Victor Herbert sesquicentennial

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 11:00am

On Feb 1, 1859 composer Victor Herbert was born in Dublin.

Some of the people here whose knowledge of musicals only extends as far back as RENT might be mystified, but Herbert was one of the earliest composers to focus on writing for the Broadway stage. His operettas and extravaganzas were huge hits in a day when a 10-week run was considered extraordinary. (In those days shows toured to the different boroughs on what was later dubbed “the subway circuit.”)


Although born in Dublin, Herbert came to North America as a cellist to accompany his wife, the internationally acclaimed soprano Therese Forster, as she made her debut with the Metropolitan opera, later winning praise as the first AIDA (Verdi) on the Met Stage.

Herbert was soon in demand as a cellist and composer. His two Cello Concertos are well worth investigating and the operetta THE FORTUNE TELLER was a hit in 1898. He also became a conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from 1898 to 1904, and he later conducted his own orchestra in recordings some of his pieces for Edison Cylinders. (There can still be found in some compilations. Though the sound is quite dismal, the brisk precision of his conducting shines through.)


In 1903 he was asked to write the score for a show the producers hoped would be a successful follow up to THE WIZRD OF OZ. The new show was called BABES IN TOYLAND and after a summer try-out in Chicago it arrived at the old Majestic Theatre on Columbus Circle (long gone) in October 1903 and played for 192 performances. Although the book wasn’t as coherent as OZ, at least with TOYLAND the score yielded several pop hits and two standards that are still heard every Christmas: March of the Toys and Toyland.

On Christmas night 1905 Herbert opened MLLE. MODISTE starring Fritzi Scheff. (Oh I know, the name doesn’t mean much now – think of her as the Kristen Chenoweth of her day.) Another huge hit.

Herbert wrote two dozen shows in all. Not all were as successful but two of his biggest hits were THE RED MILL (1906) and NAUGHTY MARIETTA (1910.)

Herbert died in 1924, but within a decade film versions were made of BABES IN TOYALND (with Laurel and Hardy as a pair of bumbling toymakers) and NAUGHTY MARIETTA (with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy who made “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life” a hit all over again.

Herbert was also one of the first Broadway composers to have his life story told in a film: THE GREAT VICTOR HERBERT came out in 1939 and included many of his hits.

In the 1940s and 50s his biggest shows were still being revived. Decca recorded BABES IN TOYLAND and THE RED MILL. Victor offered albums of SWEETHEARTS and NAUGHTY MARIETTA.

Then gradually Herbert’s shows faded from view. Sometimes Light Opera Companies will revive them – Ohio Light Opera has kept several in active repertoire – but in general you don’t often see even the big hits today. The books are often clumsy, and some of the lyrics sit awkwardly on the notes…but the melodies Herbert wrote are still magical.

A recent CD from a label called Anteater Records reissues selections from THE RED MILL and NAUGHTY MARIETTA (from two Capitol 10-inch Lp’s done by Gordon MacRae and company based on his popular Railroad Hour broadcasts) and a 1947 album of highlights from SWEETHEARTS featuring the Al Goodman Orchestra and Chorus. Even with the sometimes annoying “easy lis6tening orchestrations, the songs still sparkle.

The man who started it all was born 150 years ago today.


(Date corrected to 1859)

Updated On: 2/2/09 at 11:00 AM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 11:04am

10 selections from Herbert's still charming score are heard here. THere are even better voices heard in 7 selections in the Reader's Digest boxed set TREASURY OF GREAT OPERETTAS, but these have not been reissued on CD as yet.
BABES IN TOYLAND

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 11:08am

This CD rescues 3 long out-of-print recordings of Herbert scores. THE RED MILL and NAUGHTY MARIETTA were recorded for Capitol in the 1950s. THe SWEETHEARTS selections come from an album done for RCA Victor in 1947.

I doubt these were licensed from the original labels, but the quality of the transfers is very good.
MUSIC OF VICTOR HERBERT

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 11:11am

You can sample Herbert's 2 Cello Concertos on this disc.

Herbert Cello Concertos

Updated On: 2/1/09 at 11:11 AM

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 11:15am

Psssst...

"edit message"

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 11:16am

Period recordings of Herbert (most are from the 1930s forward so the sound isn't too dim) can be found in this collection.
A Victor Herbert Showcase

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 11:24am

To get a sample of Herbert's orchestral pieces as well as a few songs from his operettas including THE FORTUNE TELLER and EILEEN check out this budge-priced collection. Here you will find such gems as the amusing "Champagne Polka" and the celebrated march "Pan-American" which Herbert wrote for the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo in 1901 (where President William McKinley was assassinated.)


Victor Herbert: Beloved Songs and Classic Miniatures

[monestere]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 4:02pm

Victor Herbert’s operettas feature some of the greatest songs ever composed for the musical stage and his biggest hit, “Naughty Marietta”, is still a better show than 90 percent of what is passing for musical theater today. Additional recordings featuring Herbert’s music worth seeking out are “The Columbia Album of Victor Herbert” (Collectables Records CD COL 7565) with Percy Faith and his Orchestra in splendid instrumental arrangements of 23 of Herbert’s greatest melodies. Also worth seeking out (unfortunately not yet released on CD) are “The Great Victor Herbert” (Decca/London Phase-4 LP SP-21143) arranged and conducted by Tutti Camarata and “The Immortal Victor Herbert” (RCA RED SEAL LP LSC-2515) featuring some rarely recorded songs with the Robert Shaw Singers & Chorale. And available for download from Itunes is the Original Cast Recording from Walt Disney’s 1961 film version of “Babes in Toyland” (BV-4022), with excellent music and choral direction by Tutti Camarata and some wonderful singing by Ray Bolger, Henry Calvin and a young Ann Jillian. However, please be warned that the lyrics have been revised and/or rewritten for this version and leading lady Annette Funicello is not a soprano and can barely sing, period. But despite this she is quite delightful in “I Can’t Do the Sum” and her leading man, pop singer Tommy Sands, acquits himself admirably, especially on “Fioretta”. Throughout Victor Herbert’s gorgeous melodies shine through magically, as always and a whole new generation of baby boomers were introduced to Herbert’s music via this film (and hopefully, were moved to seek out more authentic versions of Herbert’s scores).

Updated On: 2/1/09 at 04:02 PM

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 4:40pm

Nicely written, frontrow, very impressive work! Love Herbert, always will.

[dayao]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 5:53pm

The best song in the otherwise boring score of the recent “Thoroughly Modern Millie” was an interpolated one by Victor Herbert, “I'm Falling in Love with Someone” (with Lyrics By Rida Johnson Young), which premiered originally in Herbert’s superb “Naughty Marietta”, nearly 100 years ago.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 6:06pm

I think PiraguaGuy2 is referring to "1959" in the first sentence which I assume should be 1859.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 7:09pm

Thanks..I corrected the date to read 1859.

It's maybe hard to understand now but these songs, "Toyland", "Kiss Me Again", "I'm Falling in Love with Someone" and "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life" were huge popular hits back then.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 7:44pm

Well, you live and you learn.

I would never have thought Herbert was an irishman. I would have figured he was Austian.

No I know something!