The Bells in English

Posted by Amphissa (A) on October 31, 2005 at 10:18:36

In Reply to: Shaw's "Bells" posted by Doktor Brahms on October 31, 2005 at 08:50:13:

Rachmaninoff commissioned the English language version for the European premier of the symphony to be conducted by Sir Henry Wood. It was Wood's favorite of Rachmaninoff's works. So the English language version has been around since 1914 - less than a year after its premier in St. Petersburg, and has been performed that way in English-speaking countries over the years, I'd presume.

What is surprising to me is that "The Bells" has not yet caught on. It has great melodies, and the use of soloists and chorus is masterful. With the popularity of Mahler's assorted works with solists and chorus, you'd think people would discover this Rachmaninoff beauty. But I guess the symphony does not end with pyrotechnics, so it doesn't get performed much in concert. But that final movement with baritone is, to me, so exquisitely beautiful, even without the bombast.

I have no problem with the English libretto. Even the soloists, you can't discern what words they are saying unless you really listen hard with text in hand. And most people don't understand the Russian text. It is the melody line and underlying music that gives it the emotional experience of joy, love, alarm and death. So I don't think most people would care what language the soloists use. Not sure it matters to me either. (I imagine that those who speak Russian natively are appalled by the pronunciation of soloists in many recordings. They might prefer it were sung in English rather than butchered Russian. I know I'd rather hear it in just about any language than the tortured English of Renee Fleming.)

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Question Re: Slatkin/Prokofiev - Doktor Brahms 10:16:13 10/30/05 (20)

Thanks for your responses! [NT] - Doktor Brahms 08:38:34 11/01/05 (0)

Re: Question Re: Slatkin/Prokofiev - gkargreen 10:51:41 10/31/05 (0)

Have you heard Alexander Nevsky & Lt. Kije on Telarc - TGT 10:24:18 10/31/05 (2)

Try this: - Kal Rubinson 11:09:10 10/31/05 (1)

I second the Capriccio SACD, excellent! (nt) - Teresa 19:40:18 10/31/05 (0)

Re: Question Re: Slatkin/Prokofiev - Amphissa 07:57:56 10/31/05 (7)

Shaw's "Bells" - Doktor Brahms 08:50:13 10/31/05 (6)

More on "The Bells" - Amphissa 10:41:17 10/31/05 (4)

Re: More on "The Bells" - Doktor Brahms 11:02:21 10/31/05 (3)

Re: More on "The Bells" - Amphissa 23:04:49 10/31/05 (0)

Re: More on "The Bells" - Amphissa 11:32:59 10/31/05 (1)

Re: More on "The Bells" - Doktor Brahms 11:55:43 10/31/05 (0)

The Bells in English - Amphissa 10:18:36 10/31/05 (0)

Re: Question Re: Slatkin/Prokofiev - both works sung in Russian - Teresa 14:53:40 10/30/05 (2)

Spacibo. (nt) - Jim Treanor 00:22:02 10/31/05 (1)

Pojhalyista. (nt) - Teresa 07:19:38 10/31/05 (0)

Tower and Bis - TGR 11:28:18 10/30/05 (3)

Qualiton? - Thornhill 14:04:17 10/30/05 (2)

Would have to be - TGR 07:24:30 10/31/05 (1)

Re: Would have to be - Thornhill 13:50:46 10/31/05 (0)

Follow Ups

The Bells in English - Amphissa 10:18:36 10/31/05 (0)

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