241 replies to this topic

[Nick Parker]

I saw Don Giovanni live at the opera yesterday. At one point, one of the background people ran through the scenery, and a couple of minutes later he was about to do the same when he was apparently caught by a colleague and told that everyone could see him (at least he didn't show up again). I found it highly amusing, but it didn't make me lose track of the actual opera.

Oh, I hate it when that happens. Being backstage myself, I am incredibly paranoid about what is or is not visible that should not be. People look at me strangely when I ask them after the performance if they noticed anything like a blank spot in the scenery or a stagehand walking through the scenery.


And you saw Don Giovanni? What was the main cast, would it be too much trouble for you to list them?

[Marian Schedenig]

Don Giovanni: Erwin Schrott
Leporello: Hanno Müller-Brachmann
Donna Anna: Aleksandra Kurzak
Don Ottavio: Bernard Richter
Il Commendatore: Attila Jun
Donna Elvira: Véronique Gens
Masetto: Markus Butter
Zerlina: Nina Bernsteiner

ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Arnold Schoenberg Chor
Conductor: Riccardo Frizza

Great cast, everyone was at least good, most were excellent, and first rate actors as well. The only one I wasn't all that excited about was Richter, but then I've head Bostridge in the same role a few years ago, so I'm spoiled.

The staging by Keith Warner was... uneven. Until the final scene, I couldn't quite make up my mind what to think of it, much of it was really good, with some nice ideas, though some bits annoyed me. But the finale, in my opinion, was simply ridiculous. And having Giovanni die in a sound-proof glass coffin meant they had to play his final lines over loudspeakers...

[Matt C]

Anything involving the brass and/or percussion sections of the Prague Philharmonic.

I don't know, I thought the brass and percussion players did an unusually good job for Pan's Labyrinth. "Not Human" sounded like it could've been performed by L.A. or London musicians than Prague musicians, but that could depend on how seasoned the musicians were and the conductor directing the ensemble. What bugs me about the Prague Philharmonic is that more often than not, there's always something "off" when they do recordings of famous film themes or even worse, do film-themed soundtracks because the reuse fee is too high. The "Harry Potter" and "Indiana Jones" albums made me weep, but the "Pirates of the Caribbean" album wasn't bad at all. I don't know if it's a smaller orchestra, the recording engineer, or recording studio used but they are an insult to the original studio albums.

But my main peeve with musical sounds doesn't have anything to do with the instruments or the way they're played, but the recording quality. Dan Wallin's work on Star Trek II, Star Trek (2009) and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (especially the last one) left a lot to be desired. I really don't get why Giacchino likes using him when there are far better mixers out there like John Kurlander, Simon Rhodes, Shawn Murphy or Dennis Sands who achieve a beautiful, in-the-room quality with their mixing.

[Alexcremers]

Bagpipes rock.

Please! Name me one good movie that has a bagpipes score!

[Maglorfin]

I forgot the saxophone...I generally dislike it in film scores

Did you also dislike it in Catch Me If You Can? I love its use there, no other instrument would've been so perfect for that particular movie, especially for Father's Theme.

[Neimoidian]

I love saxophone(s). Some of my favourite scores use it as a leading instrument.

[Maglorfin]

If I only think about Mr Wint and Mr Kidd ...

[Mr. Breathmask]

# Saxamophone... saxamophone... #

[Drax]

The moron next door closed early!

[Marian Schedenig]

Please! Name me one good movie that has a bagpipes score!

The Wrath of Khan.

As far as I remember, Braveheart has bagpipes, too.

[Wojo]

I think that by "bagpipes score," Alex meant a film that has more substantial use of bagpipes than a single appearance (Star Trek II), or used sporadically but still not everywhere (Braveheart, Titanic, etc.). Like if you took a normal symphonic score and swapped the violin section for bagpipes, or swapped the synth for bagpipes on an electronic avant garde score. And I can't think of any.

[Marian Schedenig]

Neither can I. Doesn't change the fact that bagpipes rock.

[Stefancos]

As far as I remember, Braveheart has bagpipes, too.

Uilleann pipes, actually.

[Wojo]

Neither can I. Doesn't change the fact that bagpipes rock.

They certainly do. AC/DC knew it, too.

[Jeshopk]

I forgot the saxophone...I generally dislike it in film scores

What about at :50 at that link, Mark?

[Bowie]

I forgot the saxophone...I generally dislike it in film scores

What about at :50 at that link, Mark?

If you add "#t=0m50s" to the end of the link, it automatically plays at the desired spot.

#t=XXmYYs where XX = total minutes, YY = remaining seconds

[Jeshopk]

I forgot the saxophone...I generally dislike it in film scores

What about at :50 at that link, Mark?

If you add "#t=0m50s" to the end of the link, it automatically plays at the desired spot.

#t=XXmYYs where XX = total minutes, YY = remaining seconds

Wow, Bowie, thanks! That's totally awesome news. Makes it just that much easier to "rick roll" people! If I were going to unleash that attack that is.

Actually that would be very handy if I put up a demo reel montage, to send to clients the exact moment I would like them to see first.

[Wojo]

"Genesis" "rick roll," what's that?

[Hitch]

Bagpipes rock.

Please! Name me one good movie that has a bagpipes score!

Maurice Jarre's DEAD POETS SOCIETY used bagpipes very effectively.

But the finale, in my opinion, was simply ridiculous. And having Giovanni die in a sound-proof glass coffin meant they had to play his final lines over loudspeakers...

Mozart would have approved

[Mark Olivarez]

Alex North's score to The Devil's Brigade features bagpipes.

[Drax]

JFK, too.

[Alexcremers]

JFK, too.

Please, Drax, there's no need to lie.



Alex

[Drax]

I'm becoming human all the time, Aledata. Now I'm learning how to lie.

[Neimoidian]

I don't think anyone has mention this - a jaw harp (or Jew's harp as it's called).



Terrible. John W. used it in "Rosewood".

[Stefancos]

Anti-semite!

[Maglorfin]

I don't think anyone has mention this - a jaw harp (or Jew's harp as it's called).



Terrible. John W. used it in "Rosewood".

Haha I've known jew's harp for a long time, but it never annoyed me. Amused maybe, it seems quite comic to me.

[Alexcremers]

I don't think anyone has mention this - a jaw harp (or Jew's harp as it's called).



Terrible. John W. used it in "Rosewood".

You hate the ol' Morricone scores?

[Neimoidian]

Anti-semite!

I expected that. You're so on autopilot!

You hate the ol' Morricone scores?

Not all of them. I never got into his experimentations.

[Stefancos]

I guess Hitler never completely left Poland, Herr von Krzysztof!

[Neimoidian]

I guess Hitler never completely left Poland, Herr von Krzysztof!

Natürlich.

[Drax]

I don't know, I thought the brass and percussion players did an unusually good job for Pan's Labyrinth.

What is that movie about anyway? Peter Pan?

[Alexcremers]

No, you silly, it's a fascinating documentary about the origins of a South American flute.

[Drax]

I thought it was about David Bowie not wanting to grow up (or old).

[Marian Schedenig]

I don't think anyone has mention this - a jaw harp (or Jew's harp as it's called).

Terrible. John W. used it in "Rosewood".

To great effect. It's not a very flexible instrument and doesn't have a big range, but it's fine for what it is, and cool when used well.

[Neimoidian]

I don't think anyone has mention this - a jaw harp (or Jew's harp as it's called).

Terrible. John W. used it in "Rosewood".

To great effect. It's not a very flexible instrument and doesn't have a big range, but it's fine for what it is, and cool when used well.

It works, but it's so silly and I couldn't stand more of it.

[Hlao-roo]

Williams should write a Jew's harp concerto.

[Alexcremers]

The jew's harp is one of the oldest instruments of mankind. Other than that, it's too insignificant and harmless to HATE it. It's not like composers are writing concertos for it.



Alex

[Elmo Lewis]

I love saxophone(s). Some of my favourite scores use it as a leading instrument.

Saxophones are a funny thing. I love them on their own, but they can be really annoying in some contexts (i.e., in any pop songs, which are annoying enough on their own anyway, and in most rock songs). They are all right in film music, though. Nothing expresses melancholy like them.

[Hlao-roo]

It's not like composers are writing concertos for it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000005975/

I love saxophone(s). Some of my favourite scores use it as a leading instrument.

Saxophones are a funny thing. I love them on their own, but they can be really annoying in some contexts (i.e., in any pop songs, which are annoying enough on their own anyway, and in most rock songs). They are all right in film music, though. Nothing expresses melancholy like them.

They go well with harpsichords.

[Stefancos]

Oh my God!