Obsessed with the Debussy sonata... the harp flute and viola trio is so pretty... I love the amount of negative space and how each instrument has such a clear voice. It's also inspiring to read how these composers are so affected by literature and create their own spinoffs of it. Very beautiful to see art conversing across mediums like that. And the singer 😵💫 how?!
I loved how much the Debussy won you over — and I agree, silence in his work can be just as breathtaking as the music that sounds!
As to how Dawn does what she does … it’s just magic, isn’t it? To go from the quiet first statement to the high C she peals like a bell at the end! Stay tuned — she’ll feature in the next Shades of Blue piece this month. 😉
I listened to Debussy three times! It’s so complex! You’re right, both ancient and modern. The intro feels like the harp and flute invite the viola in, though the viola is unsure she belongs on this journey. But they all eventually go on their merry way to explore. There’s a wide open field, a small gnarly forest of trees, a babbling brook that builds into a stream, sun that sparkles on the water and surrounds the ground in dappled light, a bit of a tumble down a hill, but no one is worse for wear, night falls and there’s stargazing as points of light begin to appear one by one up above, the fire crackles, and sleep comes softly and swiftly after such an adventure. Magnificent!
And Dawn Upshaw, what a voice!! Such range and emotion, especially in her lower register. This one just feels like it would be such a thrill, albeit incredibly challenging, to perform!
Glad you enjoyed these selections, Katie! I love the scene you've conjured through Debussy's music, like a ballet just waiting to be choreographed. The viola is indeed the tentative one in the group — I love the way Debussy has it dovetail with the flute, sometimes so cleverly that you can't tell that one instrument has handed off the melody to the other. It's just a slight perception of the color of the sound changing. 💙
And no one sings that Stravinsky's aria quite like Dawn! shared a studio recording, but her live performances are just as captivating — she's the rare opera singer who also knows how to act with the best of them. Here's an example (just ignore the odd placement of ballet dancers onstage during this soliloquy!):
Ooo, I was wondering if there was a performance out there, thank you! She is marvelous!!
And you perfectly described the dance of the flute and viola! I love how you encourage us to listen deeply to these pieces to find these subtle nuances!
There's no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than with the latest issue of Shades of Blue. Thank you Michael, for the art as well as the beautiful music. I once visited Hogarth's house in Chiswick. His Rake's Progress is marvellous, and of course there's Hockney's version which I also like. Reading that caption to the beautiful John Singer Sargent painting it occurs to me that even the description of how it was created is poetic!
Of course what we're here for is the musical education, and that has been amazing - as usual!💙
I love that you found poetry in the Sargent caption. There’s something so delectable about the term “wove paper.” And I’m committed to seeing Hockney’s set designs for Rake’s Progress before my time is up. Perhaps Glyndebourne will revisit it soon! 😍
What a wonderful clip - thank you. Always great to see DH, and lovely to think that an idea conceived by one great artist was transformed by two more, culminating in a production of the opera. How clever of John Cox to have brought the idea together in this way.
Obsessed with the Debussy sonata... the harp flute and viola trio is so pretty... I love the amount of negative space and how each instrument has such a clear voice. It's also inspiring to read how these composers are so affected by literature and create their own spinoffs of it. Very beautiful to see art conversing across mediums like that. And the singer 😵💫 how?!
I loved how much the Debussy won you over — and I agree, silence in his work can be just as breathtaking as the music that sounds!
As to how Dawn does what she does … it’s just magic, isn’t it? To go from the quiet first statement to the high C she peals like a bell at the end! Stay tuned — she’ll feature in the next Shades of Blue piece this month. 😉
I listened to Debussy three times! It’s so complex! You’re right, both ancient and modern. The intro feels like the harp and flute invite the viola in, though the viola is unsure she belongs on this journey. But they all eventually go on their merry way to explore. There’s a wide open field, a small gnarly forest of trees, a babbling brook that builds into a stream, sun that sparkles on the water and surrounds the ground in dappled light, a bit of a tumble down a hill, but no one is worse for wear, night falls and there’s stargazing as points of light begin to appear one by one up above, the fire crackles, and sleep comes softly and swiftly after such an adventure. Magnificent!
And Dawn Upshaw, what a voice!! Such range and emotion, especially in her lower register. This one just feels like it would be such a thrill, albeit incredibly challenging, to perform!
Glad you enjoyed these selections, Katie! I love the scene you've conjured through Debussy's music, like a ballet just waiting to be choreographed. The viola is indeed the tentative one in the group — I love the way Debussy has it dovetail with the flute, sometimes so cleverly that you can't tell that one instrument has handed off the melody to the other. It's just a slight perception of the color of the sound changing. 💙
And no one sings that Stravinsky's aria quite like Dawn! shared a studio recording, but her live performances are just as captivating — she's the rare opera singer who also knows how to act with the best of them. Here's an example (just ignore the odd placement of ballet dancers onstage during this soliloquy!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT23iCBnDkU
Ooo, I was wondering if there was a performance out there, thank you! She is marvelous!!
And you perfectly described the dance of the flute and viola! I love how you encourage us to listen deeply to these pieces to find these subtle nuances!
There's no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than with the latest issue of Shades of Blue. Thank you Michael, for the art as well as the beautiful music. I once visited Hogarth's house in Chiswick. His Rake's Progress is marvellous, and of course there's Hockney's version which I also like. Reading that caption to the beautiful John Singer Sargent painting it occurs to me that even the description of how it was created is poetic!
Of course what we're here for is the musical education, and that has been amazing - as usual!💙
This means so much, Jules — thank you! 💙
I love that you found poetry in the Sargent caption. There’s something so delectable about the term “wove paper.” And I’m committed to seeing Hockney’s set designs for Rake’s Progress before my time is up. Perhaps Glyndebourne will revisit it soon! 😍
https://youtu.be/DxeeWlp4AZ8?si=F08dA1veU-W8VWmz
What a wonderful clip - thank you. Always great to see DH, and lovely to think that an idea conceived by one great artist was transformed by two more, culminating in a production of the opera. How clever of John Cox to have brought the idea together in this way.
I hope you get your wish 🤞