Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK SEVEN - ENTR'ACTES and PRELUDES
Entr'acte means literally 'between the acts'. It might just be a pause in the story or may indeed evoke the action that is happening unseen to the audience. It could be a 'mood setter' or a restatement of themes heard earlier.
Monday April 27
Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo (Mascagni)
We start the week with possibly the most famous intermezzo (short entr'acte) of them all. Cavalleria Rusticana is a one act opera. Mascagni allows the high drama to pause for a moment while the orchestra plays this gentle piece, which is often used on its own as part of a concert and also in movies. This intermezzo is proof that music doesn't have to be loud, fast, long or intricate to be worthy of the highest praise. Simply beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sw9efeUJng
Tuesday April 28
Lohengrin - Prelude to Act 3 (Wagner)
A great opera with many beautiful lyrical moments including a famous Wedding March.
It's the version to which you may well sing 'Here comes the bride'.
In the opera it immediately follows this prelude.
Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
If you don't know the background to this orchestra it is worth looking up.
It was founded by a Palestinian author/scholar and an Israeli conductor/pianist.
Yesterday's choice was gentle and calm. Today's is not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRQCnnxfeO0
Wednesday April 29
Carmen - Prelude to Act 3 (Bizet)
The curtain opens on Act 3 and we are in the mountains.
I like to think the music implies the sun rising as we see Carmen, José and the smugglers arriving with their booty.
There is much drama to come, but no hint of it in this prelude.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eChLCFAGyx0
Thursday April 30
They’re Playing Our Song (Hamlisch)
First seen in the USA in 1978, I (Philip) saw the London production of this musical in 1980.
Created by a dream team with book by Neil Simon, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and music by Marvin Hamlisch.
The story is based on the real-life relationship of Hamlisch and Sager.
A 2008 revival in London was not successful as the material is very much 70s/80s.
However, it remains one of my favourite musicals.
Two extracts for you
Entr'acte
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEzNZkobPbo
I still believe in love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd-W0FevwiM&list=RDTfeIDW4Dqyg&index=2
Friday May 1
La Traviata - Prelude to Act 1 (Verdi)
I chose this version as you get to see lots of the beautiful La Fenice opera house in Venice.
In 1996 a fire destroyed much of the house but it was rebuilt and re-opened in 2004.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwTFzZm3Mlo
If the ballet annoys you, try this version from the BBC Proms in 2013.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0wrWVbi4Jk
Weekend May 2/3
Hansel and Gretel - Prelude to Act 1 (Humperdinck)
These days we are often treated to a scene played out on stage during an overture, prologue or prelude. A good example of this is Royal Opera’s Marriage of Figaro which many of you have seen. In the 2018 Royal Opera production of H&G we see Hansel, Gretel and their parents living well in their rural cottage followed by a scene as bad times come upon them. In this video you can follow the orchestral score.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7xQL6ob4QU
And an extract from the previous 2008 (and rather weird) Royal Opera H&G.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_ekCzIZQkM
Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo (Mascagni)
We start the week with possibly the most famous intermezzo (short entr'acte) of them all. Cavalleria Rusticana is a one act opera. Mascagni allows the high drama to pause for a moment while the orchestra plays this gentle piece, which is often used on its own as part of a concert and also in movies. This intermezzo is proof that music doesn't have to be loud, fast, long or intricate to be worthy of the highest praise. Simply beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sw9efeUJng
Tuesday April 28
Lohengrin - Prelude to Act 3 (Wagner)
A great opera with many beautiful lyrical moments including a famous Wedding March.
It's the version to which you may well sing 'Here comes the bride'.
In the opera it immediately follows this prelude.
Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
If you don't know the background to this orchestra it is worth looking up.
It was founded by a Palestinian author/scholar and an Israeli conductor/pianist.
Yesterday's choice was gentle and calm. Today's is not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRQCnnxfeO0
Wednesday April 29
Carmen - Prelude to Act 3 (Bizet)
The curtain opens on Act 3 and we are in the mountains.
I like to think the music implies the sun rising as we see Carmen, José and the smugglers arriving with their booty.
There is much drama to come, but no hint of it in this prelude.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eChLCFAGyx0
Thursday April 30
They’re Playing Our Song (Hamlisch)
First seen in the USA in 1978, I (Philip) saw the London production of this musical in 1980.
Created by a dream team with book by Neil Simon, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and music by Marvin Hamlisch.
The story is based on the real-life relationship of Hamlisch and Sager.
A 2008 revival in London was not successful as the material is very much 70s/80s.
However, it remains one of my favourite musicals.
Two extracts for you
Entr'acte
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEzNZkobPbo
I still believe in love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd-W0FevwiM&list=RDTfeIDW4Dqyg&index=2
Friday May 1
La Traviata - Prelude to Act 1 (Verdi)
I chose this version as you get to see lots of the beautiful La Fenice opera house in Venice.
In 1996 a fire destroyed much of the house but it was rebuilt and re-opened in 2004.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwTFzZm3Mlo
If the ballet annoys you, try this version from the BBC Proms in 2013.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0wrWVbi4Jk
Weekend May 2/3
Hansel and Gretel - Prelude to Act 1 (Humperdinck)
These days we are often treated to a scene played out on stage during an overture, prologue or prelude. A good example of this is Royal Opera’s Marriage of Figaro which many of you have seen. In the 2018 Royal Opera production of H&G we see Hansel, Gretel and their parents living well in their rural cottage followed by a scene as bad times come upon them. In this video you can follow the orchestral score.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7xQL6ob4QU
And an extract from the previous 2008 (and rather weird) Royal Opera H&G.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_ekCzIZQkM