Who can tell me about "Carmen Jones"?
Who can tell me about "Carmen Jones"?
#0Who can tell me about "Carmen Jones"?
Posted: 2/21/06 at 4:30am
I've just been listening to Anthony Warlow's CD ON THE BOARDS and have come across the awesome "Stand Up and Fight" from Carmen Jones.
Obviously the music is by Bizet and they lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.
Can anyone tell me this show's evolution and history? And maybe recommend the best recording to buy?
Thanks!
Tim
#1re: Who can tell me about 'Carmen Jones'?
Posted: 2/21/06 at 5:44am
Hammerstein always felt that opera would be more accessible if sung in English and spent years working on adapting Bizet's CARMEN. He finally finished it and got it produced in December 1943. Basic plot is the same with the story and characters updated to WW II days. (Toreador Ecamillo becoms prize fighter Husky Miller - Hence "Stan' Up and Fight.")
In 1954 there was a film version with Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge (singing voices were dubbed by Opera singers.) This is out on DVD.
Recordings: 1943 original cast (Decca); 1954 Film soundtrack (RCA - out-of-print); 1962 studio cast (DRG) and the 1991 London cast (EMI - out-of-print) The 1991 CD is most complete but uses new orchestrations. The Decca and DRG recordings are readily available.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#2re: Who can tell me about 'Carmen Jones'?
Posted: 2/21/06 at 9:50am
The original "Carmen Jones" on Broadway was the very talented Muriel Smith. She can be seen in the film "Moulin Rouge" (1952) as Aicha, the dancer and foil for La Goulue. She also dubbed the singing for Zsa Zsa Gabor's songs (as Jane Avril) in the same film.
...And she also did the singing for Juanita Hall in the film of "South Pacific."
(Odd that they dubbed Juanita, since she played the part and won the Tony for it on Broadway... but dubbed her, they did... and with Muriel's singing voice.)
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TheEnchantedHunter
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/27/05
#3re: Who can tell me about 'Carmen Jones'?
Posted: 2/21/06 at 10:46am
Fascinating behind-the-scenes info about Muriel, best12bars, and MOULIN ROUGE, a film I adore. I wonder how many other singer/actors performed a role and dubbed someone else in the same movie!
Toulous-Lautrec
Pigalle, Paris
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