Good songs for the "mature" soprano

#1

Good songs for the "mature" soprano

Posted: 7/7/08 at 4:21pm

I'm now at the age (over 50) where some songs would now be ridiculous for me to sing (for instance, somehow I think I'm way past the point of lamenting "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood"). I'm having trouble coming up with age appropriate musical theater soprano songs. "Dividing Day" is good, but it seems like the majority of the good soprano songs are for ingenues and younger leading ladies. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

#2

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/7/08 at 4:23pm

Another Winter in a Summer Town from Grey Gardens, even if it's a bit depressing.

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And hang on, when did you win the discus?

#3

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/7/08 at 4:33pm

"One More Kiss" is partially sung by an older woman, though it's eventually taken over by a younger. I think that it would be okay for an older woman to sing the entire thing if she still has the range (it has a sustained D6, though I suppose that is optional).

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Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#4

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/7/08 at 4:39pm

"Poor Wandering One" from THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

#5

Posted: 7/7/08 at 4:45pm

Updated On: 5/2/09 at 04:45 PM

#6

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/7/08 at 5:29pm

Kind of hard to beat Ice Cream from She Loves Me.

#7

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/7/08 at 5:33pm

Now from Song of Norway

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Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco. Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!

#8

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/7/08 at 6:12pm

Sondheim your face off! As a young soprano, I find it very dispiriting that there's only one or two songs of his here and there that I can pull off. He's a wonderful writer for the older lady, so dig out your cast recordings and go hunting. :3

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Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

#9

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/7/08 at 9:40pm

SEND IN THE CLOWNS by Sondheim from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

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"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES--- "THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS

#10

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/7/08 at 11:40pm

what about "In Buddy's Eyes"?

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"The good news is I have an excellent Tony speech. The bad news is I've had it for forty-five years."-Elaine Stritch

#11

Posted: 7/7/08 at 11:42pm

Updated On: 5/2/09 at 11:42 PM

#12

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 12:16am

Oh, speaking of Sondheim...Children Will Listen can work.

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And hang on, when did you win the discus?

#13

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 12:21am

IN BUDDY'S EYES is a good suggestion.

#14

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 12:37am

I third In Buddy's Eyes.

also, what about Dividing Day or Fable from The Light in the Piazza?

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When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

#15

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 12:38am

A lot of the songs people are suggesting are good for older people, but not necessarily sopranos. "Send in the Clowns" is waaay too low for me, at least, and Norma's stuff tends to be pretty belty. Some sopranos are good belters, but not all of us are.

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Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#16

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 12:53am

Maybe "Falling In Love With Love" from The Boys from Syracuse?

#17

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 1:13am

You'll Never Walk Alone from Carousel
This Is My Beloved from Kismet
Love For Sale from The New Yorkers
Climb Ev'ry Mountain from The Sound of Music

#18

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 11:48am

"This Place is Mine" (Yeston/Kopit PHANTOM)
"Prima Donna" (ALW PHANTOM)
"Art is Calling for Me"
"That Dirty Old Man" (Funny Thing Happened on the way...)
"Something Wonderful" (King & I)
"Not Since Ninevah" (Kismet)

#19

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 11:50am

What about bali'hai

#20

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 2:13pm

I was just about to say Bali'Hai. Although that's more fit for an alto.

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#21

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 3:11pm

I love that username so much.

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-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

#22

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 3:19pm

Oh! I just thought of another... Never from On the Twentieth Century

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And hang on, when did you win the discus?

#23

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 3:25pm

STOP calling someone over 50 OLD!

I like mature.

I'M ONLY THINKING OF HIM from MAN OF LA MANCHA
WHEN DID I FALL IN LOVE? from FIORELLO
WILL YOU? from GREY GARDENS

Updated On: 7/8/08 at 03:25 PM

#24

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 3:25pm

Another vote for In Buddy's Eyes

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"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

#25

re: Good songs for the 'mature' soprano

Posted: 7/8/08 at 3:38pm

I'm 58 and prefer to think of myself as a rose in full flower and magnificent aroma.

"Why Did I Choose You?" has a lot to offer.

I forget exactly which album, but Barbra recorded it on an early disc. "My Name is Barbra" or "...Barbra...Two"?

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"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher