BaL 30.01.16 - Kern: Showboat

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I noticed that Paul Robeson sang Ol' Man River in B flat. It's in C major in the vocal score and I have a sheet music copy in E flat - very high at the end. Whatever key it's sung in, it's never going to be easy, with a huge vocal range.

[Barbirollians]

There were copies of the McGlinn about on Amazon . It is a great show . If they made a cast recording of the recent Sheffield Crucible show I would buy it - it deserved the five stars it got from much of that national press.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There were copies of the McGlinn about on Amazon . It is a great show . If they made a cast recording of the recent Sheffuekd Crucible show I would buy it - it deserved the five stars it got from much of that national press.

I feel incredibly smug. I bought the McGlinn box a couple of years ago.

After an interesting BaL, the preferred choice (1993 revival) isn't available, and the McGlinn is only available as a download. Not a very satisfactory conclusion.

However:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jerome-Kern-Oscar-Hammerstein-Sinfonietta/dp/B01ABBXXVA/ref=sr_1_60?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1454199472&sr=1-60&keywords=showboat

[Barbirollians]

Fortunately there is :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kern-Show-Boat-London-Sinfonietta/dp/B000GH2WOE/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1454236818&sr=1-2&keywords=kern+mcglinn

[peterkin]

Was there a DVD recommendation?

There is a San Francisco Opera production on DVD. A video trailer on Presto site gives a taste.

[Barbirollians]

I took delivery of the McGlinn today . So far one CD in - some very lovely singing but some pretty stilted dialogue and acting . At the risk of sounding like a stuck record - the lack of the atmosphere that was so palpable in the Crucible Theatre production lets it down .

[makropulos]

I took delivery of the McGlinn today . So far one CD in - some very lovely singing but some pretty stilted dialogue and acting . At the risk of sounding like a stuck record - the lack of the atmosphere that was so palpable in the Crucible Theatre production lets it down .

I wish I'd seen that Crucible production. I agree with you entirely about the McGlinn recording: I've always found it worthy and no more than that. Very useful for completeness and such, but not remotely theatrical - to me it feels a bit more like a sort of historical reconstruction.

And now I really must listen to Seckerson's broadcast!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I wish I'd seen that Crucible production. I agree with you entirely about the McGlinn recording: I've always found it worthy and no more than that. Very useful for completeness and such, but not remotely theatrical - to me it feels a bit more like a sort of historical reconstruction.

Well I love it to bits.
Ditto the John Owen Edwards.

[ardcarp]

And now I really must listen to Seckerson's broadcast!

...er, and Andrew's.....

[Barbirollians]

I wish I'd seen that Crucible production. I agree with you entirely about the McGlinn recording: I've always found it worthy and no more than that. Very useful for completeness and such, but not remotely theatrical - to me it feels a bit more like a sort of historical reconstruction.

And now I really must listen to Seckerson's broadcast!

Exactly - it sounds very studio bound.

[Barbirollians]

The Crucible Theatre production is transferring to London fromApril I think - do not miss if you can get there knocks the BAL winner for atmosphere and drama into a cocked hat . Excellent singing too and many of the principals are transferring with it .