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Stanley Stewart
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« on: 00:23:17, 12-05-2008 » |
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I've just seen an enticing trailer for The Passions of Vaughan Williams -coming soon to BBC 4! A series or a single programme?  |
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Descombes
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« Reply #1 on: 20:36:02, 12-05-2008 » |
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I saw a trailer for it too. This is presumably the programme which the BBC said was in the pipeline when the issue of them not showing Tony Palmer's VW film appeared in the papers. Palmer's film was excellent (it was on Channel 5 on New Year's Day) and I can't see how it could be improved upon.
I only half-watched the trailer this week, but I'm sure it gave the impression that there was an emphasis on VW's love-life! I suppose this is the sort of approach that we have come to expect from the BBC!
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pim_derks
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« Reply #2 on: 20:49:23, 12-05-2008 » |
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I suppose this is the sort of approach that we have come to expect from the BBC!   |
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« Last Edit: 20:51:09, 12-05-2008 by pim_derks »
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"People hate anything well made. It gives them a guilty conscience." John Betjeman
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John W
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« Reply #3 on: 21:20:26, 12-05-2008 » |
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I've just read that the Billy Bunter Theme Tune was from Sea Songs by Vaughan Williams!
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Descombes
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« Reply #4 on: 21:31:50, 12-05-2008 » |
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Thinking about it, I suppose the clue is in the title: The Passions of Vaughan Williams. He wrote plenty of choral music, but no settings of the Passion, as far as I can remember. (Though there is a hugely entertaining recording of VW conducting Bach's St Matthew Passion, complete with booming electronic organ and the massed amateur choirs of Surrey.)
We can confidently expect lurid details of his relationships, I suppose. Tony Palmer just had a rather personal recollection from Michael Kennedy about his "closeness" to Ursula in the final years of the first Mrs VW!
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Stanley Stewart
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« Reply #5 on: 23:42:11, 12-05-2008 » |
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Yes, Descombes, I am also feeling cynical about the lurid implication in the title, although hope springs eternal, even after last week's fiasco on YMOTY. Earlier this year, on another thread, we enthused about Tony Palmer's 'O thou transcendent' - transmitted at 9am, C5, on New Year's Day, ye gods! At the same time, I managed to discover an off-air video of Ken Russell's, South Bank Show, on RVW, first seen in April 1994. It was quite touching to see a formidable Ursual VW, compared to the frail lady in Palmer's film. She guided Russell through the background surrounding the composition of the symphonies, in particular. Can I add to my earlier welcome by offering a DVD transfer of this programme with my compliments? I can be reached by sending a p.m. - go to the members listing. Pim, you are on good form! |
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Ron Dough
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« Reply #6 on: 00:02:05, 13-05-2008 » |
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On the one hand, it's another John Bridcutt piece (he's already ventured into a not unrelated field with Britten's Children) but the ground for much of what I understand to be one of the main thrusts of the piece was covered in the Tony Palmer film too: the very different effect that the relationships with the two wives had upon his creative output: the safety-valve release for the dedication of his caring during long decline of the first even being cited as a major inspiration for the vehemence of the 4th symphony by some commentators, whilst the dedication of the younger second and the possibility of passion long denied by the frailty of the first suggested as a possible reason for the quantity and quality of his output in the final years of his life.
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oliver sudden
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« Reply #7 on: 20:46:39, 13-05-2008 » |
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In which context I'm going to just mention the name Messiaen and retreat to a safe distance.
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Stanley Stewart
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« Reply #8 on: 21:40:41, 13-05-2008 » |
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Memories of Olivier in "Marathon Man" (1976). "Is it safe? IS IT SAFE?"
Speak up, Ollie, you're through!
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martle
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« Reply #9 on: 21:53:04, 13-05-2008 » |
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Memories of Olivier in "Marathon Man" (1976). "Is it safe? IS IT SAFE?"
I never get tired of posting this photo, for some reason.  |
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Green. Always green.
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Descombes
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« Reply #11 on: 08:44:14, 14-05-2008 » |
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Earlier this year, on another thread, we enthused about Tony Palmer's 'O thou transcendent' - transmitted at 9am, C5, on New Year's Day, ye gods! At the same time, I managed to discover an off-air video of Ken Russell's, South Bank Show, on RVW, first seen in April 1994. It was quite touching to see a formidable Ursual VW, compared to the frail lady in Palmer's film. She guided Russell through the background surrounding the composition of the symphonies, in particular.
Can I add to my earlier welcome by offering a DVD transfer of this programme with my compliments? I can be reached by sending a p.m. - go to the members listing. Many thanks for that offer, Stanley. I have sent a message to you, as you suggested. Personally I didn't mind about the timing of the Ch 5 broadcast; it's so easy to record programmes these days and to watch at a more convenient time, with adverts removed! I am fascinated to see whether Ken R's film of VW was in his "respectful" mode, as with his portrait of Elgar, or the more sensational style he adopted for Delius or Mahler! I must confess that I quite enjoy his more provocative films, even though his Elgar was impressive all those years ago! |
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pim_derks
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« Reply #12 on: 10:01:39, 14-05-2008 » |
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I never get tired of posting this photo, for some reason. Great picture, martle! What a miscast Gregory Peck was in The Boys from Brazil. They should have given the part of Mengele to Olivier. Look at those eyes! |
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"People hate anything well made. It gives them a guilty conscience." John Betjeman
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Stanley Stewart
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« Reply #13 on: 12:01:23, 14-05-2008 » |
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The job 'gallops apace', Descombes! Indeed, I looked at Ken Russell's SBS - A Symphonic Portrait of RVW, last night, and apart from a degree of dramatic licence, he is in most respectful mode and Ursula VW is there to see that he does. I also browsed KR's autobiography, 'A British Picture' (1989)as I wanted to identify the date of filming - probably mid 1980's - and this also matches the picture quality of my first Panasonic VCR from this time. Back to work...(gardening).  |
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iwarburton
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« Reply #14 on: 12:51:19, 14-05-2008 » |
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I've just read that the Billy Bunter Theme Tune was from Sea Songs by Vaughan Williams!
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Hi John.
Yes, indeed. I well remember its use in those Greyfriars stories.
You can hear an old recording of the piece on EMI double-CD the Great British Experience or a fairly recent one on British Light Miniatures, issued by Naxos.
Ian.
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