Homage to the Bard

May 3rd is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare, so we have added a variety of compositions based on his literary works.

Last week we celebrated the life of one of the fathers of modern literature, Cervantes. This week we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the other literary father, the one and only William Shakespeare.

One of the most influential writers in history, his catalogue of literary works have inspired generations of writers, and influenced the entire English language. There is so much to be said about the life and work of Shakespeare, instead of bombarding you with biographical information, I’m going to leave you with one of my favourite sonnets about love in its most ideal form and some recommendations of musical interpretations of some of the Bard’s most famous works.

Giuseppe Verdi: Macbeth (complete opera) Erich Leinsdorf, Leonard Warren, Leonie Rysanek, Jerome Hines, Carlo Bergonzi, Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra, 1959

Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’ together with the his ‘Otello’ and ‘Falstaff’ are among the most popular Shakespeare operas. Here we present to you the complete opera starting Leonard Warren in the title role.

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 21/Op. 61, Excerpts Ferenc Fricsay, Rita Streich, Diana Eustrati, RIAS-Kammerchor, Berliner Philharmoniker, 1950

Mendelssohn’s incidental music for ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is not only the most famous music for a play by Shakespeare but also is one of the best-loved incidental music compositions internationally.

Richard Wagner: Das Liebesverbot (complete opera, shortened version) Robert Heger, Heinz Imdahl, Anton Dermota, Christiane Sorell, Hilde Zadek, Chor des Österreichischen Rundfunks, ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, 1962

Unfortunately, this sparkling comic opera by Richard Wagner is performed only rarely today. It is based on Shakespeare’s comedy ‘Measure for Measure’. This Austrian radio recording while containing some severe cuts, is a thrilling recording.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day (Duet: Juliet with the Nurse, from ‘Romeo and Juliet’) Samuil Samosud, Tatiana Lavrova, Sergei Lemeshev, Alexandra Matushina, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, 1953

Even Tchaikovsky intended to write a Shakespeare opera, but discarded his play. Only this duet survived without having been orchestrated. Sergei Taneyev completed the orchestration, and since then this duet is quite often performed in concert.

Tchaikovsky wrote incidental music for ‘Hamlet’ as well as concert overtures based on ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’, and we have also added recordings of those works.

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Sir John in Love (complete opera) Stanford Robinson, Roderick Jones, April Cantelo, Marion Lowe, James Johnston, John Cameron, Sadler’s Wells Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra, 1956

Of course numerous British composers have used the works by Shakespeare for their compositions, and Ralph Vaughan Williams is the composer of the the most popular British opera based on a Shakespeare play (The Merry Wives of Windsor). The recording we have added is the first studio recording of the opera, made in 1956 by BBC.

Reynaldo Hahn: Le Marchand de Venise, Excerpts from the opera Reynaldo Hahn, Fanny Heldy, André Pernet, Martial Singher, Orchestra, 1935

These excerpts from Reynaldo Hahn’s opera ‘Le Marchand de Venise’ after Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’ are a real rarity because the opera is more or less forgotten today, but also because the recording is conducted by the composer himself and features several singers of the world premiere production.

We have more Shakespearean recordings coming to IDAGIO next week, so stay tuned!