BaL 18.11.17 - Rodgers: Oklahoma

[Conchis]

If you can have a BAL on Carmen or Die Lustige Witwe , you can have a BAL on Oklahoma, Carousel, Pal Joey, etc, etc. There is no reason why these wonderful works shoudn't be treated with the respect afforded to 'proper' operas/music dramas.

But i think I'd be a bit concerned if there as a BAL on Phantom of the Opera, say (not likely to happen, though - who knows? - there may be one on Jesus Christ Superstar at some point in the near(ish) future).

[cloughie]

If you can have a BAL on Carmen or Die Lustige Witwe , you can have a BAL on Oklahoma, Carousel, Pal Joey, etc, etc. There is no reason why these wonderful works shoudn't be treated with the respect afforded to 'proper' operas/music dramas.

But i think I'd be a bit concerned if there as a BAL on Phantom of the Opera, say (not likely to happen, though - who knows? - there may be one on Jesus Christ Superstar at some point in the near(ish) future).

Shame on you Conchis - you're showing a bit of personal bias there. You're in danger of upsetting Baron Lloyd-Webber!

[cloughie]

Plus G & S of of course.

#4!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

#4!

Ah, yes. Missed that one.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Interesting that Alps chose to put Rogers as the composer ignoring Hammerstein, if it had been eg The Mikado would Gilbert's name have been omitted?

My consistency is absolute.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?17103-BaL-27-05-17-Sullivan-The-Mikado

[Richard Tarleton]

Watching the film on telly not long ago, it occurred to me that the dream ballet scene does go on a bit......

[cloughie]

My consistency is absolute.
http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...van-The-Mikado

[Dave2002]

I haven't got any problem with musicals featuring on R3 or BaL but why is it always the case that there are so few available recordings with elderly film soundtracks appearing to remain the best option? This is surely an odd situation with works which are 'ever popular' and stuffed with good tunes.

Is there an untapped market out there?

You might notice that Grange Park Opera is putting on Oklahoma next year.
I expect it will be a sell out.

https://grangeparkopera.co.uk/whats-on/

[doversoul1]

You might notice that Grange Park Opera is putting on Oklahoma next year.
I expect it will be a sell out.

https://grangeparkopera.co.uk/whats-on/

But is it going to be released on CD? Re. Petrushka's post #14.

[Dave2002]

But is it going to be released on CD? Re. Petrushka's post #14.

I rather doubt that, unless someone gets on the case PDQ. My comment was intended to show the potential - though whether those who go to the live performance(s) represent a significant part of an "untapped market" I can't be sure.

Wasfi might be approachable re recordings, though I expect that there would be too much to do to gain permission from all the performers.

[french frank]

My comment was intended to show the potential - though whether those who go to the live performance(s) represent a significant part of an "untapped market" I can't be sure.

I've always thought that opera companies putting musicals into their repertoire was just their way of ensuring at least one sell-out performance in their season. This isn't to denigrate musicals as a genre, but given the number of operas which are little known/rarely performed, the choice of musical can hardly argue that it's the *greatest* work that a company has never programmed. Or the most interesting.

My neighbours booked for WNO's Kiss Me Kate last year because it was well-advertised, and I wonder how many of the audience thought of it as 'going to the opera' or were regular opera-goers? On the other hand, I was just looking through this season's brochure for the Bristol Hippo: the majority are 'music shows' but the nearest thing to a 'classic musical' was ALW's Sunset Boulevard. So not much chance of seeing R & H musicals, probably.

[pastoralguy]

During my undistinguished career as a violinist, the performances I enjoyed the most were playing in the 'pit'. Operas, musicals, reviews and ballets. What I loved the most was seeing an audience for a musical who had never consciously seen live music making before and were amazed that there were actual PEOPLE playing as opposed to a sound coming out of a loud speaker.

These musicals are powerful works and deserve their place in the pantheon of great music. Often, I would play in orchestras led by the wonderful Miles Baster, a top class professional violinist who was long term leader of the Edinburgh Quartet. A pupil of Louis Persinger, (Yehudi Menuhin's teacher), he could often be found playing shows for the various amateur companies that thrive here in Edinburgh. (My goodness, you played at the top of your game when Miles was leading!)

I once asked him why he was prepared to spend do much time playing for amateurs and I'll never forget him saying 'Its such wonderful music'. This from a player who spent his professional life playing the greatest music created by man.

[pastoralguy]

Bump!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've just tuned in to discover the winner. Not what I expected, but I do admire these John Owen Edwards versions of musicals.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I think it's acceptable to BAL musicals of this quality but I thought the admirable John Wilson's prom performance showed very well why it is necessary to cut and re-shape the piece for performance. Preferred version? Its the film soundtrack every time for me.

My word Gordon Macrae's singing of SWTFOT was unbelievably beautiful . To produce that sound amongst all the razzmatazz and pressure of a big budget movie - that is talent . With performances of this quality the boundaries between the popular and high art become meaningless really .