'Brief Encounter': Rachmaninoff and Doomed Romance

By Nathan Cone

This week, the Criterion Collection released a marvelous set of David Lean films based on the work of Noël Coward. Of those films (and many others), “Brief Encounter” has always been and remains a favorite of mine.  It’s also the movie that rescued Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 for me from the realm of figure skating Olympians, and put it in what I feel is its proper place, as the soundtrack to a doomed romance!

Lean uses the first two movements of the concerto throughout the film. The ponderous chords and agitated, rippling melody of the concerto’s first movement accompanies the opening title cards, setting up a mood of angst and sorrow. It reappears in the film as Laura (Celia Johnson) runs away from the apartment where she almost consummates an affair with Alec (Trevor Howard).

The second movement often plays on screen over extended shots of Laura as she silently remembers the almost love affair she had with Alec. The camera holds on Celia Johnson for what seems like an eternity as she stares, mournfully, into the silent abyss of her husband toiling over his crossword puzzle.

“Brief Encounter” was released in 1945, and to say it is from a different time is an understatement. Nowadays, Alec and Laura would have been in bed together by the time the first reel was over, but a more chaste time demanded propriety on film, and I think the film plays all the better in 2012 because of it. Some at the time complained that the lovers never received their comeuppance at the hands of their spouses, but I think the use of the Rachmaninoff illustrates well that Alec and Laura are hurting inside.

Rachmaninoff himself was emerging from a deep depression as he wrote his second piano concerto. Its first complete performance was in 1901, with the composer himself at the piano. If the Concerto in c minor established Rachmaninoff’s reputation as a master at writing for piano and orchestra, David Lean cemented the concerto’s reputation as a Romantic favorite.

CD Review: "Brief Encounter"

Brief Encounter

By Nathan Cone

Opera can be many things, but quiet and subtle are not usually among them. André Previn’s operatic adaptation of the David Lean film “Brief Encounter” premiered last year on stage with the Houston Grand Opera, and that performance has now been released on compact disc. What works on stage doesn’t always translate to the aural-exclusive world of home listening, so does “Brief Encounter” hold up?

The work follows the plot of the film (and Noel Coward’s play, “Still Life”) closely. Middle-aged Laura falls for handsome doctor Alec upon a chance encounter at the railway station where the two cross paths every Thursday. For weeks, they carry on a fledgling romance until fate steals them apart. Like the film, the opera is set as one long flashback, occasionally stepping into the sitting room where Laura spends time with her husband, Fred. I liked the way librettist John Caird expanded the role of Fred. In the film, he spends most of his time pecking away at a crossword puzzle, but in the opera, he’s a more well-rounded character with feelings. His aria where he wonders aloud why his wife has been so distant from him (“Without you there is nothing”) is one of the emotional highlights of Previn’s “Brief Encounter.”

In fact, most of the solo and duet scenes are well-written, especially the final moments of the work. But inevitably, comparisons between the film and the opera lead me to prefer the former. No, not because I missed the Rachmaninoff! But one of the things film has over recorded opera is that it’s more effective at conveying intimacy. Perhaps subtle lighting on stage could have helped out, but alas I was not in the audience. The Lean film was great at framing its characters in close-ups, and when Alec and Laura finally part, the “goodbyes” are quiet. But here, they are … well, less quiet. And as more characters appear on stage, Previn’s tendency is to have their vocal lines jump up and down the staff. I guess based on the story, I hoped for more flowing lines than I heard here.

There’s a constant motif of time woven throughout the narrative and music, whether it’s the train station schedule, or time running out on the doomed lovers. A peek at the cover of the CD reveals some of the opera’s staging, as Laura is framed by a giant clock. It’s an effective musical and dramatic tool. I think I’d rather enjoy taking the time to see “Brief Encounter” in person to get the full effect of the work. Perhaps then I’d appreciate the opera on disc even more.

--Nathan Cone

SLL on LL

This month, Lang Lang joins the San Antonio Symphony for Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto. Music Director Sebastian Lang Lessing discusses meeting Lang Lang years ago:


There's more information, including tickets for the San Antonio Symphony and Lang Lang here: http://www.sasymphony.org/

Always room for cello

A few more clips from the fabulous Wendy Warner, live in San Antonio with duo partner Irina Nuzova.

Classical Spotlight Warner Nuzova Rachmaninoff from John Clare on Vimeo.


Classical Spotlight: Warner Nuzova Miaskovsky from John Clare on Vimeo.

Old Music with New Interpreters...

It happens in Classical Music that one can find themselves going on about immortal performances; the ones we know inside and out. But there are new recordings coming out everyday and with them exciting and new perspectives on old favorites. On the Piano this Sunday three young pianists with bright futures ahead of them. We'll hear Alexander Romanovsky play Rachmaninoff's Corelli Variations, after that the thirty year old Vassily Primakov explores the dark and restless Kreisleriana of Schumann. To cap off the program Ivan Ilic plays an explosive prelude of Claude Debussy.

The Piano this Sunday afternoon at 5 on KPAC and KTXI.

host, Randy Anderson

Remember to play your best!

On the Piano this Sunday, more from the semi-finals of the San Antonio International Piano Competition. Contestants perform two big and difficult sonatas of Rachmaninoff and Samuel Barber; there are some evocative Preludes of Claude Debussy and to round out the hour the last Ballade of Frederic Chopin.

The Piano, this Sunday afternoon at 5 on KPAC and KTXI.

host, Randy Anderson

PT: Five Browns

Check out Performance Today today (November 11th) who feature KPAS' presentation of the Five Browns last May in Kerrvile! And we thought you might enjoy this Rimsky-Korsakov they played as well:

Old Favorites with new Faces

It happens in Classical Music that one can find themselves going on about immortal performances; the ones we know inside and out. But there are new recordings coming out everyday and with them exciting and new perspectives on old favorites. On the Piano this Sunday three young pianists with bright futures ahead of them. We will hear Alexander Romanovsky play Rachmaninoff's Corelli Variations, then the thirty year old Vassily Primakov explores the dark and restless Kreisleriana of Schumann. To cap off the program Ivan Ilic plays an explosive prelude of Claude Debussy.

The Piano this Sunday afternoon at 5 on KPAC and KTXI.

host, Randy Anderson