Current West End OLIVER! orchestrations?

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 9:18pm

Just thought I would like to know. I like how it sounds, overall, and I think it is one of William D. Brohn's best.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 9:20pm

By that I mean, what are the instruments?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:53pm

Keyboard
Violin/Mandolin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
Flute/Piccolo/Descant Recorder
Oboe/Cor Anglais
Clarinet/Eb Clarinet
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Flute
Bassoon/Tenor Recorder
2 Horns
2 Trumpets/Flugelhorns
2 Trombones
Bass Trombome/Tuba/Euphonium
Electric/Acoustic Guitar/Banjo
2 Percussion
Accordion/Concertina

21 Musicians in all.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 9:52am

If these are the same Palladium orchestrations, done for the Jonathan Pryce production, I am afraid I cannot agree. They destroy the original melodic structure of the score and are relentlessly depressing.

[MariusPontmercy]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 12:27pm

Have to agree with philcrosby, I'm not a fan of these orchestrations. I believe they've been revised a bit for the Drury Lane production and sound much better live than they do on the Palladium CD, but they're still not very good. They're a bit too "modern" for the material - they seem to be contradicting the melodies rather than supporting them.

(My knowledge of musical terminology is pretty much non-existant, as you can probably tell, but I hope that makes sense.)

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 3:23pm

Thanks, theatreguy.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 3:58pm

I saw the show a little over a week ago and I liked the orchestrations, which fit nicely into the tone of the entire production. I didn't find anything overtly depressing or contradictory in the upbeat tunes. The only musically contradictory moments I noticed were in the reprises of It's a Fine Life and Oliver, which is somewhat inherent in the score. But I need to listen to the original orchestrations again for comparison. It also depends on your personal taste in the material. Purists probably wouldn't like the 1994 or 2009 orchestrations as they are for a much more elaborate production. A friend of mine who attended the show with me didn't care for this revival at all as he remembers the original London production and prefers the more minimal approach both musically and in the staging.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 4:20pm

I am looking forward to comparing the orchestrations with the 94 production next week when the cast recording comes out (i think on the 16th). I am a fan of the 94 recording and it is my preferred one to listen too.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/5/09 at 5:20pm

I didn't realize there was to be a new recording. I'm so excited! Jodie was my choice from the first episode of I'd Do Anything and ultimately, the reason I ended up going to London last week and seeing the show. YAY!