who played the music?

[boxerking]

Who was the piano player in the film Dangerous Moonlight? The music and playing was so good that I reckon it must have been a famous- or soon to be famous- pianist

[julian_craster]

I think the soloist was Harriet Cohen.....

The original 78rpm from the 1940s film was issued on a BRITISH FILM MUSIC CD (3 volumes on the Pearl Label, available individually). Should be on Amazon UK ......

[Steve Crook]

The IMDb entry for Dangerous Moonlight (1941) says:
Louis Kentner ... musician: piano double for Anton Walbrook (uncredited)

and under the Soundtrack section they say
"Warsaw Concerto"
(1941)
Written by Richard Addinsell
Played during the opening credits and often as background music
Played on piano by Anton Walbrook (dubbed by Louis Kentner) often
Hummed by Sally Gray

Steve

[john audley]

To avoid another thread, there was a nice little detective story starring Ian Hendry with Jeremy Brett made in the early 1960s called
Girl in the Headlines and during one scene a famous piece of classical music was played called Castadiva and sung beautifully BUT BY WHOM?

[julian_craster]

Thanks, Steve. The CD I mentioned confirms Louis Kentner. See :

Amazon.co.uk: British Film Music Vol.2: Sir Arthur Bliss,Ralph Vaughan Williams,Sir Arnold Bax,Richard Addinsell,Guy Warrack,Clifton Parker,Hubert Bath,Muir Mathieson,BBC Northern Orchestra,BBC Symphony Orchestra,Louis Kentner,Harriet Cohen: Music


I confused this with CORNISH RHAPSODY, which was played by Harriet Cohen.....

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by john audley To avoid another thread, there was a nice little detective story starring Ian Hendry with Jeremy Brett made in the early 1960s called Girl in the Headlines and during one scene a famous piece of classical music was played called Castadiva and sung beautifully BUT BY WHOM?

A quick Google finds a book on Amazon with reviews from the Monthly Film Bulletin (UK trade magazine) and similar. The page there shows that Casta Diva was sung by Elizabeth Vaughan

Is this the song?

(sung here by Maria Callas)

Steve

[john audley]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook A quick Google finds a book on Amazon with reviews from the Monthly Film Bulletin (UK trade magazine) and similar. The page there shows that Casta Diva was sung by Elizabeth Vaughan Steve

Thanks Steve, this has bothered me for a long time. What a great voice. She didn't receive a credit.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by john audley Thanks Steve, this has bothered me for a long time. What a great voice. She didn't receive a credit.

I'm just trying to add one. I presume it was Elizabeth Vaughan the Mezzo-soprano
Can you confirm it's the song Maria Callas is singing in the clip above?
If so, it's the aria from Bellini's opera Norma

Steve

[john audley]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook I'm just trying to add one. I presume it was Elizabeth Vaughan the Mezzo-soprano Can you confirm it's the song Maria Callas is singing in the clip above? If so, it's the aria from Bellini's opera Norma Steve

Sorry Steve I must hitch up the speakers but no-doubt it will be the same song for Callas recorded it. Ms. Vaughan sing it better!

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by john audley Sorry Steve I must hitch up the speakers but no-doubt it will be the same song for Callas recorded it. Ms. Vaughan sing it better!

I've submitted it to the IMDb so that should correct that omission

Steve