I was part of the University of New Mexico Chorus when we sang this in 1983, I think it was. I was a student in high school, but, because I had to wait for my mom to get out of choir practice anyway, I joined them for a semester or two. I've always loved this piece.
Sergei Rachmaninoff played in the first half of the concert as soloist in his Second Piano Concerto; when he heard the Serenade from his place in the audience he was so overcome by the beauty of the music that he wept.
Can anything be too sublime? Memories for me of Judy in early 1970's when we were both at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. This an exquisite performance.
It has been years since I last heard this work; its depth and beauty are spellbinding, and being reunited with a long lost close friend, so warm and life affirming
So nice, so beautiful, absolutly one of the most famous song i know. i love this music. Vaughan Williams was a very important composer of the twentieth century
A friend questioned my term "too sublime" in describing this piece. I explained that what I meant was that VW's music to my ears is already wondrously sublime, and that asking him to write a serenade to music is like asking Sir Thomas Browne to compose a paean to beautiful prose. Or for those who might prefer an epicurean analogy, it would be like adding a huge dollop of Devonshire Cream to Tiramisu.
The magic that lingers in air after the playing/singing stops should last a while before we all 'come back to earth'. Couldn't the cougher at 13:03 held it in for a few more seconds?
There is an "original cast" recording of this wonderful work made in 1938, about 10 days after the premiere performance. It's still unsurpassed almost 80 years later. Roy Henderson, one of the original 16 creators, died in 2000 at the age of 100! He was born in July of 1899 and died in March of 2000, which means he lived in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries!!
Shams I knew Julie studied with Madame SA, but I'm not sure exactly when. I think Julie's outstanding opera records (Titania's aria from Mignon is DAZZLING) were made when she was 12, before she had any voice lessons other than those she got from her father. Not sure though.
I remember there was a photo of Julie Andrews on the wall in my old Royal Northern College of Music - that is, before we moved to the plush new quarters in Manchester in the early 1970's. Have always assumed she studied voice there at some point?
I doubt that, she was only a private student of Stiles-Allen from age 11 till the very early 1970s. I base my comment from her autobiography and random interviews.
I just heard for the first time performance of this gem conducted by Leonard Bernstein in New York ( at the opening of a concert hall at Lincoln Center ). The singers were all Metropolitan Opera stars ( e.g., Richard Tucker ). Just audio - there doesn't appear to be video of this event. Great as Bernstein was, he simply didn't get this piece at all. It was obviously alien to him as well as the singers ( all of whom in other contexts are magnificent ). The perfect version here shows perhaps that you need to be British to understand this particular work.
I don't think that was the problem. Egos must be subsumed into the fabric of the ensemble, for the good of the ensemble and, especially, the performance. Bernstein's soloists never formed a cohesive unity, even for this ardent love song to the muse of music.
Anyone noticed the little smile at 4:19 when the Sop realises she's got her two phrases muddled up? ;-) Still, it worked, anyway :-) 'cos the the sound was so good :-D
Well done by this ensemble of young musicians. As indicated by another observer the camera work was not the best nor is a computer the best medium for fine audio. Also commend the audience for its restraint at the end before applauding. Too often spectators try to be the first out of the gate in beginning applause often overriding the final notes (at least in the U.S.).
I am sure someone has done it...but....would it not be fun to have a dissertation on music commentary in all of Shakespeare? I personally know of many....this is one of the longest of course....
I was part of the University of New Mexico Chorus when we sang this in 1983, I think it was. I was a student in high school, but, because I had to wait for my mom to get out of choir practice anyway, I joined them for a semester or two. I've always loved this piece.
Sergei Rachmaninoff played in the first half of the concert as soloist in his Second Piano Concerto; when he heard the Serenade from his place in the audience he was so overcome by the beauty of the music that he wept.
Ravishing!
Wonderful, it fills my heart and brings me to tears. 😊
The singing voices of these singers are inspirational , graceful and comfortable to the ear and the mind
Can anything be too sublime? Memories for me of Judy in early 1970's when we were both at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. This an exquisite performance.
It has been years since I last heard this work; its depth and beauty are spellbinding, and being reunited with a long lost close friend, so warm and life affirming
This beautiful piece just transports you to a perfect time and place and an England- (and world) that is no more
We can at least keep the memory of that England alive!
I agree
So nice, so beautiful, absolutly one of the most famous song i know. i love this music. Vaughan Williams was a very important composer of the twentieth century
I agree
A wonderful performance of a simply ravishing piece. Thanks.
Masterfully performed. Felt as if I was in the room.
A friend questioned my term "too sublime" in describing this piece. I explained that what I meant was that VW's music to my ears is already wondrously sublime, and that asking him to write a serenade to music is like asking Sir Thomas Browne to compose a paean to beautiful prose. Or for those who might prefer an epicurean analogy, it would be like adding a huge dollop of Devonshire Cream to Tiramisu.
Yeah! What you said
Beautiful.
you that love musica coral,i present you my friend Vaughan Williams,I think you will love his music
Simplemente maravilloso..¡¡
magnifique merci
The magic that lingers in air after the playing/singing stops should last a while before we all 'come back to earth'. Couldn't the cougher at 13:03 held it in for a few more seconds?
I agree completely, but it should be easy to edit that out!
sin palabras
雖然錄音稍有雜音,但非常欣賞合唱團的音質!
There is an "original cast" recording of this wonderful work made in 1938, about 10 days after the premiere performance. It's still unsurpassed almost 80 years later.
Roy Henderson, one of the original 16 creators, died in 2000 at the age of 100! He was born in July of 1899 and died in March of 2000, which means he lived in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries!!
btw the original 16, the soprano was Julie Andrews's voice teacher Madame Stiles Allen.
Shams I knew Julie studied with Madame SA, but I'm not sure exactly when. I think Julie's outstanding opera records (Titania's aria from Mignon is DAZZLING) were made when she was 12, before she had any voice lessons other than those she got from her father. Not sure though.
I remember there was a photo of Julie Andrews on the wall in my old Royal Northern College of Music - that is, before we moved to the plush new quarters in Manchester in the early 1970's. Have always assumed she studied voice there at some point?
I doubt that, she was only a private student of Stiles-Allen from age 11 till the very early 1970s. I base my comment from her autobiography and random interviews.
Coloratura Soprano Julie Andrews' singing teacher stiles-Allen was in that original video and recording by the BBC!
I just heard for the first time performance of this gem conducted by Leonard Bernstein in New York ( at the opening of a concert hall at Lincoln Center ). The singers were all Metropolitan Opera stars ( e.g., Richard Tucker ). Just audio - there doesn't appear to be video of this event. Great as Bernstein was, he simply didn't get this piece at all. It was obviously alien to him as well as the singers ( all of whom in other contexts are magnificent ). The perfect version here shows perhaps that you need to be British to understand this particular work.
I don't think that was the problem. Egos must be subsumed into the fabric of the ensemble, for the good of the ensemble and, especially, the performance. Bernstein's soloists never formed a cohesive unity, even for this ardent love song to the muse of music.
I can see that. Some works of genius are just too majestic and sublime to be interpreted by some other artists and do them justice
At a concert he attended Rachmaninoff wept at this
It was at the premiere under Sir Henry Wood when at the end of the performance Rachmaninoff himself was observed to have been weeping.
Anyone noticed the little smile at 4:19 when the Sop realises she's got her two phrases muddled up? ;-) Still, it worked, anyway :-) 'cos the the sound was so good :-D
Well done by this ensemble of young musicians. As indicated by another observer the camera work was not the best nor is a computer the best medium for fine audio. Also commend the audience for its restraint at the end before applauding. Too often spectators try to be the first out of the gate in beginning applause often overriding the final notes (at least in the U.S.).
we are capable of so mu ch beuty
when humanity wants to be positive it can indeed create beautiful things--needs to happen a lot more often.
A beautifully played performance. But the director badly needed a camera rehearsal which he, unfortunately, didn't get.
And the solo violinist was...?
Behind the singers, apparently. Not worth noting if you can't see him/her...
Trust you to ask!
I am sure someone has done it...but....would it not be fun to have a dissertation on music commentary in all of Shakespeare? I personally know of many....this is one of the longest of course....
Beautiful performance (often the lowest bass is a disappointment, not here). Shame the director/camera crew had never heard the piece before
I could not hear the lyrics .
Google the piece. The words are from Shakespeare, equally beautiful.