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 Posted:   May 27, 2023 - 7:54 PM   
 By:   friedhofer   (Member)

Coming out in July:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suite-Wuthering-Heights-Fuge/dp/B0C5ZGW27M/ref=sr_1_5?crid=D9SHLI6FBEM6&keywords=herrmann+wuthering+heights&qid=1685242344&sprefix=%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-5

 
 
 Posted:   May 27, 2023 - 8:20 PM   
 By:   .   (Member)

Coming out in July:




When I saw "Suite" in the header, I was thinking it might be an all-instrumental (no singers) version. I'm not very familiar with the opera though (only heard some snippets of the old recording), so I don't know if such a treatment would be satisfying.
Interesting that it's called a suite. Suites from operas are usually orchestral/instrumental treatments. When recorded with voices and orchestra, they usually seem to be called "Highlights" rather than suite.
Anyway, I'll be interested to listen to the new CD.

 
 
 Posted:   May 27, 2023 - 8:26 PM   
 By:   friedhofer   (Member)

Coming out in July:


Here the program notes from the performance in 2022, with explanation:

https://issuu.com/ssogroup/docs/singapore_symphony_may_2022




When I saw "Suite" in the header, I was thinking it might be an all-instrumental (no singers) version. I'm not very familiar with the opera though (only heard some snippets of the old recording), so I don't know if such a treatment would be satisfying.
Interesting that it's called a suite. Suites from operas are usually orchestral/instrumental treatments. When recorded with voices and orchestra, they usually seem to be called "Highlights" rather than suite.
Anyway, I'll be interested to listen to the new CD.

 
 
 Posted:   May 27, 2023 - 8:46 PM   
 By:   .   (Member)



https://issuu.com/ssogroup/docs/singapore_symphony_may_2022



I see the writer describes it as both "suite" and "highlights" in the text.
Either way, good to see Chandos continuing their recordings of works by the likes of Herrmann, Rozsa, Korngold etc.

 
 Posted:   May 27, 2023 - 9:09 PM   
 By:   Zoragoth   (Member)

Coming out in July:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suite-Wuthering-Heights-Fuge/dp/B0C5ZGW27M/ref=sr_1_5?crid=D9SHLI6FBEM6&keywords=herrmann+wuthering+heights&qid=1685242344&sprefix=%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-5


My eagerness to hear this is tempered (only a bit - ecstatic this has happened at all!) by the news that only two of the four main vocal roles are featured in this abridgement, which means no 'Now art though fair my golden June' from Linton nor anything from Isabella.

Along with Cathy's 'I have dreamt,' the former is one of the most exquisite, gorgeous, and moving pieces of vocal music I've heard in any opera (yes, as a die-hard Herrmann fan, I am quite biased). Cathy's aria has been covered by Renee Fleming and a few others, but it would be nice to hear some of the other arias from WH reproduced as well.

This was an opportunity in that direction, a lost one, I fear. A real shame.

On the other hand, it looks like the suite runs a full hour, so one hates to complain!

And in SACD format, to boot! :-)

 
 
 Posted:   May 27, 2023 - 9:59 PM   
 By:   friedhofer   (Member)

Coming out in July:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suite-Wuthering-Heights-Fuge/dp/B0C5ZGW27M/ref=sr_1_5?crid=D9SHLI6FBEM6&keywords=herrmann+wuthering+heights&qid=1685242344&sprefix=%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-5




The choice of "only" feature the two main roles was done to make it more likely to be programmed in the future and keep it just around one hour. A good combination could be Carl Nielsen Symphony No 3 (feat soprano and baryton) and Herrmann Wuthering Height.
Same for Echoes, now also possible to perform for orchestras around the World.





My eagerness to hear this is tempered (only a bit - ecstatic this has happened at all!) by the news that only two of the four main vocal roles are featured in this abridgement, which means no 'Now art though fair my golden June' from Linton nor anything from Isabella.

Along with Cathy's 'I have dreamt,' the former is one of the most exquisite, gorgeous, and moving pieces of vocal music I've heard in any opera (yes, as a die-hard Herrmann fan, I am quite biased). Cathy's aria has been covered by Renee Fleming and a few others, but it would be nice to hear some of the other arias from WH reproduced as well.

This was an opportunity in that direction, a lost one, I fear. A real shame.

On the other hand, it looks like the suite runs a full hour, so one hates to complain!

And in SACD format, to boot! :-)

 
 
 Posted:   May 28, 2023 - 5:03 AM   
 By:   stravinsky   (Member)

It's just a shame Chandos never thought of recording Wuthering Heights for their own "Opera in English" series. There are only two recordings available. One of which is a complete 60s recording but with subpar singers and it was deleted years ago and is impossible to find. The other is a live recording with mostly French singers singing English, plus it has significant cuts. It would be ideal if Chandos recorded the entire Opera anew.

 
 
 Posted:   May 28, 2023 - 5:13 AM   
 By:   TerraEpon   (Member)

It's just a shame Chandos never thought of recording Wuthering Heights for their own "Opera in English" series.

I think that series was specifically for operas not originally in English.


As for this, the way it's written on the back cover makes me think it's neither a suite nor really highlights but a concert version turns some of the music in a bit more of a cohesive whole.

 
 
 Posted:   May 28, 2023 - 6:00 PM   
 By:   villagardens553   (Member)

Thank God it's not another Herrmann release of re-recordings of all the stuff that always gets re-corded. I've never managed to find a copy of the opera at a good price, so this a very welcome CD for me.

 
 Posted:   May 29, 2023 - 4:12 PM   
 By:   EdG   (Member)

Anything that can be done to draw attention to Herrmann's only opera deserves my support.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C5ZGW27M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 
 Posted:   May 29, 2023 - 6:45 PM   
 By:   Lattanzi   (Member)

Coming out in July:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suite-Wuthering-Heights-Fuge/dp/B0C5ZGW27M/ref=sr_1_5?crid=D9SHLI6FBEM6&keywords=herrmann+wuthering+heights&qid=1685242344&sprefix=%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-5


Great news!

And I noticed that the inclusion of Echoes is unique here since it says it's been adapted for string orchestra, not just a quartet. So that's pretty interesting.

 
 
 Posted:   May 30, 2023 - 5:07 AM   
 By:   TerraEpon   (Member)



And I noticed that the inclusion of Echoes is unique here since it says it's been adapted for string orchestra, not just a quartet. So that's pretty interesting.


I feel like there was another recording of it with a string orchestra but I could be wrong.

 
 
 Posted:   May 30, 2023 - 6:01 AM   
 By:   friedhofer   (Member)



And I noticed that the inclusion of Echoes is unique here since it says it's been adapted for string orchestra, not just a quartet. So that's pretty interesting.


I feel like there was another recording of it with a string orchestra but I could be wrong.



The Chandos recording of Echoes is the first and for now only recording in the version for string Orchestra.

 
 
 Posted:   May 30, 2023 - 6:16 AM   
 By:   John McMasters   (Member)

Thank you for the heads up on this! So far I've been able to collect the Herrmann recording, the French Radio recording, and the Minnesota Opera version. Can't wait!

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 1, 2023 - 8:07 PM   
 By:   friedhofer   (Member)

Thank you for the heads up on this! So far I've been able to collect the Herrmann recording, the French Radio recording, and the Minnesota Opera version. Can't wait!

Now you can have a listen on the Chandos website:

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205337

and here one of the highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNQuuZMhLqg

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 1, 2023 - 8:42 PM   
 By:   .   (Member)


https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205337




Very nice to hear the voices are a little lighter than I expected after listening to some weightier singing by other performers on Youtube and elsewhere.
Observation: Not that it's of any consequence, but I see from the Chandos info that the "Echoes" recording was made almost two years before "Wuthering Heights". I wonder if the pandemic might have played a part in that.

 
 Posted:   Jun 1, 2023 - 10:24 PM   
 By:   EdG   (Member)

The clips suggest very strong, well-recorded performances.

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 4, 2023 - 7:26 PM   
 By:   friedhofer   (Member)

The clips suggest very strong, well-recorded performances.

The sound quality of the Apple music clips are great:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/herrmann-suite-from-wuthering-heights-echoes-for-strings/1690182114

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 24, 2023 - 1:47 AM   
 By:   friedhofer   (Member)

First review: https://www.classicalmusicdaily.com/2023/06/herrmann.htm

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 30, 2023 - 6:18 AM   
 By:   friedhofer   (Member)

First review: https://www.classicalmusicdaily.com/2023/06/herrmann.htm

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/articles/5369--recording-of-the-week-selections-from-bernard-herrmanns-only-opera-wuthering-heights?fbclid=IwAR1_IMgJH-cVtNcK6z0hlOU52i-hjR5gseT4PO9aWm4wCWOBCFKdph7oqbA

 
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