Monthly Archives: May 2013

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Friday Fun: Cheap Flights (Fascinating Aida)

I was reading a novel this week in which, at one point, the heroine is about to fly to Japan, which is a terrible idea in the context of this book, and I really, really didn’t want her to go.  And then she mentioned that she was waiting in the Jetstar lounge, and I breathed an immediate sigh of relief, because of course there was no way Jetstar would take her to Japan – the flight would be cancelled for sure, or at least delayed long enough… And then I remembered that I was reading a novel, so that the rules of real life might not apply, and sure enough, her plane left on time, taking with it my suspension of disbelief.

(I’m sorry if anyone reading this works at Jetstar and is distressed by the above, but every time I’ve booked anyone on a flight with Jetstar, they have done their level best to strand my passengers in far north Queensland.  I refuse to book flights on Jetstar now, even when they are the only direct option.)

Anyway, between that and the fact that I’ve been chatting twice daily with our travel agents this week, today’s choice of song was obvious.  Though if you have a problem with profanity, you might want to give this one a miss (it is, however, safe for work, provided you aren’t working in a primary school or similar. Though I imagine the kids already know these words…).

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPyl2tOaKxM&version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0]

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Monday Music: Erbarme Dich – in Arabic (J.S. Bach)

Here’s something a little bit different for your Monday amusement.  Erbarme Dich is probably the most famous contralto aria from Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion.  It’s sung after Peter has denied Jesus three times, and, sung well, is an absolutely compelling portrayal of grief and guilt.  It’s also very firmly part of  theWestern musical canon.

So here it is, translated into Arabic.  And when I say translated, I’m not just talking about the lyrics – the style both of singing and playing has a decidedly middle-Eastern feel.  And it’s rather amazing.  The solo violin in this piece, as was pointed out to me recently, has a sound rather similar to Jewish liturgical Eastern European Jewish violin music, and this Eastern influence is brought very much to the fore here.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUj3LEiMEKE&hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0] Continue reading →

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Monday Music: The Cold Genius (Henry Purcell)

It was absolutely necessary that I find a counter-tenor song for today, since I’m still so very disappointed that Cezar‘s magnificent counter-tenor effort on Eurovision didn’t do better, but it’s after midnight as I schedule this, and I have to work tomorrow, so was really not up for trolling the internet in search of the perfect piece of music.

Fortunately, it turns out that I had, stashed away in my list of things to write about, Andreas Scholl singing the Aria “What Power art Thou”, also known as the song of the Cold Genius, from Purcell’s King Arthur. Continue reading →

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Friday Fun: Climbing Uphill (Jason Robert Brown)

One of the really great things about my singing lessons is that every fortnight, we have a performance class, in which we get to hear what all the other students are doing.  Some of the others are studying for exams; others are working on audition pieces, or on pieces for performances that they will be doing, and you never know when someone stands up whether you’re going to get opera or lieder, music theatre or gospel, Adele or Janice Joplin.  What you do know is that the odds are that someone will be doing something that you’ve never heard before and really like.

The other delicious thing about this class is that there are a handful of truly phenomenal singers and performers who always leave me mesmerised.  One of them, S, is also a particularly talented actress, and she is the one who brought this wonderfully clever song to class a few weeks ago.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0Y4_tFT1l8&version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0]

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Monday Music: Love’s Philosophy (Roger Quilter)

I’m a bit of a latecomer to Quilter, and indeed, English Art Song in general.  But last year, when Allan’s was closing down, I saw a book of Quilter art songs on special, and thought I’d take a look inside.  After all, one shouldn’t shun a whole genre without trying it.  Then I opened the book, and made a marvellous discovery – Art Song in English is basically really gorgeous poems set to music!

(yes, OK, I’m slow, but it hadn’t occurred to me.  I’ve only ever sung art-song in other languages, and hadn’t really registered that the lyrics were written by Real Poets, as opposed to lyricists…)

Anyway, having made this delicious connection, the first thing I did was to take the book along to my singing teacher and basically say “Where do I start?”  And she sang me this.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3CDDaMAoQk&version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0]

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Friday Fun: Spera e godi, il mio tesoro (Handel)

I went to see Opera Australia’s production of Partenope on Wednesday.  It’s a wonderful, insane production of a wonderful, bonkers opera.  The plot concerns Partenope, the soprano and the Queen of Naples, who is beloved by everyone, including Arsace (a mezzo), who she favours, and Armindo (a male alto), who is in love with her but too shy to say so.  Unfortunately, Arsace has abandoned Rosmira (another mezzo), who decides to take her revenge by dressing as a man (as you do), pretending to be in love with Partenope, and making it her business to torment Arsace, who recognises her, but for some reason says nothing about this.  There is also a random tenor prince who is trying to invade Naples because he is in love with Partenope, but that’s sort of a side issue in all the general crazy.  This particular production – which I will review when I am not busy making myself late to work – was rendered extra-specially mad by adding a lot of surrealism, making the invading tenor prince into an analogue of photographer Man Ray, and making everything even more sexualised than it was already.  Which is saying something.

Anyway, I was rather taken by the aria which Partenope sings right after Rosmira (still pretending to be a man) reveals Arsace’s perfidy – Partenope immediately turns to Armindo (who she has previously been treating in a mildly mocking fashion) and informs him that they will be living happily ever after now, but has to keep looking back over her shoulder to sing invective at Arsace.  As you do.

Unfortunately, I’ve only been able to find one recording of this, and it has a lot of background laughter, though it is beautifully sung.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vNXj_A4pSM&w=560&h=315] Continue reading →

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Friday Fun: The Song Song (Simon Taylor)

This song needs no introduction.  No really, it really doesn’t, though as you will hear, it has one.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjCpTyCXvgA?rel=0]So dreadfully, wickedly clever.  I love it to bits, and really must find the music for this one if I can.

Nope, sorry, that’s all you get.  Mostly because it appears that I’m much more interested in listening to the song again and seeing if I can memorise the words than actually writing about it…

Have a wonderful Friday, and remember: a good chorus needs repetition (and some oh, oh, ohs).