~Michael Lewis, Sinclair Lewis & It Can't Happen Here
Quo Vadis, Nero & Peter Ustinov
Snake Pit publicity photo
Showing posts with label Peter Ustinov. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peter Ustinov. Show all posts
June 20, 2020
Leo Genn articles/mentions
~Michael Lewis, Sinclair Lewis & It Can't Happen Here
Quo Vadis, Nero & Peter Ustinov
April 21, 2020
April 18, 2020
20,000 vinyl LP 219: Miklós Rózsa ~ Concerto for String Orchestra
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Hungarian composer Miklos Rozsa (Miklós Rózsa) was born on April 18, 1907, in Budapest to Jewish parents. He was introduced to classical and folk music by his mother, Regina Berkovits, a pianist who had studied with pupils of Franz Liszt, and his father, Gyula, an industrialist and landowner who loved Hungarian folk music.
Rózsa became one of the brilliant film score composers of his time, however, this album is not from a film. He was also a serious composer of Contemporary music. Rózsa achieved early success in Europe with his orchestral Theme, Variations, and Finale (Op. 13) of 1933.
One of his works, the String Quartet No.1, Op.22 (1950) (link below), was written in honor of actor, Peter Ustinov (link below), who portrayed the mad Emperor Nero (link below) of ancient Rome, in the film, Quo Vadis (link below).
The Concerto for String Orchestra was written in 1943; this recording, which features Carlos Surinach conducting the M-G-M String Orchestra, was recorded in 1957. The orchestra was used in many M-G-M films. This is one of many albums whose cover snagged me into buying it unheard as I was familiar with his scores for films but especially the work of the cover artist.
The image on the cover of the album is the 1937 painting, Printed Sheet With Pictures by the Swiss artist, Paul Klee. It has influences of primitive cave painting, ancient textiles, African sculpture, and Surrealist art. Klee became interested in non-Western art in the 1920s, and, at an early age, visited the ethnographic collections of the Bernisches Historisches Museum in Switzerland. In this work, his hieroglyphic imagery presents mysterious and elusive forms like a moon woman in profile, a fish, and a black and red mask adorned with horns. In 1937, the year Printed Sheet with Picture was painted, Klee found his work vilified in the Degenerate Art exhibition; his art was also removed from German public collections because it seemed dangerous to Hitler (link below). The work of many Jewish artist and musicians, Kurt Weill (link below) one of them, were in this exhibition,
There was a copy of the score of the Concerto for String Orchestra signed by Rozsa for sale on the Tamino website (link below).
Miklos Rozsa ~ Concerto for String Orchestra
Miklos Rozsa ~ Concerto for String Orchestra
YouTube links:
Miklós Rózsa ~
Concerto for String Orchestra, Op 17
Miklos Rozsa ~ Concerto for String Orchestra
detail photo of album cover by Styrous®
publicity photo - date unknown
Rózsa became one of the brilliant film score composers of his time, however, this album is not from a film. He was also a serious composer of Contemporary music. Rózsa achieved early success in Europe with his orchestral Theme, Variations, and Finale (Op. 13) of 1933.
One of his works, the String Quartet No.1, Op.22 (1950) (link below), was written in honor of actor, Peter Ustinov (link below), who portrayed the mad Emperor Nero (link below) of ancient Rome, in the film, Quo Vadis (link below).
The Concerto for String Orchestra was written in 1943; this recording, which features Carlos Surinach conducting the M-G-M String Orchestra, was recorded in 1957. The orchestra was used in many M-G-M films. This is one of many albums whose cover snagged me into buying it unheard as I was familiar with his scores for films but especially the work of the cover artist.
Miklos Rozsa ~ Concerto for String Orchestra
photo of album cover by Styrous®
There was a copy of the score of the Concerto for String Orchestra signed by Rozsa for sale on the Tamino website (link below).
Concerto for String Orchestra
signed score
Miklos Rozsa died on July 27 1995, and is buried at Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills. His wife, Margaret, died in 1999, she was 89 years old.
Miklos Rozsa ~ Concerto for String Orchestra
Miklos Rozsa ~ Concerto for String Orchestra
Miklos Rozsa ~ Concerto for String Orchestra
Viewfinder links:
Adolph Hitler
Franz Liszt
Emperor Nero
Quo Vadis, Nero & Peter Ustinov
Miklós Rózsa
Adolph Hitler
Franz Liszt
Emperor Nero
Quo Vadis, Nero & Peter Ustinov
Miklós Rózsa
Gramophone ~ Rozsa Violin , etc. (review)
Phillips Collection ~ Paul Klee: Printed Sheet with Picture
Tamino Autographs ~ Rozsa - Signed Score Con. for String Orchestra 1945 Phillips Collection ~ Paul Klee: Printed Sheet with Picture
Miklós Rózsa ~
Concerto for String Orchestra, Op 17
String Quartet No.1, Op.22 (1950) ~
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus articles/mentions
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mentions:
Miklós Rózsa ~ Concerto for String Orchestra
Emperor Nero - 1st century AD
Statue of Nero as a boy
sculptor unknown
April 16, 2020
20,000 vinyl LP 218: Quo Vadis, Nero & Peter Ustinov
~
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1.a Introduction: The Mght Of Rome, Voice – Walter Pidgeon
A1.b Marcus Meets Lygia, Voice – Deborah Kerr, Robert Taylor (11)
A2.a Paul's Arrival In Rome, Voice – Abraham Sofaer, Felix Alymer, Nora Swinburne
A2.b Lygia Denounces Marcus, Voice – Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov, Robert Taylor (11)
A3 Paul Introduces Peter And Peter's Message To The Christians (Part 1), Voice – Abraham Sofaer, Finlay Currie
A4 Paul Introduces Peter And Peter's Message To The Christians (Part 2), Voice – Abraham Sofaer, Finlay Currie
A5 First Love Scene: Marcus And Lygia (Part 1), Voice – Abraham Sofaer, Deborah Kerr, Robert Taylor (11)
A6 First Love Scene: Marcus And Lygia (Part 2), Voice – Abraham Sofaer, Deborah Kerr, Robert Taylor (11)
Side :
B1 Seduction Scene: Empress Poppaea And Marcus, Voice – Patricia Laffan, Robert Taylor (11)
B2 Nero's Vision Of A New Rome, Voice – Leo Genn, Peter Ustinov
B3 Nero Condemns The Christians And Petronius' Plea, Voice – Leo Genn, Patricia Laffan, Peter Ustinov
B4 Petronius' Death And Letter To Nero, Voice – Leo Genn
B5 Peter's Vision Of Christ, Voice – Finlay Currie, Peter Miles (8)
B6 Peter's Speech In The Ampitheatre / Peter Sustains The Imprisoned Christians, Voice – Deborah Kerr, Finlay Currie, Robert Taylor (11)
B7 Marriage Of Marcus And Lygia, Voice – Deborah Kerr, Finlay Currie, Robert Taylor (11)
B8.a Plautius On The Cross Accuses Nero, Voice – Felix Aylmer
B8.b Finale: Marcus And Lygia Leave Rome, Voice – Deborah Kerr, Peter Miles (8), Robert Taylor (11)
Credits:
Composed By, Conductor – Miklos Rozsa*
Notes:
Yellow label with black print and deep groove. 12-inch LP edition.
Miklós Rózsa – Dramatic Highlights From Quo Vadis
Label: MGM Records – E3524 ST
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1951
Genre: Non-Music, Stage & Screen
Viewfinder links:
Deborah Kerr
Emperor Nero
Miklós Rózsa
Seneca @ the Gray Loft Gallery
Miklos Rozsa ~ Quo Vadis soundtrack
vinyl LP front cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Miklos Rozsa ~ Quo Vadis soundtrack
vinyl LP front cover
photo by Styrous®
In 55 AD Nero murdered his stepbrother Britannicus and in 59 AD he executed his mother, Agrippina, who served as the de facto ruler of Rome during his reign. Her personality has been described as ruthless, ambitious, violent and domineering. In 64 AD, Nero married Pythagoras, a freedman, and became his "bride".
A bizarre twist in our modern day tale of madness is a chess set REALLY?
On June 9, 68 AD, Nero forced his private secretary, Epaphroditos, to kill him. Nero's final words were "Too late! This is fidelity!" With his death, the Julio-Claudian dynasty ended.
This album, Quo Vadis, does not contain the score for the film but rather the dramatic highlights with narration by Walter Pidgeon from the soundtrack of the film. The cuts on the album with clips from the film are on YouTube (links below). I've written articles about other scores by him and that talk about his music (link below): I'll have many other articles on him.
vinyl LP front cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
On April 16, 1921, Peter Ustinov, the English actor, voice actor, writer, dramatist, filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter was born in London, England. He served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and President of the World Federalist Movement.
Wow! That's a lot of hats he wore in his lifetime!
Miklós Rózsa, composer of the music for Quo Vadis and of numerous concert works, dedicated his String Quartet No. 1, Op. 22 (1950) to Ustinov.
I have loved the films he made but Quo Vadis is my very favorite. Perhaps it is because it's the first film of his I was aware of but I think not. His portrayal of the mad emperor Nero steals the show and is stunning! He was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award for it and it made him a star.
Also, it seems totally apropos to me to write about an ancient mad emperor in this modern time of a would be one.
Miklós Rózsa, composer of the music for Quo Vadis and of numerous concert works, dedicated his String Quartet No. 1, Op. 22 (1950) to Ustinov.
I have loved the films he made but Quo Vadis is my very favorite. Perhaps it is because it's the first film of his I was aware of but I think not. His portrayal of the mad emperor Nero steals the show and is stunning! He was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award for it and it made him a star.
Peter Ustinov as Nero in Quo Vadis
Also, it seems totally apropos to me to write about an ancient mad emperor in this modern time of a would be one.
Miklos Rozsa ~ Quo Vadis soundtrack
vinyl LP front cover
photo by Styrous®
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was the last Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. He was born on December 15, 37 AD, in Antium, now known as Anzio, and became Emperor of the Roman Empire on October 13, 54 AD, when he was 16 years old; his tutor was Seneca the Younger (link below). His rule is usually associated with tyranny and extravagance. During his reign he burned Rome in 64 AD in order to build the Domus Aurea and blamed the event on the new religious cult, the Christians who were thrown to beasts, crucified and burned alive.
tweet - March 8, 2020
In 55 AD Nero murdered his stepbrother Britannicus and in 59 AD he executed his mother, Agrippina, who served as the de facto ruler of Rome during his reign. Her personality has been described as ruthless, ambitious, violent and domineering. In 64 AD, Nero married Pythagoras, a freedman, and became his "bride".
A bizarre twist in our modern day tale of madness is a chess set REALLY?
On June 9, 68 AD, Nero forced his private secretary, Epaphroditos, to kill him. Nero's final words were "Too late! This is fidelity!" With his death, the Julio-Claudian dynasty ended.
This album, Quo Vadis, does not contain the score for the film but rather the dramatic highlights with narration by Walter Pidgeon from the soundtrack of the film. The cuts on the album with clips from the film are on YouTube (links below). I've written articles about other scores by him and that talk about his music (link below): I'll have many other articles on him.
Quo Vadis (Latin for "Where are you going?") is a 1951 American epic historical drama film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Technicolor. It was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and produced by Sam Zimbalist, from a screenplay by John Lee Mahin, S.N. Behrman and Sonya Levien, adapted from the novel Quo Vadis (1896) by the Polish Nobel Laureate author Henryk Sienkiewicz. The score is by Miklós Rózsa and the cinematography by Robert Surtees and William V. Skall. The title refers to an incident in the apocryphal Acts of Peter.
The film starred Robert Taylor (link below) as General Marcus Vinicius, Deborah Kerr (link below), Leo Genn, and Peter Ustinov, and featured Patricia Laffan, Finlay Currie, Abraham Sofaer, Marina Berti, Buddy Baer and Felix Aylmer. Anthony Mann worked on the film for four weeks as an uncredited second-unit director. Sergio Leone was an uncredited assistant director of Italian extras. Future Italian stars Sophia Loren and Bud Spencer appeared as uncredited extras. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards (though it won none), and it was such a huge box-office success that it was credited with single-handedly rescuing MGM from the brink of bankruptcy. The epic film was a hit, grossing US$11 million in its first run.
The film starred Robert Taylor (link below) as General Marcus Vinicius, Deborah Kerr (link below), Leo Genn, and Peter Ustinov, and featured Patricia Laffan, Finlay Currie, Abraham Sofaer, Marina Berti, Buddy Baer and Felix Aylmer. Anthony Mann worked on the film for four weeks as an uncredited second-unit director. Sergio Leone was an uncredited assistant director of Italian extras. Future Italian stars Sophia Loren and Bud Spencer appeared as uncredited extras. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards (though it won none), and it was such a huge box-office success that it was credited with single-handedly rescuing MGM from the brink of bankruptcy. The epic film was a hit, grossing US$11 million in its first run.
Miklos Rozsa ~ Quo Vadis soundtrack
vinyl LP back cover
photo by Styrous®
Click on any image to enlarage
Miklos Rozsa ~ Quo Vadis soundtrack
vinyl LP back cover details
detail photos by Styrous®
Miklos Rozsa ~ Quo Vadis soundtrack
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Miklos Rozsa ~ Quo Vadis soundtrack
vinyl LP, side 1
photo by Styrous®
Miklos Rozsa ~ Quo Vadis soundtrack
vinyl LP labels, side 1 & 2
photos by Styrous®
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1.a Introduction: The Mght Of Rome, Voice – Walter Pidgeon
A1.b Marcus Meets Lygia, Voice – Deborah Kerr, Robert Taylor (11)
A2.a Paul's Arrival In Rome, Voice – Abraham Sofaer, Felix Alymer, Nora Swinburne
A2.b Lygia Denounces Marcus, Voice – Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov, Robert Taylor (11)
A3 Paul Introduces Peter And Peter's Message To The Christians (Part 1), Voice – Abraham Sofaer, Finlay Currie
A4 Paul Introduces Peter And Peter's Message To The Christians (Part 2), Voice – Abraham Sofaer, Finlay Currie
A5 First Love Scene: Marcus And Lygia (Part 1), Voice – Abraham Sofaer, Deborah Kerr, Robert Taylor (11)
A6 First Love Scene: Marcus And Lygia (Part 2), Voice – Abraham Sofaer, Deborah Kerr, Robert Taylor (11)
Side :
B1 Seduction Scene: Empress Poppaea And Marcus, Voice – Patricia Laffan, Robert Taylor (11)
B2 Nero's Vision Of A New Rome, Voice – Leo Genn, Peter Ustinov
B3 Nero Condemns The Christians And Petronius' Plea, Voice – Leo Genn, Patricia Laffan, Peter Ustinov
B4 Petronius' Death And Letter To Nero, Voice – Leo Genn
B5 Peter's Vision Of Christ, Voice – Finlay Currie, Peter Miles (8)
B6 Peter's Speech In The Ampitheatre / Peter Sustains The Imprisoned Christians, Voice – Deborah Kerr, Finlay Currie, Robert Taylor (11)
B7 Marriage Of Marcus And Lygia, Voice – Deborah Kerr, Finlay Currie, Robert Taylor (11)
B8.a Plautius On The Cross Accuses Nero, Voice – Felix Aylmer
B8.b Finale: Marcus And Lygia Leave Rome, Voice – Deborah Kerr, Peter Miles (8), Robert Taylor (11)
Credits:
Composed By, Conductor – Miklos Rozsa*
Notes:
Yellow label with black print and deep groove. 12-inch LP edition.
Miklós Rózsa – Dramatic Highlights From Quo Vadis
Label: MGM Records – E3524 ST
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1951
Genre: Non-Music, Stage & Screen
Viewfinder links:
Deborah Kerr
Emperor Nero
Miklós Rózsa
Seneca @ the Gray Loft Gallery
Peter Ustinov
Net links:
ABC News ~ Critics compare Trump meme during coronavirus crisis to Nero fiddling while Rome burned
Alchetron ~ Robert Taylor
Old Hollywood Films ~ Nero in Quo Vadis
Patheos ~ Quo Vadis: Forgotten Classic of the Sword-and-Sandal Genre
Peter Ustinov Filmography
Variety ~ Quo Vadis
Wikipedia ~ The Emperor Has No Balls
YouTube links:
Quo Vadis ~
The Dialogue:
Quo Vadis Opening Scene
Marcus Meets Lygia
About the way to conquer the world
Marcus, Petronias and Eunice
First Love Scene: Marcus And Lygia
Petronias and Eunice
Scene from Quo Vadis
Supreme Artist: Nero's Speech
Crucifixion of St. Peter
Quo Vadis, Domine?
Nero's Vision Of A New RomeNero Sings as Rome Burns
Nero blames Christians for burning of Rome
Nero punishes the Christians
Stier vs. Mann - Mann gewinnt (Bull vs. Man - Man Wins) (German)
Quo Vadis Death of Nero & Finale (Spanish)
Quo Vadis Official Trailer #1
The Music:
Miklos Rozsa ~ Quo Vadis Soundtrack Suite (14 mins., 55 secs.)
Ave Caesar March
Dance of the Vestal Virgins
Net links:
ABC News ~ Critics compare Trump meme during coronavirus crisis to Nero fiddling while Rome burned
Alchetron ~ Robert Taylor
Old Hollywood Films ~ Nero in Quo Vadis
Patheos ~ Quo Vadis: Forgotten Classic of the Sword-and-Sandal Genre
Peter Ustinov Filmography
Variety ~ Quo Vadis
Wikipedia ~ The Emperor Has No Balls
YouTube links:
Quo Vadis ~
The Dialogue:
Quo Vadis Opening Scene
Marcus Meets Lygia
About the way to conquer the world
Marcus, Petronias and Eunice
First Love Scene: Marcus And Lygia
Petronias and Eunice
Scene from Quo Vadis
Supreme Artist: Nero's Speech
Crucifixion of St. Peter
Quo Vadis, Domine?
Nero's Vision Of A New RomeNero Sings as Rome Burns
Nero blames Christians for burning of Rome
Nero punishes the Christians
Stier vs. Mann - Mann gewinnt (Bull vs. Man - Man Wins) (German)
Quo Vadis Death of Nero & Finale (Spanish)
Quo Vadis Official Trailer #1
The Music:
Miklos Rozsa ~ Quo Vadis Soundtrack Suite (14 mins., 55 secs.)
Ave Caesar March
Dance of the Vestal Virgins
September 30, 2018
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