Offenbach: "La belle Hélène" (Sadler's Wells Opera)
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- A BBC telecast from January 23, 1964 of Offenbach's opéra bouffe "La belle Hélène" in an English version by Geoffrey Dunn and presented by the Sadler's Wells Opera with John Matheson, conductor. The cast features Joyce Blackham (Helen); Kevin Miller (Paris); Derek Hammond-Stroud (Calchas); John Fryatt (Menelaus); John Heddle Nash (Agamemnon); Patricia Kern (Orestes); and John Caolan (Achilles). The entire cast is listed in the credits at the end of this video.
I saw this approx 6 times in 1963 at Sadlers Wells. As an 18 year old with hormones I had a crush on Joyce Blackham. I am now 78 and have lived in New Zealand for 55 years....
A precious and pleasing souvenir of a generation of singers who are no longer with us. Thank you.
I love this. I saw it many times at Sadlers Wells. Pity about the cuts for TV. Never mind it’s still smashing! Thank you Now if only someone could find The Orpheus in the Underworld recorded by Granada starring June Bronhill!
Ken, the BFI in London has both June's ORPHEUS and the BBC abridged version of THE MERRY WIDOW 1959 in their collection. One can arrange to view them (for research purposes) after paying a small fee. I will be in London in May this year and am hoping to view it then. Cheers, Steve.
Thats great news. I will try to see these even though we have now moved out of London. Thanks Steve. When are you arriving here?@@ballaratboy1
I remember recording this from the television (sound only of course) when it was broadcast. Never thought I'd ever see it again!
Wonderful to see this. I remember seeing it as a boy and never forgot it. I have been hoping for years that both it and Orpheus that Southern Television broadcast would one day emerge as a dvd. So sad that Kevin Miller who played Paris only died in May this year. Thank you so much for posting this.
Remembering well this Sandler’s Wells production in 1960s. La Belle Helene such a comedy! What an opera!
Offenbach has spread happiness for over a century!
@@simonk3244 true...
thank you thank you thank you
And one more thank you from me.
I was given a pirate DVD copy of this a few years ago and always meant to download it for those interested - thanks for doing so. The production belongs to a great period of Sadler's Wells Opera presenting Offenbach. Geoffrey Dunn's witty, elegant translations managed to save the Gallic charm of these pieces sinking in mid-Channel. 'La Belle Hélène' was produced at Sadler's Wells in 1963, almost exactly a hundred years after the Paris original, and was kept in the company's touring repertoire for many years.
The BBC telecast was a brave enterprise, recorded live in the studio featuring the stunning production costumes designed by Anthony Powell.
Sadler's Wells Opera had previously scored Offenbach hits with 'Orpheus in the Underworld' and 'La Vie Parisienne' (both directed by Wendy Toye). A less successful Offenbach 'Bluebeard' came later, in 1966, with choreography by Gillian Lynne.
I hope the Granada recording of 'Orpheus' has survived, but I've never been able to trace it.
The British Film Institute in London has the Granada television production of "ORPHEUS" in their library. One can arrange to view it there (for study purposes) for a small fee.
The main aria from Bluebeard is great but the rest of it doesn't appeal to me so much.
Interesting beautiful version
Спасибо за удовольствие и тому, кто сохранил эту постановку
I saw this very production in London in 1965.
Thank you!!
I remember That song from “Araba Sevdası” book of Recaizade Mahmut Ekrem. He wrote twice time Belle Helene!
Wonderful to see this. Thanks for posting.
How wonderful to come across this. I saw it at the old Wells in the '60s and loved it and agree with the comment below. If we had Bronhill in Orpheus too, my happiness would be complete. Such a big hit. Was it ever televised?
Would love to see the Sadlers Wells Hansel and Gretel footage made for television around this time. Anyone have a copy?
Прекрасная постановка, певцы великолепные, вот это пример для молодых исполнителей
What is going on in this pandemonium of artistic finesse...
why not !
...la belle helene a la sauce americaine ..regardez la belle hellene de felicity Lott au Chatelet a Paris
C'est du rosbif, pas du hamburger.
Toutes les deux sont très belles! Et écoutez Jane Rhodes!
Traduction en anglais ! Sacrilège !
calm thyself, sweetie - the earth is still turning
Interesting, And the singing is good, but it doesn't sound in English. Doesn't even rhyme well. Or you need a better poet!
It works beautifully in English