A "Piazza" Observation...- Page 2

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 12:05am

The most stereotypically hummable tunes are hummable because they are simple and repeated a whole lot of times. Look at something like "Music of the Night" or "Into the Fire." They just drill that hook into your head like a pop song. Guettel isn't about to do this; his melodies are both more complex and don't repeat as often. But with a few listens, or with an ear accustomed to this kind of music, it's just as hummable, and I find it much more beautiful. The orchestration is absolutely stunning as well. It's so detailed. I just noticed those little con legno violin bits in Aiutami yesterday. Perfect.

I work in my college library, and while shelving books in the Art History section recently I was caught singing along to Piazza from my iPod. It was a prospective student- I hope I didn't scare her off (at least I wasn't bellowing "Love! Love!" yet). An econ professor caught me dancing with my yardstick (I was measuring stuff) to Wonderful Town in Peridocals as well.

[Jimmyojimmy]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 12:06am

I have to disagree, there are def melodies, I am completely addicted. I havent seen it live... yet. But I can understand, I still get annoyed with some songs, but, I do like the musical as a whole. But I totally agree, Sondheim beats Adam Guetell to death with a blunt object in terms of writing ability, but I dont know, I like Piazza.

[GiantsintheSky]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 2:12am

That note in Il Mondo IS amazing. I can't stop listening to the score.
Victoria Clark is incredible. How come I never saw her in anytihng before? Is she famous and I just didn't know it?

[Jimmyojimmy]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 2:18am

http://ibdb.com/person.asp?id=71299
shes actually been performing professionally for the better part of 20 years. she was featured in my town's newspaper, her family lives here.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 10:53am

I thought Vicki's Smitty in the How to Succeed revival was just perfect: dry, droll, and vocally sumptuous. And she was great in Titanic too. She's a real veteran who finally got a role worthy of her talents.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 12:01pm

I wish I'd been more up on her career in the past - the only thing I'd seen her in was the film of The Cradle will Rock - I recognized her right away in the ensemble and wondered how I knew her - so I must have seen her in something else in the past...now I'm a huge fan. Her portrayal of Margaret is just out of this world. Amazing.

[keggss23]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 12:32pm

I know I am going to get absolutely flamed for this but, I was listening to Piazza today (I am obsessed with this show) and I was thinking that Josh Groban would be an amazing Fabrizio. What do you think?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 12:49pm

Personally, from having seen his concerts on PBS - he can't act his way out of a paper bag. He never truly connects with a lyric. His voice is amazing but he leaves me cold, because he doesn't seem to have the least idea what he's singing about - only intent on producing pretty sounds. Thats not enough for me.
Now if he could act - sure he'd be a good Fabrizio

[keggss23]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 1:01pm

I think he could act the part if he gained more experience. He does have a diconnected quality when he sings, so I totally see what you are saying. Vocally though, just imagining him singing Fabrizio's part gives me chills.

[chess12]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 1:27pm

RedHot, you're right on the money about "The Beauty Is"
And I can't get "I can see the winter in your eyes now, telling me" out of my head. I've always been a sucker for scales, up and down.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 2:09pm

while i love and adore most of the score there are times when a score becomes SO intense and so complicated that it stops having any recognizable meter. This happened i think once during a listening of Piazza, so basiclly the reviewers are idiots though i think that what they are saying is justifiable, but you can say that about almost every show

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 12:50am

I saw Victoria Clark in Urinetown. She was terrific. Now I want to watch Cradle Will Rock again so I can pick her out. It was a fun, interesting movie, except for totally messing up Orson Welles. I loved the ghost of Brecht.

Updated On: 6/25/05 at 12:50 AM

[zoran912]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 1:06am

I must see that movie now!

Anyway...I agree with l'assertion de Thenardier. Critics are idiots, for the most part anyway.

It is truly sad to think that this show will alienate most listeners. I hate to be snobby, but it really does take a trained ear to truly appreciate this music. I'm going to see this with my Aunt in August. I'm forcing her to listen to the recording beforehand so she will not be confused or, as I put it earlier, alienated. I think the biggest problem is just laziness. Most of the public doesn't want to put forth any effort for their entertainment. I believe that the entertainment is far richer when the viewer/listener has put forth some effort into their enjoyment.

Posted: 6/25/05 at 1:14am

In regards to the orchestra, in an atricle Geuttel said that he added the larger orchestra days before the opening, and that it cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, but that it was worth it.

[milkengh]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 2:17am

When I first heard the recording, all I could think was how much Matt sounded like Josh Groban...they both have amazing voices, however, Matt is a truly amazing actor and you can hear his inflection and feeling coming across on the recording, even. Plus, who doesn't want to see a fine piece of loveliness like Matt take his shirt EVERY NIGHT!?!?!?!

[zoran912]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 3:23am

I'd rather hear Matt. I'd rather look at Matt. Matt > Josh.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 8:10am

I must agree with Zoran - Laziness (and bad parenting) two of the biggest problems with the world today and it directly affects theatre and it's possibility to live and grow. That's why I'm such a huge proponant of The Light in The Piazza - you DO have to think (not unlike when first exposed to most of Sondheim's music) and people just don't want to have to think anymore - so they go to the theatre to see fluff like Mamma Mia and other Jukebox musicals, because they already know the tunes and don't have to decipher the possible deeper meanings of the lyrics to those songs - but with people like Guettel and Sondheim - you have to do the work. It seems to me like you/we as audience members, actually become sort of a collaborator with the writer - thinking and absorbing the lyrics and intentions - its a wonderful way to dive into and enjoy a beautiful and complex piece of theatre - which is why I love Piazza so much. I find something new to love about it each time I listen to the recording...always hearing new things in the arrangements, hearing the lyrics differently from day to day and loving the undercurrents of thought and feeling.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 10:45am

I completely agree with redhot. What I love about “Piazza” is that it makes me work, in a sense, to fully absorb and appreciate the score. It is mentally and audibly stimulating, which I’d take over a pop anthem or “shove it in your face” melody any day. I’ve only listened to a very small portion of my recording (restraining myself before I see it next week!) and I’m remembering a TON of it. Thinking about what I’ve absorbed just from these few songs and then thinking about what it will be like seeing and hearing “Piazza” as a whole is just amazing.

Statues and Stories
Right from “On a central square…” you’re drawn in. The sequence from “In Firenze…” to the BEAUTIFUL “The spark, the world/The painting of the world” is amazing. I love the electric build from the latter “You can follow/You can feel it” to “We’re on vacation.” It’s just a beautiful opening.

Passeggiata
I’ve only heard this once, but the first verse of “Come with me/Walk with me…” is just so fun. Specifically, the notes on “You and I” have been stuck in my head, and since I don’t know the lyrics by heart yet, I’ve been singing “dum dum dum….You and I!” all around my house.

Dividing Day
Despite multiple listenings, I really need to set this to repeat to fully absorb it. It’s very simplistic and reflective. The part I do remember is Victoria’s wonderful “I can see the winter in your eyes now…” sequence.

Say it Somehow
This is my favorite song from what I’ve heard so far. The melody is rich and beautiful, and the lyrics are simple but amazingly effective. The part I most remember about this song is the section without lyrics, when Clara and Fabrizio break off into the “Ah…” It’s AMAZING!!! I’ve probably memorized the melody progression there, and I absolutely adore the accompaniment.