CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#150
Posted: 4/12/15 at 8:50pm
"Then you should really get on that!"
I would, but I'm losing my wifi for about an hour tonight due to some construction nonsense. Enjoy the stream, y'all.
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#151
Posted: 4/12/15 at 8:52pm
I hope so. Jenn Gambatese's voice is so fluid. She sounds beautiful
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#152
Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:00pm
Ok, my review is still to come (getting back home from Chicago had been crazy). I am recording the live stream with my computer, so be assured a recording of good quality will exist. To answer the stage door question, it is located on the front of the building at the door oppisite the front door. There was an opening night party last night so no one came out to sign until very late (I did not have time to wait), but via tumblr people have been posting pics with Laura, so I know she at least comes out.
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#153
Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:06pm
Give us a soundtrack or a Broadway revival. This is glorious
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#154
Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:11pm
Received a mailer from them a couple weeks ago, actually. If anyone's curious: THE KING & I will be going up in a year's time.
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#155
Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:37pm
I saw this afternoon's performance, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I wouldn't give it the "bring this straight to Broadway!" endorsement. Stephen Pasquale was as glorious as I hoped, but I was not quite in love with Laura Osnes's performance. She was fairly plain and conventional for someone commonly described as "a queer one"--I felt like the qualities that make her a perfect ingenue got in the way of this role. She gave a lovely "What's the Use of Wondering?" though.
Rob Ashford's choreography is pretty much what I've come to expect from him: the ensemble constantly climbing on top of each other in needless feats of physical exhaustion. However, the big ballet in the second act was a surprising and very welcome break from that, it was a really lovely highlight. The same could be said of his staging; he frequently tends too far to the big and grand (there was a distracting and unnecessary scene shift in "Soliloquy," for instance) but then came "You'll Never Walk Alone" in which he simply placed the characters onstage and let them do their thing, and that really worked. I haven't ever been Ashford's biggest fan, and this production demonstrated a lot of my issues with his work, but then there were some really lovely moments when he broke from that.
I felt it was rather jarring to cast one lead as a major opera star, while the rest of the cast was musical theatre performers. Denyce Graves was very good, but she really stuck out and felt like she was from a different world from the rest of the piece. I really didn't buy her as Julie's cousin.
I've seen pretty much all of the shows in Chicago that were said to possibly be eying Broadway, and while I mostly really loved this production, I wouldn't put this at the top of the list, especially after Brigadoon last summer. But then again, I'm not a producer who has the power to make such a transfer happen.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#156
Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:56pm
Just listened to Pasquale's "Soliloquy" on the radio webcast. Magical, beautiful, glorious. If this production and cast don't transfer, I hope at least this production is recorded.
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#157
Posted: 4/12/15 at 9:59pm
I just heard it to. God, that man....
Yes, a recording (like they did with West Side Story in San Francisco) would be amazing.
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#158
Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:06pm
I know they are used to radio broadcasts of opera, but to explain the complete plot before each act for Carousel is hysterical to me.
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#159
Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:27pm
I think it's ridiculous, and spoils it for people who have never heard it.
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#160
Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:27pm
Not a fan of Lyric's Showboat or Oklahoma!, I found their Carousel pretty spectacular. The set design especially outstanding. The lounge restroom/area in the lower level is decorated entirely with the design of the show including framed costume and set sketches, and a model of the set. The detail of the entire display is impressive.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/05
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#161
Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:28pm
Yeah, the detailed plot synopsis is interesting. I haven't been listening to the entire thing too intently because I'm recording it for a more detailed listen later.
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#162
Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:29pm
send it to me jimmy!
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#163
Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:31pm
I will also be contacting you for the recording, if possible. Thank you.
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#164
Posted: 4/12/15 at 10:52pm
I'm recording as well, but if mine fails it's good to know there is a back up!
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#165
Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:28pm
I know it's off topic a little, but if anyone has a copy of Lincoln Center's Carousel with Kelli O'Hara, please pm me. I will pay whatever for a DVD copy of that glorious production. I have checked many torrent sites and cannot find it anywhere. Thanks!
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#166
Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:32pm
I found a torrent of it just two weeks ago... I'll try to see where I found it (I did have to look.)
That was--aurally anyway--beautiful. Some of Laura's scooped notes bugged me, but it's just a quibble.
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#167
Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:36pm
Jenn Gambatese is so talented!! She comedy and voice is wonderful!!
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#168
Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:40pm
Carousel is seriously crazy as ****!! This is the type of stuff i don't understand/like about R&H. Why are they playing the love music after he just slapped his daughter??? That is crazy as hell!!! I do not approve!!
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#169
Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:41pm
Steven's voice is gorgeous!!!
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#170
Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:48pm
"Carousel is seriously crazy as ****!! This is the type of stuff i don't understand/like about R&H. Why are they playing the love music after he just slapped his daughter??? That is crazy as hell!!! I do not approve!!"
Wait wait wait... Aren't you the person going on and on in this same thread about how this NEEDS to come to Broadway etc etc etc? You didn't even know the show??
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#172
Posted: 4/12/15 at 11:59pm
If you've only seen the cut down movie of Carousel I understand that one might think that the show excuses abuse, but really the musical is about how humans have an unprecedented capacity for forgiveness, and the musical never tries to argue that Billy is a good person, but merely that he tried to do his best. Billy failed to be a good husband to Julie in his life, but in death he begins to make reparations towards his daughter, giving her strength. The slap that didn't hurt line is pushing it, but the musical also was written in 1945.
Updated On: 4/12/15 at 11:59 PMCAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#173
Posted: 4/13/15 at 12:00am
lol no i know the show, and the whole score, I've just never seen a production of it. I didn't know he slapped her, and then the If i love you music is being underscored right after that. wtf???
CAROUSEL at the Lyric Opera in Chicago#174
Posted: 4/13/15 at 12:01am
Well if you ever have the opportunity to see the show, I suggest you do so. I was very lucky to see a wonderfully traditional production of the show in Michigan some years back, and since then it has been one of my very favorite shows.
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