Ritorno d'Ulisse - O gran figlio - Allen, Tear, Ramirez

[drtmuir]

Oh dear, adorable Robert Tear. More personality per pound than any twenty singers, a personality that leapt off recordings. Will miss him greatly.

[JAYJAY1000000]

I just can't get used to this orchestration; it a shame for such a great looking production. But it just does not sound like Monteverdi to me

[interpreterr]

@JAYJAY1000000 Perhaps it doesn't, but perhaps Monteverdi wouldn't have minded such an approach? Who knows ;-)

[drtmuir]

I love Robert Tear. ;)

[interpreterr]

Yes, he's excellent in the role, isn't he.

[drtmuir]

You know, for a second, I said , wait a minute, when did he get so short??!! Then i saw he was standing in a ditch. ;)

[interpreterr]

Hmm, I still think this duo wasn't Henze's addition. I've heard recordings (made before and after that Salzburg production) which have BOTH duets. So I suspect Henze cut the first duet, while the person responsible for the Greenwich production cut the second. I might be wrong though. Anyway, both fragments are very beautiful and very appropriate.

[kanakaboyus]

Thank you for posting that other version of this scene for comparison purposes. Yes, I don't know for sure if Henze added that duet or if it is an original piece. Like you said, they're both wonderful duets. I don't know why anyone would cut either of them out!

[interpreterr]

Was this duet added by Henze? I've seen other productions (very historically informed:) and the duet was there as well. As for a copy of a complete performance - I'll be happy to get it for you, just send me a message, if you're still interested :)

[kanakaboyus]

The duet that Monteverdi wrote was a different song and occurs after "Ulysses" sings his solo attesting that Ulysses will return. There's a sample of the oriiginal duet on Youtube if you look at the production of Ulysses done by the Greenwich Music Fest. Look for the clip that starts with "O Gran Figlio".

And yes, I would love to find out how to get a copy of this production! It's an amazing performance, and I like what Henze has done to it.

[drtmuir]

@interpreterr Wow, you asked this a long time ago. ;) You know, the duet appears in exactly this place in the edition that appears in DTO (Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Österreich)-- the edition itself is very bare, doesn't add much to what Monteverdi left, just attempts to make it understandable to modern eyes-- kind of a starting point.

[interpreterr]

@drtmuir Thanks for the info. I'm not an expert and know nothing about the various editions.

[kanakaboyus]

Fantastic! Too bad they stopped making the DVD of this performance. I would love to get a copy. Henze's addition of the duo sung by Ulisse and Eumete is very appropriate and a wonderful composition.