I have been listening again to the performance conducted by Benjamin Britten. This is a very famous performance- still available on CD, though I first got it on LPs in the 70s.
It start controversially at the very first word - Sire!, rather than LORD, because Britten and Imogen Holst thought the word Lord did not have enough impact. For me, now that I know the German quite well, I think I am missing a bit of the impact of the German words. It is a point, because of course we want the people hearing the work to know what is going on. In Canberra the most recent performance I was in was a curious hybrid, where the arias and choruses were in German, but the recit was in English. I suppose it worked. I think I sang St John four times in Canberra. It is still an emotionally draining work
At the moment I am listening to the Evangelist sung by Peter Pears. This is a very special performance.
1 comment:
Oh gosh, you're so much more refined than me.
I've been checking out villainous lairs for my Evil Twin:
Villainous starter home
and
Melting arctic ice reveals over 100 secret villainous lairs
What? You didn't know I had an Evil Twin?
Ahhhhhh! But maybe I AM the Evil Twin!
BROUHAHAHAHAHA!
[goes off to feed pet pirahnas]
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