Aspects of Love — Page 2

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#26

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 6:01am

I agree with most of you - I adore the score, but the book is weak.
But to be fair, the David Garnett novel is hardly an amazing source in the first place and I feel that the musical actually improved upon it.

For me the downfall of the show is that none of the characters are all that likable despite great performances by the actors.

That being said, I still adore the music and it's definitely Andrews most underappreciated score.

As for "The Definitive" version - I haven't seen a production using it, but I have the libretto somewhere and as far as I recall it's a mix of various rewrites and the original.

Here's a lovely video I only recently found: Michael Ball and Diana Morrison (OLC Alex and Jenny) performing "First Man You Remember":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL5LdlbC5GA

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 06:01 AM

#27

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 6:37am

Here's the full press reels footage from the Broadway production, which also include clips of "Other Pleasures" and "Hand Me the Wine and the Dice" (both missing from the video that Jo posted earlier):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1ZcvRWEIAY

#28

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 8:47am

chernjam said: "jo said: "That seemed like the production I saw here in Manila.

I found this upload of a clip of THE MERMAID SONG --"

Now I'm going to be humming that all night :)"

"Mermaid Song" is my favorite number from this show. It's a very unique composition, so moody and ethereal.

==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 08:47 AM

#29

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:02am

I really couldn't get past some of that incidental music, there are some great melodies but some of that incidental music just hits my ears like rocks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre

#30

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:18am

The 'Forbidden Broadway' song "I sleep with everyone" is one of my favorite of FB's many brilliant satires.

You think, what do you want? You think, make a decision...

#31

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:33am

06s091 said: "...
As for "The Definitive" version - I haven't seen a production using it, but I have the libretto somewhere and as far as I recall it's a mix of various rewrites and the original.
"

Yeah I wonder if when they actually performed it if ALW was unsatisfied with it, since there was little to nothing discussed about that after that one production. I'm curious what ALW kept/discarded. You can tell that he was still restless with this as he keeps making changes to the score (I think on broadway, Rose and Alex had a nice reprise of There is More to Love replacing one of their other sung dialogue pieces)

#32

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 1:18pm

chernjam said: "Yeah I wonder if when they actually performed it if ALW was unsatisfied with it, since there was little to nothing discussed about that after that one production. I'm curious what ALW kept/discarded. You can tell that he was still restless with this as he keeps making changes to the score (I think on broadway, Rose and Alex had a nice reprise of There is More to Love replacing one of their other sung dialogue pieces)"

I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's been performed a few times, but possibly by amateur productions. An acquaintance of mine played the older Jenny a few years ago (hence why I have a copy of the libretto).

TBH I haven't had time to go through it all to find all the differences, but I'm sure there are quite a few. Even back in the Trevor Nunn productions things changes quite a bit. The final conversation between Alex and Jenny is a prime example as is the final scene at the trainstation.
I also recall the Alex/George duet of "She'd be Far Better off with You" changing for the Broadway production where is suddenly included both Rose and Elizabeth (the housekeeper).

And if you go way back to the first demo recording or the Sydmonton production you won't even find that infamous high Bb-flat at the end of each act - that was something Michael Ball added sometimes between Sydmonton and the West End production.

#33

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 1:31pm

I've discussed this with chernjam a bit, but in the early 2000s a director who knew how much I loved the show sent me a copy of the piano/vocal score. In addition to some small changes that have been discussed, there's a short scene with Rose and Marcel at a train station after she's left Alex at Pau. This is not on the recording at all and I don't think it was in the Broadway production either, but it was in the version I saw at Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia. Here are the lyrics:

[The music for the first part is related to "Falling"]

ROSE: Was I wrong, Marcel, to lie to him?

MARCEL: We did the right thing Rose, you know that.

ROSE: I'm so ashamed, Marcel. But what else could I do?

MARCEL: Nothing. You were from two different worlds. You know that he will learn that.

[Now a different melody that fans will be able to easily imagine...]

ROSE: I must seem a heartless woman, I must seem a thoughtless creature!

MARCEL: Of course you're not a heartless woman. No one has more heart than you do. Heart is what makes you Rose Vibert.

[Finally, the "Chanson d'enfance" melody]

ROSE: Why does my head say be strong, be wise, walk away, dry your eyes? Why does my heart say you told a lie? He will haunt you, Rose, until the day you...

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 01:31 PM

#34

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 1:38pm

I thought that some of the music was beautiful, but what an awful experience sitting through it. One character was sillier than the last, one relationship was more annoying than the last. Just awful. Awful. AWFUL!!!

#35

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 1:54pm

kdogg36 said: "I've discussed this with chernjam a bit, but in the early 2000s a director who knew how much I loved the show sent me a copy of the piano/vocal score. In addition to some small changes that have been discussed, there's a short scene with Rose and Marcel at a train station after she's left Alex at Pau. This is not on the recording at all and I don't think it was in the Broadway production either, but it was in the version I saw at Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia. Here are the lyrics:

[The music for the first part is related to "Falling"]

ROSE: Was I wrong, Marcel, to lie to him?

MARCEL: We did the right thing Rose, you know that.

ROSE: I'm so ashamed, Marcel. But what else could I do?

MARCEL: Nothing. You were from two different worlds. You know that he will learn that.

[Now a different melody that fans will be able to easily imagine...]

ROSE: I must seem a heartless woman, I must seem a thoughtless creature!

MARCEL: Of course you're not a heartless woman. No one has more heart than you do. Heart is what makes you Rose Vibert.

[Finally, the "Chanson d'enfance" melody]

ROSE: Why does my head say be strong, be wise, walk away, dry your eyes? Why does my heart say you told a lie? He will haunt you, Rose, until the day you...

"

Kdogg - I think that was added in the Broadway production as well. I think I had heard a "soundboard" recording of the Broadway production (that had the There is more to love reprise; the Anything but Lonely high note finale unlike the official recording) and I'm pretty sure I heard Ann Crumb sing that.

#36

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 2:00pm

Ah, good to know! It may not have been in there when I saw it (in previews), or I might just not remember because it was a long time ago. :)

I don't miss the scene not being on the recording, but I understand why it was put in. Later in the show we're supposed to believe that Rose and Marcel have a rather close friendship, but very little of that is shown, especially in the first act, where we otherwise only see them fighting.

#37

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 2:12pm

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the thrilling production number HAND ME THE WINE AND THE DICE. It was a real highlight of the original production.

I saw the original 4 days after the opening at the Prince of Wales Theatre. A great memory.

#38

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 2:30pm

kdogg36 said: "Ah, good to know! It may not have been in there when I saw it (in previews), or I might just not remember because it was a long time ago. :)

I don't miss the scene not being on the recording, but I understand why it was put in. Later in the show we're supposed to believe that Rose and Marcel have a rather close friendship, but very little of that is shown, especially in the first act, where we otherwise only see them fighting"

Yes, it was definitely in the broadway production (and later on in London as well) - but it's been cut from the show again. It doesn't appear in new "definitive" liibretto.

#39

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 3:34pm

devonian.t said: "I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the thrilling production number HAND ME THE WINE AND THE DICE. It was a real highlight of the original production.

I saw the original 4 days after the opening at the Prince of Wales Theatre. A great memory.

"

Good point devonian - I remember in the Philips production, they start with a brief snippet of HMTWATD so you realize at the end this is all a flashback from George's funeral

I think the tour had these torches so between that and the dancing, it really accelerated things in Act II- leading up to Rose's show-stopping 11:00 number of Anything but Lonely - which brought the house down. Unlike some of ALW's other shows where the ending seems to falter a bit (Woman in White; Love Never Dies) - this one he seemed to have hit perfectly

#40

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 5:14pm

chernjam said: "...Unlike some of ALW's other shows where the ending seems to falter a bit (Woman in White; Love Never Dies) - this one he seemed to have hit perfectly"

I think those who argue that the end of Love Never Dies "falters" simply don't like the fact that someone dies; I thought it worked just fine.

On the other hand, I don't see why one would suggest that the ending of The Woman in White falters; I thought the tension and drama built perfectly from the minute Laura (as the ghost of Anne) confronted Glyde. I love the musical buildup that accompanies that encounter and thought the finale with the train was heart-stopping.

==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage

#41

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 5:51pm

I have a question. Back in 2000 or so I read a line by line breakdown of the show online. It said which theme was used and why. i.e Jenny first using Rose's Chason melody to lure Alex, then when she was getting desperate using his Love Changes Everything melody against him. It was extremely thorough, and made me love the show even more. Does anyone know if this is still floating around anywhere? I'd love to re read it. Say what you will about the endless repeats of motifs, but when it is broken down that way it really adds another layer to the whole story.

#42

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 6:45pm

This may have been my website, which I believe was called Aspects of Love: Information and Analysis. Among other things, I had a page for each of the musical themes with a discussion of how they were used in the show. There was also an annotated libretto noting where each theme was used in the score.

If that's what you're talking about, I think - much to my chagrin - that I no longer have it. I stopped paying for the domain a while back, and I think the computer that had the files on it was fried.

With some difficulty, it looks like the pages can still be found on web archives, for instance:

https://web.archive.org/web/20020918080111/https://www.alw-info.com:80/aspects/music-lyrics/love.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20020624190802/https://www.alw-info.com:80/aspects/music-lyrics/anything.htm

Maybe it would be worthwhile for me to re-assemble some of this material into a website if anyone else is truly interested. :)

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 06:45 PM

#43

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 6:51pm

Looking at that page, I can't help but cringe a bit at overly enthusiastic things like this:

This kind of subtle interrelationship among the work's melodic elements is one of the reasons why some (including the creator of this site) consider Aspects to be the pinnacle of Andrew Lloyd Webber's career so far - if not, indeed, one of the crowning achievements in all of musical theatre.

I no longer stand by all of these youthful statements, though I still adore the score. :)

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 06:51 PM

#44

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:39pm

Lot666 said: "chernjam said: "...Unlike some of ALW's other shows where the ending seems to falter a bit (Woman in White; Love Never Dies) - this one he seemed to have hit perfectly"

I think those who argue that the end of Love Never Dies "falters" simply don't like the fact that someone dies; I thought it worked just fine.

On the other hand, I don't see why one would suggest that the ending of The Woman in White falters; I thought the tension and drama built perfectly from the minute Laura (as the ghost of Anne) confronted Glyde. I love the musical buildup that accompanies that encounter and thought the finale with the train was heart-stopping.

"

Maybe "Falter" wasn't the right word. I guess I meant that they seemed "unsettled" in that even after their World Premieres and subsequent premieres, they seemed to continue to change (The Woman in White musically changed at least three or four times that I can recall from different boots I had heard)

#45

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/22/17 at 3:29am

LizzieCurry said: "I saw the show once at Walnut Street and didn't realize how appallingly soap opera-ish it was, even though I'd read the book in college for fun. I could kind of go along for the ride like a bad "housewives" reality show, but even then, dear god. The five melodies are good, though."

I really liked that production. I found Jennifer Hope Wills rather fabulous as Rose.

#46

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/22/17 at 3:32am

kdogg36 said: "This may have been my website, which I believe was called Aspects of Love: Information and Analysis. Among other things, I had a page for each of the musical themes with a discussion of how they were used in the show. There was also an annotated libretto noting where each theme was used in the score.

If that's what you're talking about, I think - much to my chagrin - that I no longer have it. I stopped paying for the domain a while back, and I think the computer that had the files on it was fried.

With some difficulty, it looks like the pages can still be found on web archives, for instance:

https://web.archive.org/web/20020918080111/https://www.alw-info.com:80/aspects/music-lyrics/love.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20020624190802/https://www.alw-info.com:80/aspects/music-lyrics/anything.htm

Maybe it would be worthwhile for me to re-assemble some of this material into a website if anyone else is truly interested. :)

"

By Jeeves! I think that's it! (had to do it.) Thank you so much! Can't wait to read through it again. After that i'll have to go through the tiretracks.co.uk site again. Ah memories.

#47

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/22/17 at 8:34am

I'm thrilled that someone can still enjoy it after all these years, even in a somewhat dodgy form. It looks like most of the links to other pages work, though clearly some things don't work (like the music examples on most pages). However, since it looks like the content has basically been preserved "out there" somewhere, I might take some time to collect things together and re-launch the site. I'll let everyone know if/when that happens. :)

#48

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/22/17 at 10:39am

davidbrian81 said: "By Jeeves! I think that's it! (had to do it.) Thank you so much! Can't wait to read through it again. After that i'll have to go through the tiretracks.co.uk site again. Ah memories.

"

Kdogg's Aspects site and Steve's Tire Tracks were some of my daily go-to's in the internet's infancy :) Gosh I can remember sitting in the computer lab to log into those sites. You guys were far ahead of RUG in terms of online communities (probably still are in that regard )

#49

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/22/17 at 5:43pm

chernjam said: "Maybe "Falter" wasn't the right word. I guess I meant that they seemed "unsettled" in that even after their World Premieres and subsequent premieres, they seemed to continue to change (The Woman in White musically changed at least three or four times that I can recall from different boots I had heard)"

Ah, that's a bit different (although I saw no reason to make changes to the WIW score; I thought the cast recording was perfect, unless the changes occurred prior to recording).

==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage

#50

Aspects of Love

Posted: 4/24/17 at 1:00am

If there is no present interest in a revival of a pared down production, I have wondered why there has been no interest in a concert staging. The musical score is lovely and has a number of song standouts. Even George has his musical musings in that lovely song OTHER PLEASURES!

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