tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post8535767635032617902..comments2024-02-25T13:20:20.620+01:00Comments on mostly opera: Peter Grimes: Peter Pears or Jon Vickers?mostly opera...http://www.blogger.com/profile/05653818157295091506noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-65420673132255875132014-02-18T19:17:02.188+01:002014-02-18T19:17:02.188+01:00I saw Jon Vickers at the Met in 1968 -- from stand...I saw Jon Vickers at the Met in 1968 -- from standing room before the interval, eighth row center after -- and, to this day, it is still one of the most powerful, wrenching, indelible performances I've ever seen (and, kids, I've seen a lot). Peter Sethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-65067342785686280902013-11-09T16:21:37.272+01:002013-11-09T16:21:37.272+01:00The 1969 live recording from the ROH with Vickers ...The 1969 live recording from the ROH with Vickers and Harper in their prime, conducted by Davis and with a fine Balstrode from Geraint Evans. This, of course, was made in the same year as the BBC film of Grimes with Pears and Harper. As others have said, Pears and Vickers were so different that both readings are essential - those two were very lucky to have had Heather Harper as their Ellen knossianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12103477207586508041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-11631810182609655742013-07-01T04:11:40.095+02:002013-07-01T04:11:40.095+02:00I am not so sure that Britten hated Jon Vickers...I am not so sure that Britten hated Jon Vickers' version. I read somewhere that Vickers started to sing the part to Britten and Britten stopped him quickly.<br /><br />Of course Vickers voice is not what Britten had in mind when writing the role. But he also was an open-minded composer and interpret.<br /><br />My idea about that is that Britten feared he could find Vickers better. Britten Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-17167712258661822332012-03-25T19:08:12.155+02:002012-03-25T19:08:12.155+02:00Well, this is an interesting debate. I have both t...Well, this is an interesting debate. I have both the Pears and Vickers performances on CD and DVD, and really, both are essential. As they are so radically different, it's a no brainer. Between them, they say everything that needs to be said about this, Britten's greatest tenor role. Pears is utterly heartbreaking, but he is never quite believable as a rough, violent fisherman. Vickers isNicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-78578745818883044802011-06-04T21:36:16.190+02:002011-06-04T21:36:16.190+02:00Having seen 3 versions - I say Philip Langridge ea...Having seen 3 versions - I say Philip Langridge eats both for breakfast. He made me cry like a baby and Grimes isn't a very likeable guy.Rowena Shepardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07680273211678135320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-34854877709193252412009-10-06T14:25:27.772+02:002009-10-06T14:25:27.772+02:00I've only seen excerpts from the Pears film bu...I've only seen excerpts from the Pears film but I have listened to the Decca CD version of Grimes countless times. I saw Vickers sing the role at the ROH and I've seen recordings of that production subsequently. I would choose Pears of the two for conveying what, I think, is an intended ambiguity in the role that Vickers loses. That said, I'll take Tony Dean Griffey as the best I Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-30857227318861465452009-09-26T18:03:04.067+02:002009-09-26T18:03:04.067+02:00I have to see Pears yet. That dvd is driving me ma...I have to see Pears yet. That dvd is driving me mad - why isn't it up anywhere?<br /><br />i have the one with Vickers, and I'm not really satisfied with him. The production is perfect - but he doesn't fit in. He's not a fisherman, he's a Tristan in disguise. I adore him in his Wagner roles (no-one could sing such a powerful Nothung-out-of-ash scene), but his Grimes seems justRowena Shepardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07680273211678135320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-14318074608768429302009-03-07T19:41:00.000+01:002009-03-07T19:41:00.000+01:00I adore Jon Vickers.But, I own them both.I adore Jon Vickers.<BR/>But, I own them both.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-91498402068462671302009-01-13T21:59:00.000+01:002009-01-13T21:59:00.000+01:00Think the same as Linda, though it's a pretty whif...Think the same as Linda, though it's a pretty whiffy work in the nostrils of those who<BR/>live in England without double-barrelled names or expensive accents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-10467859761081717412009-01-12T22:32:00.000+01:002009-01-12T22:32:00.000+01:00Philip Langridge.Philip Langridge.LinGinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05161369969301421756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-6607567098383990222009-01-12T21:56:00.000+01:002009-01-12T21:56:00.000+01:00Who can live without Vickers' Grimes ? Who can liv...Who can live without Vickers' Grimes ? Who can live without Pears' Grimes ? I, for one, can't, and I refuse to choose ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-84342803254363695552009-01-12T21:55:00.000+01:002009-01-12T21:55:00.000+01:00I have a hard time imagining how Vickers could be ...I have a hard time imagining how Vickers could be bettered in this role but then the Vickers DVD is the only version I possess. But I welcome fine performances which shed a different light on aspects of the character, especially if they are endorsed by Britten himself.<BR/>Pears recorded a very fine Winterreise with Britten at the piano - an excellent alternative to the superb but ubiquitous Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-9822503889534703592009-01-12T21:32:00.000+01:002009-01-12T21:32:00.000+01:00I'm going to have to disagree I think. I haven't s...I'm going to have to disagree I think. <BR/><BR/>I haven't seen the Peter Pears' production, I did see the 1981 production though. And just judging by clips... Peter Pears is INCREDIBLY powerful! I really want to see this production in it's entirety now... He's so wonderful in his madness there! That's my two cents! :DTyrel Boelsmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05200231358522368157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483678492345755723.post-299660185844920432009-01-12T21:24:00.000+01:002009-01-12T21:24:00.000+01:00Definitely Vickers! No one brought such a harrowi...Definitely Vickers! No one brought such a harrowing madness to the role that he did.Tristan Minstrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13568829269270766704noreply@blogger.com