Crikey, Tommo, I didn't think anyone would spot that link! The Walton Scapino quotes part of Rossini's overture to Tancredi, but there is another Rossini quote he uses in another piece - any ideas? I'd suspect it's one that most listeners would spot.    I also had a different Respighi, although in a very similar vein.

Wow! Respect both! [Later: Ahem, cough. That relates to the question setter and solver, not to the delights of Tommo's message 4682.]

The other Walton would be that little bit in Facade. '... And Mrs Cow. Ba babada, baba ba da da.'  

[D'oh. Tommo knew anyway. And first. And it's probably not the Mrs Cow number anyway. Memory is a bit shaky.]

Calm down, George, or I might not reveal who I saw on Thursday evening at the Barbican...

Sadly not, although she gave me a gorgeous smile just before launching into the Mozart.   [And I expect just about every other male in the audience felt it was for them too, but it wasn't - it was directed straight at me, so there!!]

There was a CD signing afterwards, but as I already have the disc and stupidly didn't anticipate such an event and bring it with me...

I didn't see that concert, but generally I agree.  But approximately half the audience goes for the mucking about (don't you boys) so at least they're happy.  If she stopped that, then everyone would be disappointed.  A far-from-fantastic voice wrapped in a knockout package.

At least when she's in a staged production her dancing/acting/wriggling can help her develop a convincing character to a level that her singing alone wouldn't manage.  In concert performances though it really is eye-rolling: 

 I'll just emerge from behind the sofa(!) for a moment to say sorry I didn't get to see you, Ruth - you were actually only two rows in front of me (could you see much over Kew Gardens?!) and as I awaited your return at the end of the interval, the person next to me suddenly engaged me in conversation about Classicfm TV!


What some might label 'mucking about', others might call 'acting' - I was very convinced by her concert performance last year as Ginevra in Ariodante. There were some cracks particularly in Endless Pleasure, but I enjoyed her vocal performances very much (as I did the Haydn symphony - especially the timps - and the Mozart concerto).

Incidentally, a colleague (female) who knows a thing or two about baroque singing, saw her at Glyndebourne last month and was majorly impressed, so I think a treat is in store for you at the Proms...


Oooh, retires behind sofa again, but not before setting a simplish new puzzle (if only to divert attention)  

Sibelius
Handel
Walton
Johnny Cash

Oh, most things, from the knees up   I couldn't see anybody's shoes...

I didn't see that.  I had had a ticket for it principally because I wanted to hear Kirchschlager sing Ariodante.  When the cast started dropping out one by one, culminating in the loss of Kirchschlager, I returned my ticket as Ariodante is probably my least favourite of the well-known Handel operas, apart from Scherza infida and Dopo notte, and I was due to be out almost every other night that week anyway.  The one thing that nearly made me hang onto the ticket was the prospect of Danielle de Niese taking something seriously, and in hindsight I rather regret not having witnessed this rare occasion.

I have always said I would love to see her in something really serious.  To me, though, on Thursday, when she sang 'Lascia ch'io pianga' it came across as a petulant teenager who's been told to go to her room... and I was hoping I might see a straight face at some point during Exsultate, jubilate, but no - only a lot of the usual gurning and the fluffing of the first TWO entries in the Alleluja.

So did I!  Rather enjoyed her in that, and am looking forward to revisiting it at the Proms (it's a production that should adapt well to a semi-staged version).

Sorry, this is all terribly off-topic for NMC...

Edited to respond to what Richard said: Another thing that bothered me about her singing (other than the cracked notes) was the way her very top notes and very bottom notes seemed to be completely detached from the rest of her register...