I agree wholeheartedly that Carousel is one of the very best musicals, and I imagine there have been many excellent productions and performances. Despite this, or rather, because of this, I object to this BaL.
There are now so few programmes on Radio 3 that treat classical music seriously. BaL is one of these few precious programmes, and there is so much music that can be introduced to Radio3 listeners. Also, a CD of a musical is like a Baroque opera without recitative or The Fairy Queen without spoken parts. Does the CD of a musical hold serious interest as a coherent work to those who have not seen it?
Well known musicals do not need BaL (it can be nice but hardly essential) whereas so much classical music does.
gradus #29
Rinaldo or Parsifal are great operas but they wouldn’t be considered as great musicals. It isn’t the greatness of the work in its own field but the kind of music that is the question here.
There are now so few programmes on Radio 3 that treat classical music seriously. BaL is one of these few precious programmes, and there is so much music that can be introduced to Radio3 listeners. Also, a CD of a musical is like a Baroque opera without recitative or The Fairy Queen without spoken parts. Does the CD of a musical hold serious interest as a coherent work to those who have not seen it?
Well known musicals do not need BaL (it can be nice but hardly essential) whereas so much classical music does.
gradus #29
Rinaldo or Parsifal are great operas but they wouldn’t be considered as great musicals. It isn’t the greatness of the work in its own field but the kind of music that is the question here.
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