Friday Night really was Music Night this week, as we braved the elements and trolled off to the imperious environs of Alexandra Palace for BBC Radio 3's Julie Andrews at 90: A Celebration concert. Over the years, we have been fortunate to get to see loads of these recordings of the world's longest-running live orchestral music radio programme, and they're always of the highest quality.
This was no exception.
Core to the whole thing was the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted as ever by Richard Balcombe - they are one of the finest orchestras of their kind and, keeping up the tradition of BBC's historic involvement with Ally Pally, it's been announced that they're now the first "associate orchestra" based at the venue. It's always fascinating to watch an orchestra at work, and this lot worked like clockwork.
Our singers, too, were a top-notch trio - Katie Birtill, Kelly Mathieson and Graham Bickley - veterans of the West End stage and as orchestral soloists, all. Our host was the mellifluous Radio 3 veteran presenter Petroc Trelawny [it's always good to see a "national treasure" in the flesh for the first time].
And of the show itself? We had a cornucopia of music and songs from just about everything Dame Julie was ever involved in - including My Fair Lady, The Boyfriend, The King & I, Star!, Mary Poppins, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Victor, Victoria and - it goes without saying - The Sound Of Music.
Oh, how we loved it! Indeed, the hills were alive with the sound of her music (well, Muswell Hill, anyway)! No videos are available of the evening itself (naturally), but here are two brief snippets I managed to grab from their rehearsals:
However, let's finish up with a song that was brilliantly done by Miss Mathieson on Friday, and one that featured in two consecutive nights of musical entertainment this weekend:
Don't talk of stars burning above; If you're in love,
Show me!
Tell me no dreams
Filled with desire. If you're on fire,
Show me!
Here we are together in the middle of the night!
Don't talk of spring! Just hold me tight!
Anyone who's ever been in love'll tell you that
This is no time for a chat!
Haven't your lips
Longed for my touch? Don't say how much,
Show me! Show me!
Don't talk of love lasting through time.
Make me no undying vow. Show me now!
Sing me no song! Read me no rhyme!
Don't waste my time, Show me!
Don't talk of June, Don't talk of fall!
Don't talk at all! Show me!
Never do I ever want to hear another word.
There isn't one I haven't heard.
Here we are together in what ought to be a dream;
Say one more word and I'll scream!
Haven't your arms hungered for mine?
Please don't "expl'ine," Show me! Show me!
Don't wait until wrinkles and lines
Pop out all over my brow,
Show me now!
Love it...
...and speaking of two consecutive nights of musical entertainment - our busy weekend continued on Saturday as we settled down in front of the telly, Union Jack flags in hand, to watch The Last Night of the Proms..!
More on that tomorrow, no doubt...
For some odd reason I was singing this song in bed last night. I love it. This all sounds so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSpooky...
DeleteIt was indeed a wonderful - nay, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious evening! Jx
It was even more marvellous than normal the Orchestra are indeed at the top of their game and always look like they are having great fun. The guest singer were fab too.
ReplyDeleteIt was a bit of a shame that Dame Julie couldn't make it to her own 90th Birthday celebration though.
We'll forgive her for not taking a flight from her home in in Long Island, New York just for an evening out in Ally Pally...
Delete...and yes, the orchestra looked like they were thoroughly enjoying themselves all evening! Jx