets. It is the Aggdrasil Qhartet on the BIS Label. BIS is a Swedish company. Happy 2022! I have heard that vinal LPs have surpassed CDs in sales in 2021! That has not happened since 1991. I thought that vinal was obsolete.
Happy 2022! This year is the 225th anniversary of the birth of Schubert and Donizetti, the 200th of Ceasar Franck and the 150th of Hugo Alfven, Alexander Scriabin and Ralph Vaughn-Williams. I hope that there will be commemorations of these men.
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