R2OK!

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

An original idea to have the music of Viennese composer Robert Stolz on Desmond Carrington's programme last night.

Didn't previously know that he wrote the melody which years later became Petula Clark's Romeo.

Goodbye from White Horse Inn reminded me that, well into my lifetime, this work was sometimes performed by amateur musical groups. But it seems to have fallen right out of favour now. Mrs W had never heard of it when I enquired of her. Does anyone still perform this?

Ian.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Not that I have seen, although amateur musical/light opera companies are rather thinner on the ground these days.

One of my first visits to the theatre with my parents, when I was around eight or nine, 1960, was to see White Horse Inn, by the Harrow Light Opera, who used to be given the run of the Dominion cinema for a week a couple of times a year. I also dimly remember The Student Prince and possibly Lehar's Merry Widow, although that may have been another company.

The HLO are still going! - http://www.harrowlight.org.uk/ doing The Witches of Eastwick in April at the Watersmeet, Rickmansworth.
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Ron

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Not that I have seen, although amateur musical/light opera companies are rather thinner on the ground these days.
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Thanks for this, Rockit Ron. I'm sure you're right, more's the pity. But they are by no means moribund round here, as in recent months I've enjoyed excellent amateur productions of the Mikado and Oliver.

Ian.

Briant · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:47 pm Post subject: Classics.........

I believe the Elvis recordings of 'It's now or never' and 'No more' are based on classical tunes. 'O sole mio' and 'La paloma?' The opera 'Carmen' was turned into 'Carmen Jones' with good effect I think. Any more examples, anyone?

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

There must be masses of these. Here are a few to be going on with.

A Groovy Kind of Love (The Mindbenders/Phil Collins) = the Rondo from Clementi's Progressive Piano Sonata in G.

This Night (Billy Joel) and More Than Love (Ken Dodd) = the Adagio from Beethoven's Pathetique Piano Sonata.

Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley) = Martini's Plaisir d'Amour

All By Myself (Eric Carmen/Celine Dion) = the second movement from Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto no 2.

If I Had Words (Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keely) = the Finale from Saint Saens' Symphony no 3.

Hallo Muddah Hallo Fadduh (Allan Sherman) and Like I Do (Maureen Evans) = Ponchielli's Dance of the Hours

Please Don't Go (Donald Peers) = the Barcarolle from Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman.

Lily the Pink (Scaffold) = Rossini's Tancredi Overture

So Deep Is the Night (Ken Dodd and others) = Chopin's Etude in E.

The whole of the musical Kismet is based on works by Borodin, who wasn't a very prolific composer, so a good deal of his output must be included in it.

I bet there are lots more for you to identify!

Talking of Ken Dodd, his very first hit Love Is Like a Violin bears some resemblance to a tune which some years later John Lanchbery incorporated into the Pigling Bland section from his ballet the Tales of Beatrix Potter. Lanchbery assembled the score from works by 19th century composers, including Sullivan, but I've never trakced down the source of the tune. Can anyone help?

Ian.