Best Overtures - Page 2

[Feste]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 2:21pm

Not an overture, but I'd add the Carousel Waltz to the list nevertheless.

[Fantod]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 3:59pm

Mister Matt, I agree with you in most of those overtures, but have you heard the one on the studio cast recording with the original orchestrations? I personally vastly prefer the orchestrations, including the overture, on that recording to all previous or subsequent recordings.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 4:51pm

Fantod - I assume you're talking about Anything Goes? I do enjoy that overture as well (especially moments like the rousing orchestral Bon Voyage), but as for the original orchestrations, I've always winced at the modest use of percussion (especially the splash cymbal) and overuse of unison (also a weakness in the original vocal arrangements). It's how popular music was orchestrated back then, and I find hearing the original orchestrations fascinating, but in general, I enjoy the more modern and complex orchestrations that helped to usher in the Golden Age (and beyond). While the older orchestrations of such shows may have used a larger orchestra (which I do prefer), I find later revisions often result in a richer, or even more vibrant, sound.

Honestly, it's a tight race for me but I find the Lincoln Center revival just a bit more fun and satisfying. And I mostly ignore the 1962 version, with the exception of Heaven Hop.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 5:05pm

I love the Woman of the Year overture.

[Fantod]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 5:19pm

Fair enough. It's all personal preference, and since that overture is so radically different, it is a good idea to listen to that one as well as the new one.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 5:54pm

Oh, I agree. And God bless John McGlinn for his work on preserving the orchestrations of so many early musicals. The man was a national treasure.

[yfs]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 8:46pm

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Wildcat. An incredible piece of orchestration and must have exhausted more than one trumpet player. Definitely worth a listen.

[JRybka]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 9:09pm

The whole cd may not be great but the Overture for the Broadway CD that Barry Mannilow did is pretty awesome.

[justoldbill]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 9:27pm

I've always been fond of the overtures to FUNNY GIRL and TAKE ME ALONG.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 11:15pm

Follies- both the overture and prologue.
The Fantasticks- I may not enjoy the show as a whole, but there's something that I love about the overture

[Wickedlover56]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 6:05pm

West Side Story
City of Angels
Funny Girl
A Little Night Music
The Light in the Piazza
The Addams Family
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Urinetown
South Pacific

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 7:23pm

We mustn't forget.
Babs 1994

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 7:56pm

Mr. Matt

I have the collection of Jerome Kern overtures, many from the Princess Theater productions. Although I knew not one song from any of the overtures (except maybe "Leave It to Jane") I took great pleasure from all of them.

Seemed ironic that the song with the greatest melody of any conventional Broadway ballad, "All The Things You Are", was not included in the overture of Very Warm for May.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 8:10pm

I'll add in APPLAUSE. It's the perfect 1970's musical theatre overture to me.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 8:09am

Most if not all Bernstein and Styne overtures are great, but CANDIDE and GYPSY are in a class all their own.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 9:05am

RAGS and HALLELUJAH, BABY!