Kelli O'Hara, Victor Garber - Knickerbocker Holiday - CD now available!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 4:43pm

Christopher Fitzgerald, Ben Davis... and others in Kurt Weill's Knickerbocker Holiday !

January 25 and 26th
Alice Tully Hall



Knickerbocker Holiday

Updated On: 5/31/11 at 04:43 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 4:44pm

Information...
Knickerbocker Holiday - Collegiate Chorale information

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 4:54pm

And a gorgeous, gorgeous score!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 5:16pm

'September Song' is beautiful! One of my favorites...

[newintown]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 5:19pm

And "It Never Was you" is a pretty perfect ballad.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/11/11 at 5:27pm

Agree!

These voices will be wonderful in the roles.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/12/11 at 3:48pm

For those who do not know the songs, here is a recording of "September Song," which Woody Allen once called the most perfectly written American popular song, sung by the Walter Huston in 1938 (audio only), who created the part in Knickerbocker Holiday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkWn4--RmEk


In the show, Huston played Peter Stuyvesant, Dutch governor of New York, who is about to marry a young woman several decades younger than he is.


Here is the same song, sung by Lotte Lenya (audio only), who was married to the composer, Kurt Weill:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdc4oBnu_fw


Here is my favorite version of the song, by Ella Fitzgerald (audio only), from an extraordinary CD she did of just ballads, only accompanied by jazz pianist Paul Smith:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkzEGjfYStw


Here is an oddly touching video of the song by veteran comic performer Jimmy Durante playing it unusually straight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ldVj34Sfo


And here is a spectacular version of the song (audio only), by none other than Patti LuPone, from a live concert at Ravinia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giZtHhpBKf0

Updated On: 1/12/11 at 03:48 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/12/11 at 3:50pm

As for the other "perfect" song in the score, "It Never Was You," here is the subtle but astonishing rendition of it Judy Garland gave in the film I Could Go on Singing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v246Bbaiv0


And a beautiful (audio only) version by Julie Andrews:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1DPzZI41yg


And from that same concert at Ravinia, Patti LuPone (audio only):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0MXd2y3aEI

Updated On: 1/12/11 at 03:50 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/12/11 at 7:12pm

Wow! Thanks for finding and posting these.

I can't wait to give them all a listen.

Really gorgeous music in this show.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 1/12/11 at 7:26pm

I just started reading about Knickerbocker Holiday in "Our Musicals, Ourselves" and recall the AEI CD of the score to be compelling. Thanks for sharing this. Sounds like a great night out at Alice Tully Hall.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/12/11 at 11:15pm

I've loved listening to them - so many different versions, and all so touching.

'It Never Was You' is really jut a perfect song.

I think hearing these gems sung by the stars of this concert will be sublime.

twinbelters - hope you can make it!

Updated On: 1/19/11 at 11:15 PM

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 1/12/11 at 11:17pm

This production is to be recorded by Ghostlight. Yay!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/12/11 at 11:19pm

Yes! Big Yay!

(that's why we're performing two nights instead of our usual one night performance)

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 1/12/11 at 11:33pm

Ghostlight is recording it too, for those not lucky enough to be able to attend!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/19/11 at 10:13pm

Info about the recording!

Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson teamed up for the first time to create this delightful romantic comedy. First performed in 1938, with Walter Huston in the role of Peter Stuyvesant, the work is one of Weill's deft hybrid theater pieces which lie somewhere between operetta and musical theater. Anderson, one of the most important playwrights of the early 20th century, adds bits of political satire that contribute a spicy note to this charmer of a show. The famous pop standard, "September Song," first appeared in Knickerbocker Holiday.

This performance by The Collegiate Chorale will feature Victor Garber as Stuyvesant, Ben Davis as Brom, Bryce Pinkham as Washington Irving, David Garrison as Tienhoven, Kelli O’Hara as love interest Tina, and Christopher Fitzgerald as faithful sidekick Tenpin. Broadway's multi-talented Ted Sperling, winner of both Tony and Drama Desk awards, will direct and The Chorale's Music Director, James Bagwell, will conduct. It will be recorded live at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City on January 25 & 26.

sh-k-boom recording

Updated On: 1/19/11 at 10:13 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/19/11 at 10:18pm

Sneak peek of the NYT article on "Knickerbocker Holiday" and "Lost in the Stars" that will run in Sunday's print edition.

Hope you can all make it to this wonderful event!
NYTimes sneak peek

[Jon]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 10:42am

Since this is a concert, I assume Garber won't have to perform the role with a peg leg,as Walter Houston did.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 10:48am

I doubt it.

But, it will be a semi-staged performance. Not quite a show. But more than a concert!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 6:32pm

A wonderful article on Playbill.com

This really is an undiscovered gem for many.

If you're in the area, please treat yourself to attending this performance!
Playbill: Knickerbocker Holiday

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 8:38pm

Huston, not Houston.

Actor Walter Huston was the father of director John Huston and the grandfather of actress Anjelica Huston.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/23/11 at 9:07am

A gorgeous "September Song" with Sarah Vaughan and Wynton Marsalis and the Boston Pops.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRhhNPBPGyU

Maxwell Anderson's lyrics are hauntingly beautiful.

And the days dwindle down
To a precious few:
September, November...

And these few precious days
I'd spend with you.
These precious days
I'd spend with you.

Updated On: 1/23/11 at 09:07 AM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 1/23/11 at 2:18pm

Addy, really, REALLY wish I had been staying over longer to see it, and you!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/24/11 at 11:23am

Elphaba - I wish the same!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/24/11 at 11:24am

May I just say... Kelli O'Hara and Ben Davis singing 'It Never Was You' is sublime...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/25/11 at 9:38pm

Did anyone make it tonight? I wish I could have been there.
One more night!