John Barry at the Opera
Matt S
Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,610MI6 Agent
I mentioned this in my podcast this week, but I thought I'd mention it here to. Last week I went to Francesco Cilea's 1902 opera Adriana Lecouvreur and heard something familiar. It was the Act IV Prelude. Listen at the beginning here for about 30 seconds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dARguK4kW0
It sounds a lot like John Barry. Listen more and you'll hear more that might remind you of Barry. But something very similar to the first four bars in particular can be heard in Moonraker. Listen to "Cable Car And Snake Fight" at 2:42:
https://youtu.be/tbSKFMkvEr8?t=161
Barry clearly was a fan of this opera. And it's a fantastic opera.
Barry also used this motif in his 1980 score for Night Games and developed it more. Listen to "Descent Into Decadance" at 1:12:
https://youtu.be/G29cRsXpTLM?t=72
Does anyone know if Barry used it anywhere else? Or does anyone have any other Barry/opera comparisons?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dARguK4kW0
It sounds a lot like John Barry. Listen more and you'll hear more that might remind you of Barry. But something very similar to the first four bars in particular can be heard in Moonraker. Listen to "Cable Car And Snake Fight" at 2:42:
https://youtu.be/tbSKFMkvEr8?t=161
Barry clearly was a fan of this opera. And it's a fantastic opera.
Barry also used this motif in his 1980 score for Night Games and developed it more. Listen to "Descent Into Decadance" at 1:12:
https://youtu.be/G29cRsXpTLM?t=72
Does anyone know if Barry used it anywhere else? Or does anyone have any other Barry/opera comparisons?
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Comments
As to JB using that motif (or similar) in other pieces, have a listen to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGfa8Ybsou0 "Pyramid Of Cheops" from "Ruby Cairo". I'll have to have a listen to "Out Of Africa" again, I think it turns up there as well though I can't remember in which track.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tony+banks+five&&view=detail&mid=949E9A93DD4944AD5174949E9A93DD4944AD5174&&FORM=VRDGAR
sounds pretty like the opening of "Wine With Stacey" from AVTAK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfKcX0HzuLE
Same with the FYEO , „Take me home“ matches the tone beautifully.
It‘s definitely Barry-worthy {[]
BTT: Barry does these orchestral overtures always well, such as with YOLT title song which is in the same tune as the above mentioned pieces.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
It's great to hear the influence Barry has had on others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2v9bVhktro&list=PL3FFqLw4A9gMUtW8cdt5jRu5-VHk0vcIu&index=2
The flamenco version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pn7SHfjv6Q&list=PL3FFqLw4A9gMUtW8cdt5jRu5-VHk0vcIu
And thanks, Higgins.
Thanks! I just listened to the entire soundtrack, and it's a beauty! There are a few really special moments in there, which I don't usually expect from his 1990s works. I keep going back to "Pyramid Of Cheops". The chord that comes in at 21 seconds is not what I usually expect from Barry, at least at that point in his career, and it's genius. The way it progresses from something sad, to something mysterious, then resolves to something wondrous! It's a true chord progression that progresses somewhere and tells a story. I don't know what's going on in the film, but I can certainly picture something.
I agree that it is amongst his latter day best. But his best works were all from the late 1960s through the early 1980s. As great as Out of Africa and Dances with Wolves are, they don’t do anything Barry hadn’t done before.
John Barry "Americans" https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=john+barry+americans&view=detail&mid=C35B05D705FFC2715916C35B05D705FFC2715916&FORM=VIRE
I haven't heard that album, but I know some of the tunes on it. I'm listening to it now. Thank you!
Start listening here at 5:05: https://youtu.be/bHRdmXX5hNw?t=305
At 5:15 this motif develops into "Goldfinger". At 5:19 you heard the same notes and same chords as "Goldfinger".
Perhaps Barry took those three notes and two chords and developed Goldfinger from there. Overall, this frightening opera would be better compared to a Bernard Herrmann score than a Barry score, but every time I heard this opera I want to sing "Goldfinger" along to this part.
I'd like to hear your thoughts.
I've read somewhere (if memory serves, it was the sleeve notes of "John Barry Revisited" a vinyl album about 50 years ago) that JB liked Bartok but once again my apathy for opera means that I would never have come across this. Thanks Matt.
You're welcome! I and everyone else knows where John Williams got his classical inspiration, but I feel like there's not enough about John Barry's influences out there. When I hear these passages that sound like Barry's music, I appreciate Barry's music even more.
I want to properly thank you for turning me onto Tony Banks' music. I've listened to his orchestral albums now and really love them, and not just for the similarities to Barry. It also gives me a new appreciation for Genesis. They made brilliant music!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ZNU_As_H8
I've just listened to the entire symphony and loved it!
I've not heard Ruby Cairo before either- thank you. Somehow had completely missed that one, and it's on Spotify.
Giving this thread a bump as it's very interesting and others might like to read.
You're welcome, @emtiem . 🙂