Petula Clark - Michael Ball SUNSET BLVD (wrong date?)

[chernjam]

Posted: 1/2/18 at 8:51pm

So I saw that BW shared the link to BBC's concert of Sunset Blvd with Petula Clark and Michael Ball.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007kk17

They list that it originally aired in 1994.  

I remember hearing this when it originally happened and I'm pretty certain it was after Sunset had closed on Broadway and London (and cannot imagine that they would've ever had the rights to do something like this when it was running on both Broadway and London)

Also - just listening to it again online.  I remembered it being a lot better than this -- Yikes.  Michael Ball missing cues right from the outset.  I appreciated that they did this and wish they did stuff like this more often (i.e. Aspects of Love all-star concert would be a delight)    

[jo]

Posted: 1/2/18 at 9:39pm

Interestingly, it was Michael Ball who sang the part of Joe Gillis when ALWebber first presented the musical score ( or parts of it) at his Sydmonton Estate - a tradition that he maintains when he wants to introduce his latest work to a relatively small group in private. Many had hoped he would also open the show at the West End but American Kevin Anderson opened it instead ( presumably to avoid any Equity problems when it transfered to Broadway). But before the cast recording was released, ALW had Michael Ball release the title song as a single. Ironically, it was Alan Campbell who  opened the show  on Broadway with Glenn Close.

The BBC concert with Michael  and Petula  was much, much later. It was recorded by BBC ( and later broadcast on one of its radio stations) in 2004 from the Cork Opera House concert staging with Michael and Petula.

http://castalbums.org/recordings/Sunset-Boulevard-2004-Concert-Cast/5842
 

Updated On: 1/2/18 at 09:39 PM

[chernjam]

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

Yeah Jo - I remember seeing the CD single (how old am I now, that I remember such things) of Sunset Blvd sung by Michael Ball on sale at Colony Records for some obnoxious amount of money (was it $35 or even more?  They sold the "import" of the World Premiere Recording for $100)  Even that, I was surprised how little I liked Ball's version of the title song having been a fan of his from Aspects of Love.

2004 - that definitely makes more sense.  Surprising that the BBC got their own concert dates wrong

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 8:00am

I'm about 30 minutes into it and I can't say that I care much for either of the two leads. Ms. Clark is...well, Ms. Clark. Mr. Ball's phrasing, timing, and even pronunciation is often very off-putting. The guy playing Max is unimpressive as well. If this was the first I'd heard of the show, I would not have been a fan (although the orchestra/music is lovely). 

It's interesting to hear Michael Xavier in there as Artie Green.

Updated On: 1/3/18 at 08:00 AM

[castlestreet]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 9:24am

I believe this is actually from 2004.  I remember when it originally aired, and for years people were selling this as a “commercial” recording on eBay.  This is not great, and I hate how Petula seems to jump her cues on many sung lines.  

It doesn’t help I had the great misfortune of meeting her when she toured Rochester NY with the show in 1999 - not the most gracious back stage host...

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 12:45pm

I remember seeing the tour in Houston (1999) and on its final tour stop in Austin (April 2000).  The thing that I remembered was Petula played the role in an overly comedic manner...somewhat hammy.  I do have that cd somewhere, along with the 1st National Tour cd with Linda Balgord.  

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 2:16pm

I'm about 2/3 of the way through it now and Michael Ball is really bad. It's odd, because I usually like him, but he is just terrible in this. His pronunciation of some words is so bizarre and his rendition of the title song may be the worst I've heard.

[chernjam]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 2:36pm

Lot666 - It's amazing how unlistenable the BBC recording is.  I don't remember feeling this negatively about it when I heard it back in 2004.  Perhaps because there hadn't been any productions of it and I was afraid that it would never get revived.  Having just seen it on broadway with an orchestra of 50 and while Glenn might not have had the vocal strength that Petula did - she sang it beautifully (and on cue)... And I really agree with you regarding Michael Ball.  I was a fan of his but on this he really sounded beyond awkward to me.

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 2:40pm

chernjam said: "Lot666 - It's amazing how unlistenable the BBC recording is. I don't remember feeling this negatively about it when I heard it back in 2004. Perhaps because there hadn't been any productions of it and I was afraid that it would never get revived. Having just seen it on broadway with an orchestra of 50 and while Glenn might not have had the vocal strength that Petula did - she sang it beautifully (and on cue)... And I really agree with you regarding Michael Ball. I was a fan of his but on this he really sounded beyond awkward to me."

It's almost like he's trying to put on some weird accent - I have no idea what it's supposed to be - and blowing it badly, and like he's determined to deliver his lines out of time with the music.

Ms. Clark just shot him. For the first time, I was relieved to have Joe die. Now if she'd just turn the gun on herself.

Updated On: 1/3/18 at 02:40 PM

[PK2]

Posted: 1/5/18 at 9:48am

I have a different opinion here.  I really enjoy this recording and regretted it that I did not see the last revival.  Does anyone know how I can save this file for my future listening?  Thank you.

[singerunlimited]

Posted: 1/5/18 at 10:00am

Listening to this again makes me even more upset that we did not get at least a live professional recording of the most recent revival!

[Flowerlovestage5]

Posted: 1/5/18 at 11:21am

PK2 said: "...Does anyone know how I can save this file for my future listening? Thank you."

PM me.

Also, I am glad that this production was captured and gives us Petula's live performance. I enjoy it very much actually, though I wish I saw her original run in the west end. Not saying she's the definitive Norma, but enjoyable, I think. 

We should have received a full, complete recording of the last production. Too bad. 

[scampsweep]

Posted: 1/5/18 at 1:26pm

The concert version is from 2004, long after Sunset closed in London and on Broadway.

Michael Ball is terrible. He is not - and never has been IMO - a good actor. In this concert, he is almost like a caricature of himself. He is just Michael Ball - no real understanding of the character and certainly very amateurish delivery of the dialogue.

Updated On: 1/5/18 at 01:26 PM

[chernjam]

Posted: 1/5/18 at 5:23pm

completely agree with everyone who's frustrated they never recorded the recent revival - if for nothing else to capture the new orchestrations with a 40-50 piece orchestra (depending on whether it was NY or London)  

I didn't mind Petula as much in this (although Lot - your comment about turning the gun on herself made me laugh out loud) I had seen her twice on tour and she was a convincing Norma (not my favorite, or least favorite... and at that point, I was just happy that Sunset was on tour)