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JACKSON, G.: Requiem / In all his works / I am the voice of the wind / POTT, F.: When David heard (Vasari Singers, Backhouse)
While the unifying thread which links these works is that of loss, the underlying focus is an uplifting celebration of life and love. Gabriel Jackson’s Requiem combines traditional solemnity with poems which embrace wide-ranging spirituality, resulting in images of light and radiant optimism. Contrasting poignancy of expression is heard in personal tributes from John Tavener and Francis Pott, while Bob Chilcott uses Pachelbel’s famous Canon to set Oscar Wilde’s Requiescat. Vasari Singers’ Great British Anthems (8.572504) was described as ‘essential listening’ by Gramophone.
Bryn Terfel,
Roberto Frontali, Kenneth Tarver, Robin Legatte, Peter Hoare and Barbara Frittoli,
The spectacular opening production of London's newly restored Royal Opera House, first broadcast live on BBC television in December 1999, brings a riot of colour to Verdi's great Shakespearean masterpiece.
Bryn Terfel as Sir John Falstaff and Barbara Frittoli as Alice Ford lead
a star cast with the orchestra and chorus of the Royal Opera House under the
direction of Bernard Haitink, in a spectacular new production by Graham Vick
with vibrant medieval designs by Paul Brown.
Running time: 157 minutes DVD9
Region Code: All regions
Picture format: 16:9
Sound format: Dolby Stereo & 5.1 Surround
Menu languages: GB/D/F Subtitle languages D/F
Cat. No.: OA 0812 D (PAL) OA 0823 D (NTSC)
PLUS
Meet the backstage crew in a fascinating 10-minute tour of the behind-the-scenes
working of the Royal Opera House, as they prepare for this opening gala performance
Stage Director Graham Vick on his Production of Falstaff
Illustrated synopsis of the opera, presented by James Naughtie
Bryn Terfel talks to Eamonn Holmes
REVIEWS
'a true joy to the eye as Bryn Terfel dazzles us with stature, voice
and gesture...'
Diapason (Translation)
'The magnificent voice, personality and acting ability of Welsh baritone
Bryn Terfel combine for a vivid portrait of Falstaff. There are other outstanding
performances by Bernadette Manca di Nissa, Barbara Frittoli, Roberto Frontali,
Kenneth Tarver, and Desiree Rancatore. Through, Music Director Bernard Haitink
brilliant conveys the zest and magic of Verdi's score.'
The Patriot Ledger (USA)
'deliciously comic production...vividly filmed...The singers are on top
form, dominated by
Terfel's Falstaff...'
Musical Opinion
Dublin-born Colman Pearce took an Honours Music degree at University College Dublin and won many awards as a pianist before studying conducting in Hilversum and Vienna. He was Principal Conductor of the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra during the years 1981 to 1983. In the years 1984 to 1987, he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra in Spain, and from 1987 to 1999 Principal Conductor and Music Director of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, where, in his final year, he was the recipient of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in the State of Mississippi. He was also made a Freeman of the City of New Orleans.
Colman Pearce’s repertoire is large, embracing not only the main works in the symphonic field, but also many operas and oratorios. He has directed many important Irish, American and world première performances. His guest appearances as conductor have brought him to many cities in three continents, and won him golden opinions from press, public and orchestras.
As a composer, his song cycle Summerfest was commissioned by RTÉ and given its première with the composer at the piano in 1993. His work Robinson the Cat was first performed in the United States with great success in 1998. His other compositions, all given their first performances in the United States, include Anagram, King Cormacat Tara, Alienado, Contemplations, and The Little Room. For Naxos and Marco Polo Colman Pearce has recorded CDs of music by Stanford, Victory, Boydell, Buckley, Corcoran, Deane, Bodley and Wilson, with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. Other releases include Balada’s two short operas Hangman, and Town of Greed for Naxos (8.557090), and a recording conducted by Colman Pearce of Balada’s orchestral music (8.557049) played by the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra.
The Irish composer Raymond Deane studied music in Dublin, proceeding to further study of composition under Gerald Bennett in Basle, Karlheinz Stockhausen in Cologne, and later Isang Yun in Berlin. His Violin Concerto is based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, while his Oboe Concerto features the soloist as an exile from an often aggressive orchestra.
