Beautiful Scores — Page 2

West Side Story
Phantom of the Opera
Amour
Ragtime
Les Miserables

---

THE CIVIL WAR

Ragtime
Sweeney Todd

---

The Last 5 Years

Falsetto's

Caroline or Change

Into the Woods

Merrily We Roll Along

and of course

Amour

Here's a word for the flops -

The Grass Harp has a score that is beyond rapturous, particularly everything sung by Dolly. "Chain of Love" is ecstatic, and features one of my favorite lyrics: "I love to spend whole mornings in the kitchen/Where it's warm as a kitten's tongue". (Kitten's tongues are pretty scratchy, but I still like the sentiment).

Not everything from The Yearling is gold, but there are songs of exceptional quality, particularly the song that has truly broken out, the gorgeous "Why Did I Choose You?". Listening to just about anyone sing it, it always moves me.

Rags also moves me, in ways that Ragtime never has. For a show that was in turmoil out of town, I'd say a good 90% of that score is terrific. (The Nathan numbers are especially clunky). But "Children of the Wind," "Blame It On the Summer Night," and "Wanting" are wonderful songs.

---

1) The Secret Garden
2) Nine
3) Phantom
4) Les Miserables
5) Phantom of the Opera
6) West Side Story
7) Into the Woods
Assassins

I would have to also agree. Anything by Frank Wildhorn.

PLUS:

"Secret Garden"
"Les Miserables"

Frank Wildhorn's music is so beautiful but I feel his show's books never measure up to his music. Someone should work on that, his music deserves it.

---

I was in Rags! I love the song children of the wind and its reprise at the end.

---

ASPECTS OF LOVE --

lyrical, achingly romantic and complex

dracula