Help: Tenor Show-Stopping Solos- Page 3

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 2:46pm

""Your Eyes" from Rent is NOT a show-stopping song. At all."

It is show-stopping, in a bad way.

And that's coming from someone whos favourite show is Rent.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 4:02pm

agreed Mark.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 4:17pm

Val Jean is not a tennor, therefore Bring Him Home is not a tennor song, nor is it show stopping.

Yes he is. A baritone can't hit those notes. I mean, I'll give you examples. Took the silver took my "Fliiiiighhhht!" (really high) "Beginssss!!!!!!!!!!!!" Really high.

And Bring Him Home is a tenor song and it is also a showstopper. That song used to get standing ovations.

[Horton]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 4:19pm

run freedom, run from Urinetown

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 4:33pm

I know someone already said that Being Alive is actually a tenor song, but I wouldn't suggest singing anything Sondheim, since he usually composes for baritones.


Funny of you to say that. On the commentary of SITPWG, Sondheim says he always writes for baritones and "gets stuck with tenors."

OT: He wanted Geroge as a VERY low baritone and Dot/Marie as a VERY high soprano, he got the opposite.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 10:15pm

Those notes you refered to are frequently done in the West End in a form of falsetto. Baritones can hit those notes and indeed with correct technique are quite capable of belting the high sections of "What Have I Done?". There are several Bflats and it ends on a A but to say baritones cannot sing those notes is rather short sighted!

Again its vocal quality more than anything else. Valjean is an older part and the high baritone range is what is cast in the WE production.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 10:25pm

"O.K. Your' comment is ridiculous. First of all, you definately are not a singer or in musical theatre at all. Secondly, Val Jean sings to a high B, which means it is a tenor role, and the note is meant to be sung FULL VOICE, not falsetto, which also means it's a tenor part. So there you have it . . .and before you dismiss my comments, I was in the show, I am a performer, I have been on broadway, and not in the chorus, and you still have no idea what the hell you are talking about."

Ok so where do you want me to begin with that one??!?!!!!!!

Get off your high horse mate. Valjean does indeed sing that high b (Court Room isnt it?) but you are caught up in the world of definitions. I may not work in musical theatre but plenty of friends do and I have had the benefit of working with some top vocal coachs in the UK. Its all down to healthy technique. Seeing as you have been on Broadway I dont have to tell you that!

There have been plenty of "tenors" cast in this role over the years. However what I was trying to point out is that "high baritones" are just as desirable in the role and have frequently been cast in the WE or on tour. A friend of mines works in casting and others have had the same thing hammered into them by places like the Royal Academy of Music. Now feel free to disagree, it seemed to work for you all back in 1776

Oh and about the falsetto bit.... I cant even count the number of times I have seen "tenor" Valjeans use falsetto for those parts. Performers like Jeff Leyton and Simon Bowman spring to mind. Listen to performers like John Owen Jones and Stig Rossen and then tell me if you think they have a legit tenor vocal quality... I dont think so. Oh and I hate to bring him up but Michael Ball is another one- a high baritone who can sing Valjean and did a similar range in Aspects of Love.

[Grommetik]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 10:55pm

Courtesy of a google search...not necessarily show stopping...

All Good Gifts- GODSPELL (Ew.)
Alone at the Drive-In Movie- GREASE
Anthem- CHESS
The Apple Tree (Forbidden Fruit)- THE APPLE TREE
At the Grand Hotel- GRAND HOTEL
A Bit of Earth- THE SECRET GARDEN
Boy for Sale- OLIVER
Bring Him Home- LES MISERABLES
Close Every Door- JOSEPH AND HIS TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT
Geraniums in the Winder- CAROUSEL
High Flying, Adored- EVITA
I Believe in You- HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
I Know About Love- DO RE MI
I Met a Girl- BELLS ARE RINGING
I Only Want to Say (Gethsemane)- JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
I Will Follow You- MILK AND HONEY
Jasper's Confession- THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD
Like a God- FLOWER DRUM SONG
Love Can't Happen- GRAND HOTEL
Miracle of Miracles- FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
The Music of the Night- THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Old Devil Moon- FINIAN'S RAINBOW
On This Night of a Thousand Stars- EVITA
Once upon a Time Today- CALL ME MADAM
She Loves Me- SHE LOVES ME
She Wasn't You-ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER
Sit down You're Rockin' the Boat- GUYS AND DOLLS (Last time I saw this show it was the best number ever. Definitely show stopping!)
This Is the Moment- JEKYLL AND HYDE
Tonight at Eight- SHE LOVES ME
Why God Why?- MISS SAIGON
Willkommen- CABARET (I don't know since when this is classified as a tenor song...but anyway...)
Winter's on the Wing- THE SECRET GARDEN


Why are there so many threads around here that are pages and pages longer than they need to be, because of some ridiculous off topic debate? We may as wll rename this thread "MY knowledge of Jean Valjean's role could beat up YOUR knowledge of Jean Valjean's role."