Well, I went the the library today...- Page 2

[Plum]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 9:43pm

You really think ALNM is inaccessible? Maybe it's because I have a background in classical, but I actually found this score to be lovely from the first time I listened to it. Now, something like Anyone Can Whistle or Sunday in the Park With George- that can get relatively inaccessible.

Aigoo, maybe Company or Follies will be more up your alley.
Updated On: 6/28/05 at 09:43 PM

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 9:47pm

I'll get Company next time I'm there...Follies isn't burning for me right now...I'll try later tonight, when I don't have as many things running.

Plum, methinks you mean alley.

Updated On: 6/28/05 at 09:47 PM

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 9:47pm

Which Traviata did you get, Aigoo? I worship Carlos Kleiber's Traviata with Ileana Cotrubas, but I'm trying Solti's with Angela Gheorghiu currently, which isn't bad (she has a much heftier voice, and is a bit more confident with the colatura work, but lacks some of the sparkle). I envy your library...sounds like a nice selection. You should get Otello and Rigoletto too.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 9:55pm

Liz, the "Traviata" recording I have is from the "Essential Verdi" CD. It includes Aida, Rigoletto, Traviata, La Forza del Destino, Macbeth, Don Carlo...and a few others..


I don't see Otello, though.


ETA: Oh! Just kidding! I see it.


The person on the Traviata recordings are Joan Sutherland and Carlo Bergonzi? I see Angela Gheorghiu and Lopardo, however...Maybe a track from a different recording...

Updated On: 6/28/05 at 09:55 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 9:56pm

Grazie, Aigoo. :)

And if the Follies OBC doesn't do it for you, the concert recording is definitely worth trying. It's practically the only Sondheim show where I don't think the OBC is necessarily the definitive recording.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 9:58pm

Yeah..I was looking for Sunday in the Park... but I couldn't find it...Maybe it was checked out...I'll look for it next time I visit, however. And there are other libraries that have a larger "library" that I can check, as well. We just happened to stop by the library on the way home from dinner tonight.

[Plum]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 9:59pm

Gah, Sunday. If that doesn't cause you to worship Bernadette Peters, I don't know what will. I worship her performance in that show- it's right up there with Joanna Gleason in Into the Woods.

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 9:59pm

You don't see the appeal of Sondheim?

Oy vey. We're not speaking.

[jasonf]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 10:00pm

I'll explain my ALNM comment this way -- I LOVE Sondheim. I think he's an absolute genius. Someone asks me who I'd want to have dinner with, my answer is Sondheim. I think ALNM is beautiful, BUT it took me the longest time to get into (aside from Bounce which I still don't totally like). I even liked Passions on my first listen. I just think in general for a modern audience ALNM is most removed of his scores from what we're used to hearing. Like I said, still not a fan of Liasons, and The Glamorous Life doesn't do much for me either, but most of the score is fantastic.

Aigoo -- I've never seen Follies, but the music is some of Sondheim's best, and most often anthologized. One of my all time favorite songs from ALL musicals is Losing My Mind, but the score is full of great music. You need to get the double disc PaperMill Playhouse recording - some of the cut stuff (there's a joke about that on a CD called Big City Rhythm in a song called "I Won't Sing a Sondheim Song" which cracks me up every time) is awesome - especially "Can That Boy FFFFFFFF-oxtrot"

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 10:03pm

Well, Ebonic, being a classically trained musician my entire life, I understand the shock that you are going through. When someone says they really don't care for Chopin without listening to him, I absolutely freak out, and force them to listen to his pieces. Then I mention that the music they played in The Pianist, they say, "OH! Him...Yeah, I suppose he's cool."

I'm recently starting to get into musical theatre, so don't block me out just yet...


And I do love Into The Woods. I only knew of Bernadette being on the cast because her voice is just easy to pick out. When I was listening to my recording one time, however, I picked out a very familiar voice from the DRS soundtrack. When I checked the original cast list, I saw Joanna's name! I can't believe I didn't know she was on there!

[Plum]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 10:07pm

Oh, god, they disrespect Chopin like that? *is in psychic pain*

I think you'll like Sunday. Or at least I hope so.

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 10:08pm

Aigoo- Stherland and Bergonzi are probably really good, though I've never heard their Traviata. Try the Kleiber (he's the conductor) if you ever want to get a full recording. It rules. And try to see opera on stage sometime- it's fun, and it's fairly similar to seeing musicals (as long as there are surtitles so you understand what they're saying!). Musicals were my "gateway drug" into opera. :)

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 10:10pm

I've always appreciated opera, but now, I'm thinking, "VERDI?! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!"





I know, Plum...I know.

[BwayFan4]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 11:20pm

Great slections Aigoo...tell us what you think....best way to find out about musicals of the past and to learn...i love to read the cd notes....get info that way too