Boyz 'n the Hood

Went to London a couple of weeks ago thanks to Dan Taylor and the coffers of the Canada Council. I was part of his 'Theatre of Early Music' group and sang some of the most difficult Bach and Handel (Lutheran Mass in g- and 'Choice of Hercules')that's ever been thrust into my hands.

The occasion was the 57th Tilford Bach Festival; a small but stunning rural English village with several restored 16th century farm houses. I lived in one which previously must have belonged to a Hobbit because I kept bonking my head on ancient timbers which were no higher than the Baggins family.

The concerts were terrific and the conducting duties were shared by three first-rate musicians: Adrian Butterfield, who in real life is a baroque violinist but was suffering a broken shoulder; Laurence Cummings, harsichordist extraordinaire; and Daniel Taylor, stratospheric counter-tenor.



But what I remember most about Tilford, aside from The Barley Mow and adjacent cricket pitch (2nd oldest in the world - a fact Tilfordites are extremely proud) is the fact that it's the 'secret' location of the latest Robin Hood film, presently in production.



This 180 million dollar feature reunites the principals of 'Gladiator' - Director Ridley Scott and Aussie actor, Russell Crowe. But apparently, the two are not getting along as well as expected; Mr. Crowe does not want to be near the film sets but in his mansion in Windsor, and has demanded that he is flown daily by helicopter. It's enough to make one Blanchett. (She's playing Maid Marion)

I've added photos of the Tilford set. The castle is supposed to be French, even though the set decorators have added a King George flag. Sir Ridley shot the opening battle sequence of Gladiator on this very location.









http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1189545/EXCLUSIVE-First-look-scenes-new-Robin-Hood-movie-starring-Russell-Crowe.html

Jeremy Sings

Every once in a while I search Youtube for classic performances of great artists: Sam Ramey in one of his devilish roles; Domingo in pretty much anything; Jon Vickers singing Wagner; (a gravitational pull toward darker voices). And every once in a while, up pops something completely rare and unexpected, a jewel among the quagmire.

In this case, it is the alluring natural voice and charm of Jeremy Brett, the best Sherlock since Rathbone, singing an English (or is it Irish?) folk song accompanied by harp. The person who introduces him is none other than Twiggy (!) that popular stick figure from the '60's.

Of course, it's not as incongruous as it may first seem; Brett once had to sing to Audrey Hepburn in 'My Fair Lady' and had at least to read the treble clef to play Sherlock Holmes playing the violin.

One can sense the sincerity in everything Jeremy Brett set his mind to; what a pity he was taken so soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrMBdQm9P10&feature=related

Enjoy.

Behind Every Successful Woman...

As an addendum to the post below, I noticed in the Globe and Mail today a reproduction of the Dolores Claman notation of the Hockey Night in Canada song. It looks like a Grade 4 Conservatory student had written it with two fingers. The real reason the song sounds so fantastic is because of the masterful orchestration by that great Canadian arranger and composer, Howard Cable.

Hats off to the business acumen of CTV, but the composer should really dip into her 2.5 million dollars and buy Mr. Cable a nice bottle of Ontario champagne.

Hockey Night in Corporate-land

So the Hockey Night in Canada theme song has been bought by CTV; is there anything else the CBC can possibly screw up? Granted, the woman who wrote the tune lives a good life in London, England, a very expensive town, and she must continue to live a lifestyle to which her famous jingle has made her accustomed.

Renowned choral composer, Derek Holman, told me a couple of weeks ago about the occasional dime he makes from the British Novello Publishing Company. He's been writing music faithfully now for well over 40 years, which is about how long ago the Hockey Night theme was penned.

I suppose I'm trying to make a point here, but I'm not sure what it is.

Also 40 years ago, CBC television was doing wonders with its not insubstantial budget, and followed its national mandate beautifully, putting a great emphasis on live dance, theatre, music, and some earnest Canadian drama. Now, it just lies through its teeth about its mandate (some years ago, a top CBC TV producer told me, "yes, what we ARE doing and what we OUGHT to be doing are two completely different things") and tries to cater to absolutely everyone while forgetting its connection to the past.

The well-crafted, gladiatorial hockey fanfare - perhaps no more costly than Don Cherry's cravat collection - is a case in point.

Moore's Muffet

I'm a big Benjamin Britten fan; his choral music is always extremely well crafted and a joy to sing; his orchestral writing is usually economically savvy and colourful; and his fantastic opera, Peter Grimes (1945), was a watershed for all singing fishermen.

His many folksong arrangements are cleverly inventive, even if some are a bit bizarre. And here to demonstrate the quintessential Britten folksong, is Dudley Moore, borrowing the voice of Sir Peter Pears:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ8ZltDdbUI

If you're a Britten/Pears fan, don't miss this.

A Canadian Classic

Since I just started writing this blog and had to fill in my favourite movies on the home page, I suddenly remembered a film that I saw when I was in my early 20's. It was Les Bons débarras from Quebec starring a very young Charlotte Laurier. I happened to be at the premiere and was extremely taken by it, and later, was fortunate enough to have partied with its director, the late Francis Mankiewicz:

Mankiewicz's evocative Gothic tale of passion, jealousy and all-embracing love was based on a script by Québec novelist and dramatist Réjean Ducharme. The film was selected as Best Canadian film of 1980 at the Academy of Canadian Cinema's Genie Awards and it won 7 other Genies. Canadian critics were virtually unanimous in their reviews, praising the baroque poetry of the film's dialogue, its austere, evocative imagery, spare narrative action and brilliant performances. Everyone noted the way director Mankiewicz melded the various elements of the film in order to generate a sense of the menace of evil, building to a crescendo of horror. The film quickly entered the canon of Canadian cinema and is widely recognized as one of the best Canadian films ever made. (Peter Morris)

Throw away your Atom Egoyan DVD's and watch the work of a genuine artist.

Bad teacher

Taught a voice student today. He was oblivious to the large house fly circling around the room as he was concentrating on his scales and other exercises. The idea of it flying directly into his open mouth made me expectant with a perverse glee.