#1
Posted: 9/12/05 at 8:03pm
Great article by John Lahr on Harold Arlen in this week's NEW YORKER.
He blithely notes that Arlen, even during his lifetime, was "virtually anonymous" to the general public, and even this year, "which happens to be the centennial of Arlen's birth (he died in 1986), at a celebration for a postage stamp honoring the late lyricist E. Y. Harburg, with whom Arlen wrote a hundred and eleven songs, including the score for THE WIZARD OF OZ no one thought to even mention Arlen."
And yes, there have been a few concerts (notably Tonya Pinkins) and an excellent exhibition earlier this year at the Lincoln Center Library, but I can't help feeling that Arlen again has received rather short shrift here in New York City in his centennial year. He certainly deserved a "Wall-to-Wall" concert, at the very least.
The Bittersweet Life of Harold Arlen
He blithely notes that Arlen, even during his lifetime, was "virtually anonymous" to the general public, and even this year, "which happens to be the centennial of Arlen's birth (he died in 1986), at a celebration for a postage stamp honoring the late lyricist E. Y. Harburg, with whom Arlen wrote a hundred and eleven songs, including the score for THE WIZARD OF OZ no one thought to even mention Arlen."
And yes, there have been a few concerts (notably Tonya Pinkins) and an excellent exhibition earlier this year at the Lincoln Center Library, but I can't help feeling that Arlen again has received rather short shrift here in New York City in his centennial year. He certainly deserved a "Wall-to-Wall" concert, at the very least.
The Bittersweet Life of Harold Arlen
"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"
