It Must Be Love (week 2)
Monday February 7
Love train
Love Train was a hit single by The O'Jays, written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, released in 1972. The lyrics make a call for unity and world peace, mentioning England, Russia, China, Egypt, Israel, and Africa. Lyrics here.
Recording
Tuesday February 8
A Red, Red Rose
A Red, Red Rose is a 1794 song by Robert Burns based on traditional sources, sung here by Kenneth McKellar. This much-admired artist was trained at The Royal College of Music in London and subsequently sang with the Carl Rosa Opera Company and gave concerts of Lieder, operatic arias, and classic songs as well as folksongs.
Recording
Wednesday February 9
The Love for Three Oranges (orchestral suite)
The Love for Three Oranges is a satirical opera by Sergei Prokofiev, which is now widely performed around the world. A 1988 production by Richard Jones for Opera North, later seen at English National Opera, New York City Opera and elsewhere, used "scratch'n'sniff" cards handed out to the audience, suggesting various scents matching events in the staging (gunshots, Truffaldino's 'wind', the aroma of oranges).
Recording of the march
Recording of the complete suite (15 mins)
Thursday February 10
I Love My Dog
I Love My Dog" is a 1966 song written by Cat Stevens, and was his first single, appearing the following year on his debut album Matthew and Son. Stevens later acknowledged that he had essentially written the lyrics to the music of American jazz multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef's The Plum Blossom. Stevens indicated that he had told Yusef Lateef about it, gave him a big cheque, and in fact, started paying him royalties. The song is now released with credits that include Yusef Lateef.
Recording
Friday February 11
Some Enchanted Evening
Some Enchanted Evening is a song from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. It is thought to be one of the biggest popular hits to come out of any Rodgers and Hammerstein show. It is also said that Andrew Lloyd Webber describes it as the "greatest song ever written for a musical". That might be a bit over the top, but it is certainly a great number. In this recording from the 1958 film version, the part of Emile de Becque is sung (but not acted) by Giorgio Tozzi (1923-2011). Tozzi was a celebrated American opera singer who sang in many opera houses around the world, including many performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Recording
Saturday February 12
Romeo and Juliet (ballet and opera)
The balcony scene pas de deux
Kenneth MacMillan had previously choreographed the balcony scene for Lynn Seymour and Christopher Gable to dance in September 1964 for Canadian Television. This scene provided an essential part of the ballet's overall structure. Seymour stated that the balcony scene pas de deux only took three rehearsals to choreograph fully. This experience made MacMillan seem a good candidate to choreograph the entire ballet for Covent Garden, when the Soviet Union refused to allow Leonid Lavrovsky's classic production to tour to London.
Performance
and a bonus ...
Je veux vivre (I want to live)
Roméo et Juliette is an opera in five acts by Charles Gounod based on Shakespeare's play. It was first performed in Paris on 27 April 1867. This opera is notable for the series of four duets for the main characters and the waltz song Je veux vivre for the soprano. There are many wonderful recordings of Je veux vivre on YouTube. Pick one of these at random and enjoy. Lyrics here.
Diana Damrau
Anna Netrebko
Natalie Dessay
Renee Fleming
Joan Sutherland
Sunday February 13
I like life
Scrooge is a 1970 musical film adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 story, A Christmas Carol. It was filmed in London, directed by Ronald Neame, and starred Albert Finney as Ebenezer Scrooge. The film's score was composed by Leslie Bricusse. The link to this month's theme is 'love of life'.
Performance
Love train
Love Train was a hit single by The O'Jays, written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, released in 1972. The lyrics make a call for unity and world peace, mentioning England, Russia, China, Egypt, Israel, and Africa. Lyrics here.
Recording
Tuesday February 8
A Red, Red Rose
A Red, Red Rose is a 1794 song by Robert Burns based on traditional sources, sung here by Kenneth McKellar. This much-admired artist was trained at The Royal College of Music in London and subsequently sang with the Carl Rosa Opera Company and gave concerts of Lieder, operatic arias, and classic songs as well as folksongs.
Recording
Wednesday February 9
The Love for Three Oranges (orchestral suite)
The Love for Three Oranges is a satirical opera by Sergei Prokofiev, which is now widely performed around the world. A 1988 production by Richard Jones for Opera North, later seen at English National Opera, New York City Opera and elsewhere, used "scratch'n'sniff" cards handed out to the audience, suggesting various scents matching events in the staging (gunshots, Truffaldino's 'wind', the aroma of oranges).
Recording of the march
Recording of the complete suite (15 mins)
Thursday February 10
I Love My Dog
I Love My Dog" is a 1966 song written by Cat Stevens, and was his first single, appearing the following year on his debut album Matthew and Son. Stevens later acknowledged that he had essentially written the lyrics to the music of American jazz multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef's The Plum Blossom. Stevens indicated that he had told Yusef Lateef about it, gave him a big cheque, and in fact, started paying him royalties. The song is now released with credits that include Yusef Lateef.
Recording
Friday February 11
Some Enchanted Evening
Some Enchanted Evening is a song from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. It is thought to be one of the biggest popular hits to come out of any Rodgers and Hammerstein show. It is also said that Andrew Lloyd Webber describes it as the "greatest song ever written for a musical". That might be a bit over the top, but it is certainly a great number. In this recording from the 1958 film version, the part of Emile de Becque is sung (but not acted) by Giorgio Tozzi (1923-2011). Tozzi was a celebrated American opera singer who sang in many opera houses around the world, including many performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Recording
Saturday February 12
Romeo and Juliet (ballet and opera)
The balcony scene pas de deux
Kenneth MacMillan had previously choreographed the balcony scene for Lynn Seymour and Christopher Gable to dance in September 1964 for Canadian Television. This scene provided an essential part of the ballet's overall structure. Seymour stated that the balcony scene pas de deux only took three rehearsals to choreograph fully. This experience made MacMillan seem a good candidate to choreograph the entire ballet for Covent Garden, when the Soviet Union refused to allow Leonid Lavrovsky's classic production to tour to London.
Performance
and a bonus ...
Je veux vivre (I want to live)
Roméo et Juliette is an opera in five acts by Charles Gounod based on Shakespeare's play. It was first performed in Paris on 27 April 1867. This opera is notable for the series of four duets for the main characters and the waltz song Je veux vivre for the soprano. There are many wonderful recordings of Je veux vivre on YouTube. Pick one of these at random and enjoy. Lyrics here.
Diana Damrau
Anna Netrebko
Natalie Dessay
Renee Fleming
Joan Sutherland
Sunday February 13
I like life
Scrooge is a 1970 musical film adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 story, A Christmas Carol. It was filmed in London, directed by Ronald Neame, and starred Albert Finney as Ebenezer Scrooge. The film's score was composed by Leslie Bricusse. The link to this month's theme is 'love of life'.
Performance