Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 33 - Opera through the ages 1
Sunday 25 October 2020 is World Opera Day.
To mark World Opera Day, over the next two weeks Tonic Jukebox will be dedicated to a brief tour of opera through the ages.
Monday October 26
Early 17th century
Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643) was born in Cremona, Italy and is generally regarded as the first major opera composer. His opera L'incoronazione di Poppea (the Coronation of Poppea) is one of the earliest operas in the present-day operatic repertoire. This was Monteverdi's last opera and was first performed at the Teatro Santi Giovanni e Paolo in Venice during the 1643 carnival season.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27incoronazione_di_Poppea
Pur ti miro, pur ti godo
As the opera ends, Nerone and Poppea sing a love duet, Pur ti miro, pur ti godo (I gaze at you, I possess you).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbQUZemAbpA
Tuesday October 27
Late 17th century
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) was an English composer. Although it incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements, Purcell's was a uniquely English form of Baroque music. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers.
King Arthur is a semi-opera in five acts with music by Henry Purcell and a libretto by John Dryden. It was first performed at the Queen's Theatre, Dorset Garden, London, in 1691.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Arthur_(opera)
Here are three excerpts, two of which (*) we sang at Tonic Choir in 2011.
Fairest Isle
I sang this (aged 12) in a small group in my first concert at secondary school.
I remember it clearly as I had a high temperature but nothing was going to stop me taking part.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po6qbbjFJwA
*See, see, we assemble (shivering chorus)
This was one of two songs I sang with a 90-strong community choir at the London Coliseum (home of the ENO). There were a number of choirs taking part and our choir was positioned behind a second curtain ready to walk forward as the previous choir finished. Waiting there on one of the biggest stages in London with ENO scenery around me was quite thrilling. Then the walk forwards into the lights and a pretty full house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxyZ1RBQh7w
*Your hay it is mow’d
Strange choice of picture to accompany this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_XfmC3TwoY
Wednesday October 28
Early 18th century
George Frederic Handel (1685-1759) was a German, later British, Baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London. He also spent 18 months in Little Stanmore, as many of you will know, having sung with us at St. Lawrence's church where he worked in 1717-1718.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel
Handel’s opera Berenice had its first performance at Covent Garden Theatre in London on 18 May 1737.
Si, tra i ceppi is one aria that both Bryan and I have performed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berenice_(opera)
Si, tra i ceppi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liT89NmlAr8
And from his opera, Semele (1744), Where'er you walk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak4bcQh_0Sc
Thursday October 29
Late 18th century
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is one composer who needs little introduction from me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart
Così fan tutte is one of Mozart’s most popular operas. It first performed on 26 January 1790 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria.
This trio is without question one of my top ten pieces of music. Alfonso, Dorabella and Fiordiligi watch the two young men depart and wish them safe passage. I have been fortunate enough to sing this trio and it is a real treat to sing something this beautiful.
Soave sia il vento
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_0FHyF3Pyk
(Glyndebourne)
https://youtu.be/1YY2zdHAbgQ
I couldn't resist adding in this one. (Bryan, Philip, Polly and Sarah)
Friday October 30
Early 19th century
We arrive at the 19th century, my favourite period for opera.
For the early part of the 19th I have chosen Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gioachino_Rossini
You may have expected me to use something from Il barbiere di Siviglia (the Barber of Seville) but that would be rather predictable.
Instead I present La Cenerentola (Cinderella), first performed in 1817. It is great fun with the expected mix for this period of Bel Canto (beautiful singing) and comedic songs with lots of words sung very quickly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cenerentola
Zitto zitto, piano piano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9xiPBqYlio
(featuring my favourite tenor, Juan Diego Flórez)
Sì, ritrovarla io giuro (Yes, I swear I will find you)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z532D1jzYmE
(yes, him again)
Weekend October 31/November 1
Mid 19th century
Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) ie best known for writing almost 70 operas. He was one of the leading composers of the bel canto opera style during the first half of the 19th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaetano_Donizetti
Don Pasquale is one of Donizetti's most popular operas. It was first performed in 1843 in Paris.
Povero Ernesto (Poor Ernesto)
Ernesto believes he has just lost his love and has been told by his Uncle to leave his house. He will be homeless.
This beautiful aria includes a poignant trumpet solo.
And what could be better than another Tonic Jukebox appearance from Juan Diego Flórez?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFdnLNNxs1g
To mark World Opera Day, over the next two weeks Tonic Jukebox will be dedicated to a brief tour of opera through the ages.
Monday October 26
Early 17th century
Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643) was born in Cremona, Italy and is generally regarded as the first major opera composer. His opera L'incoronazione di Poppea (the Coronation of Poppea) is one of the earliest operas in the present-day operatic repertoire. This was Monteverdi's last opera and was first performed at the Teatro Santi Giovanni e Paolo in Venice during the 1643 carnival season.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27incoronazione_di_Poppea
Pur ti miro, pur ti godo
As the opera ends, Nerone and Poppea sing a love duet, Pur ti miro, pur ti godo (I gaze at you, I possess you).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbQUZemAbpA
Tuesday October 27
Late 17th century
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) was an English composer. Although it incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements, Purcell's was a uniquely English form of Baroque music. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers.
King Arthur is a semi-opera in five acts with music by Henry Purcell and a libretto by John Dryden. It was first performed at the Queen's Theatre, Dorset Garden, London, in 1691.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Arthur_(opera)
Here are three excerpts, two of which (*) we sang at Tonic Choir in 2011.
Fairest Isle
I sang this (aged 12) in a small group in my first concert at secondary school.
I remember it clearly as I had a high temperature but nothing was going to stop me taking part.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po6qbbjFJwA
*See, see, we assemble (shivering chorus)
This was one of two songs I sang with a 90-strong community choir at the London Coliseum (home of the ENO). There were a number of choirs taking part and our choir was positioned behind a second curtain ready to walk forward as the previous choir finished. Waiting there on one of the biggest stages in London with ENO scenery around me was quite thrilling. Then the walk forwards into the lights and a pretty full house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxyZ1RBQh7w
*Your hay it is mow’d
Strange choice of picture to accompany this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_XfmC3TwoY
Wednesday October 28
Early 18th century
George Frederic Handel (1685-1759) was a German, later British, Baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London. He also spent 18 months in Little Stanmore, as many of you will know, having sung with us at St. Lawrence's church where he worked in 1717-1718.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel
Handel’s opera Berenice had its first performance at Covent Garden Theatre in London on 18 May 1737.
Si, tra i ceppi is one aria that both Bryan and I have performed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berenice_(opera)
Si, tra i ceppi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liT89NmlAr8
And from his opera, Semele (1744), Where'er you walk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak4bcQh_0Sc
Thursday October 29
Late 18th century
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is one composer who needs little introduction from me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart
Così fan tutte is one of Mozart’s most popular operas. It first performed on 26 January 1790 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria.
This trio is without question one of my top ten pieces of music. Alfonso, Dorabella and Fiordiligi watch the two young men depart and wish them safe passage. I have been fortunate enough to sing this trio and it is a real treat to sing something this beautiful.
Soave sia il vento
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_0FHyF3Pyk
(Glyndebourne)
https://youtu.be/1YY2zdHAbgQ
I couldn't resist adding in this one. (Bryan, Philip, Polly and Sarah)
Friday October 30
Early 19th century
We arrive at the 19th century, my favourite period for opera.
For the early part of the 19th I have chosen Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gioachino_Rossini
You may have expected me to use something from Il barbiere di Siviglia (the Barber of Seville) but that would be rather predictable.
Instead I present La Cenerentola (Cinderella), first performed in 1817. It is great fun with the expected mix for this period of Bel Canto (beautiful singing) and comedic songs with lots of words sung very quickly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cenerentola
Zitto zitto, piano piano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9xiPBqYlio
(featuring my favourite tenor, Juan Diego Flórez)
Sì, ritrovarla io giuro (Yes, I swear I will find you)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z532D1jzYmE
(yes, him again)
Weekend October 31/November 1
Mid 19th century
Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) ie best known for writing almost 70 operas. He was one of the leading composers of the bel canto opera style during the first half of the 19th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaetano_Donizetti
Don Pasquale is one of Donizetti's most popular operas. It was first performed in 1843 in Paris.
Povero Ernesto (Poor Ernesto)
Ernesto believes he has just lost his love and has been told by his Uncle to leave his house. He will be homeless.
This beautiful aria includes a poignant trumpet solo.
And what could be better than another Tonic Jukebox appearance from Juan Diego Flórez?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFdnLNNxs1g