Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream/Overture "The Fair Melusina" - Sách nói Miễn phí

Artist:

Philharmonia Orchestra Francesco D'Avalos, cond.

Bandlist:

1. "Overture" (Op. 21) 2. I - "Scherzo" Allegro vivace

Kenneth Smith, flute

_Gordon Hunt, oboe

_

Michael Collins, clarinet

Meyrick Alexander, bassoon

3. II - L'istesso Tempo -> "Fairies' March" 4. III - "Ye spotted snakes" (Song with Choir) Allegro ma non troppo

The Bach Choir; Women, SSAA Judith Howarth, soprano Jean Rigby, mezzo 5. IV - "The Spells" Andante

_Hugh Bean, violin

_

Michael Turner, viola

6. V - "Intermezzo" Allegro appassionato 7. VI - "What hempen homespuns" Allegro 8. VII - "Notturno" Con moto tranquillo

Nigel Black, horn 9. VIII - "The Removal of the Spells" Andante 10. IX - "Wedding March" Allegro vivace 11. X - Allegro comodo -> "Funeral March" Andante comodo 12. XI - "Dance of the Clowns" Allegro di molto 13. XII - Allegro vivace come I 14. "Finale: Through the house" Allegro di molto

The Bach Choir; Women, SSAA Judith Howarth, soprano

15. The Fair Melusina, Overture in F major, Op. 32

Composer: Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Words: William Shakespeare ("Ye spotted snakes" and "Through the house")

Recording credit:

Brian Culverhouse, Producer/Balance Engineer Recorded in June 21 (The Fair Melusina, and A Midsummer Night's Dream: overture and instrumental movements), and 23 (A Midsummer Night's Dream: melodramas and vocal selections), 1993 at Watford Town Hall, England.

(USA release (shelved): Acting items recorded in 1994 in Hollywood, USA.)

UK release in 1994 on the IMP Masters label.

USA release with acting items in 1995 on the Chandos label, with courtesy to IMP Masters for the music. (But it was shelved and not released)

The Shakespearan English text is the original text that is sung in this recording, for "Ye spotted snakes" and "Through the house".

Description:

This recording is the final time that the Philharmonia plays the Midsummer Night’s Dream overture and incidental music in the studio. After the complete cycle of Mendelssohn works with D'Avalos (which includes this one), they left the studio-recording for Mendelssohn repertoire. This recording was originally released in 1994, and reissued in 1998 by Carlton Classics, but then got removed from stores in 2001, considering it “deleted”, since this was on a budget low-class label. The Chandos USA release in 1995 saw Julie Andrews and other actors narrating excerpts against the incidental music for the Midsummer Night’s Dream for a more complete experience and the Melusina overture remains unchanged. This rare recording makes a magical comeback in 2025, since it’s now available on Internet Archive; the version heard here is the original UK release, without spoken melodramas.

Programme notes:

See the PDF for liner notes.

USA Version:

The USA version omits No. 6, the "Funeral March" and the "Dance of the Clowns". Because this recording only focuses on Hermia, Lysander and the fairy-world. See PDF for full details.

HI-FI CD audio, albeit transferred to vinyl. Originally issued on CD: IMP Masters MCD 78. The CD audio is transferred to an analog signal etched on a vinyl record, done twice. This is the first time the audio is presented on Archive. 4 sides (2 vinyls each with Side A and Side B), with 3 to 5 tracks per side. Recorded from the Jensen JMC-1250 BT Turntable with 3 CD Changer and Dual Cassette Deck.

Side 1 (Vinyl A, Side 1): Band 1-5 (Overture, Scherzo, "Over hill, over dale"/Fairies' March, Ye spotted snakes, "The Spells")

Side 2 (Vinyl A, Side 2)__: Band 6-8 (Intermezzo, "What hempen homespuns", Notturno)

Side 3 (Vinyl B, Side 1): Band 9-12 ("The Removal of the Spells", "Wedding March", Prologue/Funeral March, "Dance of the Clowns")

Side 4 (Vinyl B, Side 2): Band 13-15 (Wedding March reprise, Finale, The Fair Melusina)

(c) 1993-1994 Pickwick Record Company