The Eastern Regional Library Show 21st January 2009

Library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

On Wednesday's show

After two weeks off the airwaves because of tooth trouble, I was wondering whether the wind would whistle through the gap left by the removal of the troublemaker. Fortunately this was not the case, but I was prepared for the worst, and had brought along a new double CD The essential Placido Domingo, feeling that several tracks of his delightful mellow voice would be a good fallback position. As it was, we heard the duet he performed with John Denver 'Perhaps love', which became wildly popular when it was released in 1981, but also generated a lot of criticism from the classical world about opera singers sinking to the level of popular music. Since that time there have been many more successful pairings of different styles of singers. One which springs to mind is Luciano Pavarotti singing with U2 for 'Miss Sarajevo', and is on the U2 CD The best of 1990-2000.

I don't think there is anyone who has not heard of Domingo, Pavarotti and Jose Careras' work together as The Three Tenors, and some of their performances are available in the ERL collection, on CD and DVD, The original three tenors concert which was in Rome in 1990, and The three tenors Christmas. If you are interested in the Los Angeles concert of 1994, it is available through inter-library loan.

The other track played today was Margaret Rutherford and Frankie Howard with a risque dialogue to the tune of 'Nymphs and Shepherds' from Vintage Comedy Collection Vol 1. Margaret Rutherford's ditzy and charming character made roles such as Miss Marple in films based on the Agatha Christie stories totally endearing. The Miss Marple Collection on DVD is available on request through the Consortia libraries, and several other movies in which she appeared, such as The importance of being Ernest and Blythe Spirit are in the ERL collection. While Margaret Rutherford was a lot of fun in the role of Miss Marple, a more recent representation by actor Geraldine McEwan in a well-produced TV series was very successfull. Several are available in the ERL collection, and more through the Consortium libraries.

---- Lesley