Comments | soho_iced: Tewkesbury and Ivor Novello

soho_iced

Tewkesbury and Ivor Novello

Apr 13, 2007 12:32

Realised I haven't mentioned how Big Fat Concert went - which was very well: I think it is probably the highest profile single event I've ever done, and while there's a lot more I could bring to the piece given some more work, I was pretty happy with how my bits went.

( Cut for detailed waffling about the piece )

practising, concert, singing

Comments 16

Tewkesbury anonymous April 13 2007, 18:36:42 UTC

As you know, we were there and thought that you were wonderful - but then we are biased! I thought it was an interesting piece but wouldn't choose it to be done at my birthday party! Much more likely to go for the Novello - would have liked to have heard that more!

Unfortunately, music for me stopped about 1850 or possibly earlier so I couldn't possibly be a critic!

Old Pixie

Ivor Novello grace_poppy April 13 2007, 23:49:00 UTC

The Ivor Novello songs are trite? Ah well. I only know the songs that are in that movie, you know... um... that newish movie where Jeremy Northam played Ivor Novello. But I like Ivor Novello as an actor. Not that that has any bearing on his songs.

Gosford Park, that's it.

Who is the Princess Royal? I'm shockingly ignorant about the Royals.

Re: Ivor Novello soho_iced April 16 2007, 10:03:49 UTC

That's all right, I am too. The Princess Royal is Princess Anne. (I think she's called that because she's the Queen's oldest child?) She's not in the news so much because she doesn't tend to do anything scandalous, just likes horses (and music, apparently).

The Novello songs are not dreadful, there just doesn't seem much to them: all very sugary and a bit camp. They did go down well with the audience, who were mostly older people, so that's all right.

I loved Gosford Park. The focus on the interaction between the two communities in the house of guests and servants - rather than one or the other - made it more than just another costume country house film. Great acting as well.

Re: Ivor Novello grace_poppy April 21 2007, 16:15:41 UTC

I love Gosford Park too! And I love seeing the downstairs people in all their different upstairs and downstairs environments.

'I can give you the starlight' totally sounds like the title for an Andrew Lloyd Webber song from "Starlight Express." (But the only two songs I know from it are called 'Starlight Express' and 'I am the starlight.' Maybe he had some rule that the word starlight had to appear in every song title.)

So where's your opera meme??

Princess Royal anonymous April 16 2007, 11:33:04 UTC

I have resisted this for days but can't keep it any longer! Do you recall the "Does the Queen have a sister?" conversation many years ago! Actually, I think it is good that people DON'T know who the royals are.

You may recall that I was one of about three people who didn't stand for her when she came in. We pay her a good salary, I have no objection to her doing what she does, but I don't give automatic servile respect to people I have never met - except perhaps Nelson Mandela for whom I am prepared to grovel should I ever meet him, which I have to say is very unlikely!

Re: Princess Royal soho_iced April 17 2007, 10:20:05 UTC

Bah - when I mentioned the PR meeting to Polina, a Russian pianist friend, she immediately tried to draw me into a conversation about Prince William and his girlfriend: hopefully I didn't look too blank.

I reckon 90% of those people weren't rising out of respect, but because they were vaguely aware it was customary (and maybe to get a better view). Royalty Today in this country is all about meaningless formalities, but I think most people think it's quite fun - like I was faintly disappointed not to be encouraged to curtsey to her. The only other time I ever have to curtsey is at a curtain call or in a costume, so that sort of thing has an artificial, stagey feel: I certainly don't feel as if I'm being servile.

So by not rising you are showing you don't feel obliged to follow the herd - a more important principle than whether the monarchy should exist, I think.

In case I didn't mention, it was really good to see you there.

Re: Princess Royal grace_poppy April 21 2007, 16:12:31 UTC

(Just butting in randomly - when I was a young'un, I always thought it was strange that everyone would applaud for a conductor when he first came out. I thought, "Why are we applauding now? He hasn't even DONE anything yet! Wait till after the concert and then applaud!" Oh well. But it's just tradition. However, I'm glad people don't so much carry on the tradition of applauding the principals when they first appear on the stage. I understand the sentiment [YAY! It's my favorite singer in the world!!!] but I hate to have the continuity of an opera broken up - or to have his/her opening notes drowned out. [YAY! We love you so much that we're going to drown out your singing!] Plus it makes me feel like a cad if I don't applaud - I may love the singer too, but I want to HEAR the SINGING! Same thing for applauding after an aria that blends right into the next part of the music - like 'Nessun Dorma.' Poor old Ping, Pang and Pong.)

Re: Princess Royal grace_poppy April 21 2007, 16:18:42 UTC

(That was very random, but I was thinking about applauding/rising for people when they enter the theater.)

Hmm, everyone rises for a bride, though. I wonder why? Maybe it's from the old gentlemanly tradition of rising when a lady enters the room? Or maybe they're just treating the bride like a princess?

Thread 11

spiritsense May 28 2007, 10:35:15 UTC

Just wanted to let you know about a Guest Map I've set up for my LJ Friends to mark their location on. It's really easy - I've posted the link to it in my LJ today [ http://spiritsense.livejournal.com/60330.html ]
I'd love for you to mark where you are!
Thanks in advance!