Prom 57: John Wilson conducts Bernstein's On the Town – 25.08.18

[BBMmk2]

Lovely evening, apart from KD and that guest of hers, who could hardly string a sentence together.

[Paulie55]

Overdone and Overcooked

I'm sorry to say I disagree with all the posts praising this production but I acknowledge this is a personal view. "Stagey" is the word I would use, literally, appalling accents and shouted-out dialogue, pointless narration, embarrassing stage movements........I could go on. The orchestra played very well but the whole thing just does not work semi-staged. Even though the movie leaves out many of the songs and changes the action somewhat, give me that every time. Sorry but it was a travesty. Time to give semi-staged musicals the boot, especially for the Proms. [Now I await the backlash from people telling me I don't know what i'm talking about!]

19:30
ON TV
Royal Albert Hall

Leonard Bernstein: On the Town

Nathaniel Hackmann Gabey
Louise Dearman Hildy
London Symphony Orchestra orchestra
John Wilson conductor
Martin Duncan Stage Director


Launching a Bernstein bank-holiday weekend on what would have been the composer’s 100th birthday, John Wilson conducts Bernstein’s hit Broadway musical On The Town, which follows the adventures of three sailors on shore leave in 1944.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I wouldn't disagree - though I though the singers last night had a better grasp of the Broadway idiom than in the recent West Side Story ( Maria and Tony excepted ). Thing is both OTT and WSS have such a crucial dance element to leave it out is a nonsense . You can get away with it in some Rodgers and Hammerstein ( though last year's Oklahoma had some magnificent dancing in it ) but not in these works. On a positive note the lack of dance does throw the spotlight on Bernstein's wonderful dance music - he must be amongst the very greatest dance composers of the 20th century . As for the great , innovative mega-talent that was Jerome Robbins - he must be pirouetting in his grave ...

[Nevilevelis]

I'm sorry to say I disagree with all the posts praising this production but I acknowledge this is a personal view. "Stagey" is the word I would use, literally, appalling accents and shouted-out dialogue, pointless narration, embarrassing stage movements........I could go on. The orchestra played very well but the whole thing just does not work semi-staged. Even though the movie leaves out many of the songs and changes the action somewhat, give me that every time. Sorry but it was a travesty. Time to give semi-staged musicals the boot, especially for the Proms. [Now I await the backlash from people telling me I don't know what i'm talking about!]

I have no idea whether or not you know what you're talking about (the joy of this forum!), but if you're expressing an opinion... that's allowed, isn't it? Yes.

FWIW (most here couldn't care less what I think), I diasagree and I think you're overtsating it a little. Feedback from officionados in the hall last night was that it was generally a success and came accross well. À chacun son son goût!

According to the programme notes, only four nos. (do they mean songs?) made into the film. Time for a new film? Perhaps you could direct it?!

Cheers!

NVV

[Ein Heldenleben]

The film would have been even better if they'd let the hugely talented cast sing numbers like Lonely Town, Some Other Time , and Lucky To Be Me. Instead they substituted run of the mill Tin Pan Alley stuff like You're Awful. No wonder Bernstein would have nothing to do with it. Who would you remake it with ? Does anyone fancy stepping into Gene Kelly's shoes ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

According to the programme notes, only four nos. (do they mean songs?) made into the film. Time for a new film? Perhaps you could direct it?!

Not necessarily - a "number" in a Broadway Musical can be a (solo) song, or an ensemble or chorus, or a Dance number, or an instrumental movement. WIKI gives a good account of which Numbers featured on Broadway, and which in the film.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Town_(musical)#Musical_numbers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Town_(film)#Musical_numbers

[jonfan]

I thought the LSO had a ball and its work brought the Show alive; such a contrast to the stiff-jointed ensemble recruited for West Side Story earlier in the Season

A fantastic evening in the hall with everyone on top form. A pity Bernstein didn't concentrate more on composing rather than spending his time conducting. There were some rather unsavoury moments in his dealings with people in the documentary that followed on BBC Four.

[BBMmk2]

The LSO certainly was having a ball! They really looked liked they were having fun! Great to see!

[gurnemanz]

Having tuned in to the TV broadcast and not necessarily expecting to stick with it, I found myself hooked by infectiously enthusiastic, well-prepared and committed performances.

[bluestateprommer]

The film would have been even better if they'd let the hugely talented cast sing numbers like Lonely Town, Some Other Time , and Lucky To Be Me. Instead they substituted run of the mill Tin Pan Alley stuff like You're Awful. No wonder Bernstein would have nothing to do with it. Who would you remake it with ? Does anyone fancy stepping into Gene Kelly's shoes ?

Based on his hoofing in Hail, Caesar!, I can imagine Channing Tatum stepping into GK's shoes, if a film or TV remake were ever to occur. But I'm not holding my breath on that one. Plus, Bernstein got $5K for permission by MGM to tweak the musical selections, and remember that this was $5K in 1949.

As this is another of the upcoming holiday selection of Proms repeats, hence the thread bump. It is unfortunate to give 2 slots to John Wilson merely because of popularity / perceived popularity, essentially shutting out other and arguably more worthy choices. Of the two LB/JW Proms, I would have chosen On the Town easily over WSS, as the former was by the superior of the two. Plus, for Christmas night, R3 missed a clever trick because they had the BBC SO Prom with Act I of The Nutcracker on call .