Word: chorused
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...Grimes' proscription by the other inhabitants is well portrayed. There are several numbers which stand out: the quartet the end of the first scene of act two, Grimes' song, "In dreams I've built myself some kindlier home," and Ellen's "Embroidery in childhood." There are also some chorus tunes which show Britten's skill at folk music. The most effective writing is in the alternation of Ellen's singing to the apprentice with excerpts from the church service off-stage...
...pretty tedious recitative, much of which is superfluous. The verbosity has apparently proved too much for Britten, for his music, though following thought and mood, does not fit the words very skillfully. This failing was exaggerated Thursday night by poor diction on the part of both soloists and chorus...
...course, the Met's "Grimes" is done in the grand manner, and this detracts somewhat, particularly in the case of the oversized chorus which exceeds the stage capacity. The direction is much better than the usual variety, however, in spite of some sloppy moments. In the second scene of the first act, a storm theme appears whenever the door of the pub is opened. Unfortunately, the door and the orchestra seldom coincide. With the exception of Grimes' hut, the sets are realistic and firm--two uncommon advantages...
...course, the number of performers ruled out any possibility for delicate treatment in choral passages. The Mass can be as effective in mightiness as in subtlety, however, if the chorus is well enough trained to execute cleanly the variations in volume derived from the counterpoint itself. The Glee Club and Choral Society were. After the some-what uninspired reading of the Kyrie, in which lone syllables appeared and vanished with no apparent intention, the Chorus climbed to heights of accuracy and cooperation in the Gloria. The "Qui Tollis" was an achievement which is impossible to describe, and the transition without...
...Wallace Woodworth. There is probably no more challenging work in all musical literature than the B Minor Mass, and enormous ambition and perseverance are required to undertake it at all. In addition, Woodworth's philosophy of Bach is almost the antithesis of Koussevitzky's yet he trained the Chorus to respond with complete accuracy to the Conductor's direction. This achievement is even more remarkable when you realize that Woodworth had to substitute for Koussevitzky in the only complete rehearsal with the Orchestra...