jmc's classics
I saw the movie Pavarotti. It was a synopsis of his life. It talked about Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras an interviewed them both as well as members of Pavarotti's family and friends. It talked about Enrico Caruso (1873-1921) early operatic tenor who Pavarotti is compared to. It did not talk about Mario Lanza, John McCormack or Jussi Bjorling. McCormack (1884-1945) was Irish, Bjorling (1911-1960) was Swedish.
In my opinion, of the tenors from the pas Bjorling had the best voice. Lanza was more of a Movie star and did not appear at the Met. My only disappoint about the movie is that it did not talk about those three operatic tenors.
0 Comments
It is six months till Christmas. Soon there will be Halloween merchandise out then Christmas. One Halloween movie or musical is the Phantom of the Opera. It is based on the book by Gaston Leroux (1868-1927) it is set in Paris. there have been many other versions made of this book besides the Lloyd-Weber musical which I have not seen. This is a gothic novel. Some points are creepy.
The version that I the `983 version with Claud Rains as the phantom . It is a departure from the original book and is not as graphic. I have it on VHS. It uses music from Ruggero Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci and Frederick Von Flotow's (1812-1883) Opera Martha. It also stared Nelson Eddy and Susanna Foster. I like this movie it is from the "Golden Age of Hollywood" It is not as gory and the plot is different. It is in color. Kodak started selling color film in 1935. Flotow like Leoncavallo is a "one hit wonder" of opera. I like the opera Martha. It is not performed as much today although some of the area are popular. Michale Bolton recorded one aria"Tu Ma Apri" He wrote other operas. The only one that has had revivals or still performed is Alesandro Stradella based on the life of the 17th century composer of the same name. Some of the areas from this opera have been recorded. Bolton made an album a few years ago of opera arias. I have heard parts of this album. I recommend this movie. I think that it should have received an Oscar of some kind. This is one of my favorite movies. I have not yet seen the movie Pavarotti about the opera singer of the same name. It is directed by Ron Howard who stared as Opie in the Andy Griffith show and Richie Cunningham in Happy Days. I remember both shows. Ron Howard has turned to directing. I remember in January of 1983 he was the host of Saturday Night Live. That was a funny episode. Many of the child stars in Hollywood are now washed up which is a shame.
Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007) was one of the leading tenors of his day. He along with Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo were also crossover artists who sang popular music also. Jussi Bjorling (who was Swedish) and Mario Lanza (aka Alfredo Cocozza) an Italian-American also referred to as the "American Caruso" also were crossover artists to some extent. Pavarotti was a superstar. I have some of his albums. There were scandals in his life just like many other clelbtities. I have not yet seen this film. I do not watch very many documentaries. I hope to see it sometime soon. He was Italian. there were a lot of great Danish, German and Swedish operatic tenors also. Personally, I did not think that Ron Howard would make such a film. He is mainly remembered for his role in those two TV shows. I remember them form when I was a kid. They are now in the re-runs. You can go almost anywhere and see them in the re-runs. I don't see Gilligan's Island or All in the Family in the re-runs as much as I used to. I don't think that Gilligan's Island would be considered politically correct today. Pacific Islanders would complain that it stereo types them. The First movement of Mozart's Symphony #40 (Adagio-allegro spirit) is one of the most iconic pieces of Classical music. The catalog number is K.550. K is the cataloging system for Mozart's works such as D is for Schubert or BWV is for J. S. Bach.
I have previously in my previous post talked about one of Richard Strauss. Bothe Mozart and Strauss were sons of noted composers. Leopold Mozart and Franz Straus. It is the season of Father's Day. Both men were overshadowed by their sons. The 40th Symphony is one of his last symphonies. it was the 41st "Jupiter" (K4551) which was one of my first pieces of classical music. it was on a 78 RPM NBC symphony Orchestra conducted by Arturo Toscanini. Coupled with J. S. Bach's Air on a G String. This work along with the 40th and 39th(K543) date from the summer of1788 three years before Mozart died. These are consider to be his greatest symphonies. It is not known if they were premiered during his lifetime. Evidence from programs show that he did conduct several symphonies in that time period. This piece had a strong influence on both Beethoven and Schubert. Some music scholars don't think that Mozart even heard this work performed It is in the G key which in the 18th century was associated with lamentation or suffering. Only three of his mature works are in that key. It has three other movements besides the famous first: Andante, menuetto, and allegro assai. The Minuet has influenced the minuet of Schubert's Fifth symphony (D485). This work has a lot of influences of Mozart. It is said to be "Mozartian" in character. This is a popular movement. Rush Limbaugh played the first movement a few years ago on the radio. I don't know why. there are many versions of this work. The one which I have is of Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharminic on the Sony label. It is coupled with Mozars's 36th Symphony (k425) and the Serenade in G ein klein Nachmusic. (aka a little nite Music) (K525). Mozart is one of the more faomu7s composers. He was a child genius. Like Schubert He was also prolivic and died young. On June 11 is the Birthday of Richard Strauss (1864-1949). He was a prolific composer. Today he is mainly remembered for his tome pome Also Spoke Zarathustra(Opus#30) or the opening lines which was used in the movie 2001 a Space Odyssey and has also been used in some commercials(I don't remember which ones) or at least by people who are not in to Classical Music. he wrote other tome poems, 17 operas, chamber music etc. My favorite work of his is His Violin concerto (Opus#8) written between 1881-82 when he was a teenager. Strauss' father Franz was a horn player and also a composer. Richard Strauss wrote two horn concertos one each at the beginning and end of his career respectively. Zarathustra is based on the writings of Frederick Neichze (1844-1900) who was a German Philosopher and writer.
I enjoy his Violin concerto which I am listening to right now. It was written in the romantic period but has influences of the Classical period. It is in the standard three movements: Allegro, Lento and Rondo. I especially like the second movement. It is dedicated to Beeno Walter who was one of Strauss' teachers. He premiered it on December 5, 1882 with Benno Walter playing the violin and Strauss playing a piano reduction. It did not premier with orchestra for four more years. It is not as popular as other violin concertos such as the ones by Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky etc. There are only about a dozen or so recordings available of it. The one I have is of the Staatskapelle Dresdenwhiht Rudolph Kempe conducting on the EMI label. It is in a three disc set with Also Spoke Zarathustra, Symphonie Domestica (Opus#53) and various other works. I would recommend this album. As of now it is the only thing that I have purchased from Amazon.com. I purchased it 20 years ago when Amazon was getting big. I am not a fan of Amazon. He wrote two early symphonies. Symphony in D and Symphony in F (Opus#12) There is only one version of the Symphony in D available. I could find five versions of the Symphony in F. The version that I have is on the Chandos label with Nami Jarvi conducting the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. I likethis symphony it is from the same time period as the violin concerto. It is in four movements: Allegro ma non troppo, Scherzo:presto, andante Cantabile and allegro assai. I hope that these works of Strauss become more popular. Richard Strauss appeared on the cover of Time magazine twice. In 1927 and 1938 Most orchestras and theatre companies are off during the summer months. some may be touring. It is usually a quiet month for classical music. Unless something happens in the news. Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March is played during graduations which are in May or June.
|
Archives
April 2024
Categories |