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| re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 01:12 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - GrumpyMorningBoy 01:00 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| Well - MOST HAPPY FELLA was written for and sung by an opera singer, Robert Weede. Irra Pettina was an opera singer, and was quite terrific in CANDIDE. Ezio Pinza and Paulo Szot were both quite fine in South Pacific. Pinza also headlined the hit FANNY. Opera star Helen Traubel was one of the stars of Rodgers and Hammerstein's PIPE DREAM. Re these concert versions of musicals - they're CONCERT versions, with the NYPO. The point is to sing the music beautifully, less to create performances that work on Broadway. I thought that mezzo Stephanie Blythe was quite good in the NYPO CAROUSEL, and as far as Nathan Gunn goes - he's a terrific actor in opera - and having seen it live, thought it a much better performance than that of the Billy in the recent Broadway revival. |
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| re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? | |
| Posted by: Snowysdad 07:49 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - NewtonUK 01:12 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| I think Traubel in Pipe Dream illustrates when it goes wrong. The original cast album doesn't show off how fine the score really is, partly because of Traubel. Leslie Uggams is so much more appropriate on the Encores recording, bringing the whole show into better focus. | |
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| NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? | |
| Posted by: BwyDan 02:09 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - NewtonUK 01:12 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| "and as far as Nathan Gunn goes - he's a terrific actor in opera - and having seen it live, thought it a much better performance than that of the Billy in the recent Broadway revival." NewtonUK, are you referring to Joshua Henry, who last played Billy on Bwy opposite Jessie Mueller? |
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| re: NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 03:59 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - BwyDan 02:09 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| YEs - thanks - I briefly forgot Mr Henry's names. I had enjoyed him in other productions, but I thought his Billy was way below par in the Billy Bigelow sweepstakes. 'My Boy Bill' is a great 'aria' - even John Raitt, to be fair not much of an actor, could sell this song and act it. Mr. Henry, to me, missed all the acting cues in the song, and just made a great sound. If there is one thing a great opera singer knows how to do is how to make the words do the work. | |
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| re: NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 04:04 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 04:01 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - NewtonUK 03:59 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| Maybe John Raitt was a bit stiff in film in "The Pajama Game", but it was his first (and only) major film performance; it's possible he was much better acting on stage. He won a Donaldson Award, the predecessor ot the Tonys, for his performance in "Carousel". Plus, he did practically every male leading role in musicals in regionals and summer stock. That voice was glorious, and he wasn't half-bad looking either! |
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| re: NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? | |
| Posted by: StageDoorJohnny 04:49 am EDT 07/31/20 | |
| In reply to: re: NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - PlayWiz 04:01 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| I saw Raitt in Zorba, On A Clear Day, Music Man, Kismet and a self-directed 25th anniversary tour of Carousel. With a good strong director he was decent as an actor, but his self-directed Billy was embarrassing, esp. in the Soliloquy. He physically acted out everything possible - wrestle, dive, swim, sissy, etc., it was not pretty. But dear God, could that man sing! | |
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| re: NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 05:53 am EDT 07/31/20 | |
| In reply to: re: NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - StageDoorJohnny 04:49 am EDT 07/31/20 | |
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| The reviews I've seen of him as Zorbá said things like, "The casting sounds ridiculous but he's surprisingly good in the role.." | |
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| re: NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 06:48 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: NewtonUK, re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - PlayWiz 04:01 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| I'm told that John Raitt himself used to make fun of his own acting ability. Apparently, he was the first to admit that he wasn't a great actor, and that his owed his career to his glorious singing voice. | |
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| re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 01:23 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - NewtonUK 01:12 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| "Re these concert versions of musicals - they're CONCERT versions, with the NYPO. The point is to sing the music beautifully, less to create performances that work on Broadway. I thought that mezzo Stephanie Blythe was quite good in the NYPO CAROUSEL, and as far as Nathan Gunn goes - he's a terrific actor in opera - and having seen it live, thought it a much better performance than that of the Billy in the recent Broadway revival." I completely agree. We can all think of examples where the casting of opera singers in musical theater roles did not work, but there are also many times when it does. |
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| re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? | |
| Posted by: ryhog 05:47 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - Michael_Portantiere 01:23 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| I also agree, and let me just add: "there are no rules." --me |
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| I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Posted by: ShowGoer 03:43 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I'm confused. Does anyone actually WANT to see opera stars perform musicals? - Michael_Portantiere 01:23 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| Nathan Gunn was not dynamic, but was at least sincere, and I also found him preferable to Joshua Henry in the last revival, who I didn't believe for a single minute. (I have liked Henry in several other things, including Scottsboro Boys and Violet, so I think it's less an issue with his performance in Carousel than with overall problems I had with that entire production.) That said, the best overall Billy I've ever seen is far and away Michael Hayden from the 1990s revival - and while his voice didn't bother me either in London or New York, I believe opinion was nearly universal that he gave a tremendous performance that wasn't especially well-sung at all. Which I guess proves the original poster's point. |
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| re: I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 04:05 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 03:57 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: I completely agree re: Billy - ShowGoer 03:43 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| Opinion was not nearly universal about Haydn's performance. I knew quite a few people disappointed by the singing. He came off as a Jimmy Cagney wannabe who couldn't sing the role. I was more moved by Gordon MacRae's acting and singing in the film and perplexed how they could cast Haydn, who ended the first act's difficult "Soliloquoy" with a whimper instead of a bang. There were some beautiful aspects to that production, but I would rather have seen someone else as Billy. | |
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| re: I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 03:55 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: I completely agree re: Billy - ShowGoer 03:43 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| "That said, the best overall Billy I've ever seen is far and away Michael Hayden from the 1990s revival - and while his voice didn't bother me either in London or New York, I believe opinion was nearly universal that he gave a tremendous performance that wasn't especially well-sung at all. Which I guess proves the original poster's point." I know what you mean, but I would describe Billy Bigelow as a prime example of a musical theater role that really needs to be very well sung and ALSO very well acted. |
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| re: I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Posted by: Snowysdad 07:53 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I completely agree re: Billy - Michael_Portantiere 03:55 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| I'm going way back to my youth but my memory of Harve Presnell's Billy (Lincoln Center on tour) is that he was tremendous. | |
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| re: I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 01:34 pm EDT 07/30/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I completely agree re: Billy - Snowysdad 07:53 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| I was unaware that Harve Presnell toured in that production, or that he ever played Billy Bigelow anywhere. Of course, it makes perfect sense. I would have LOVED to have seen him in that role. | |
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| re: I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Posted by: Snowysdad 11:55 pm EDT 08/01/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I completely agree re: Billy - Michael_Portantiere 01:34 pm EDT 07/30/20 | |
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| You made me wonder if my mind was playing tricks but no, I found the program from all those years ago. | |
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| re: I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Posted by: Pokernight 06:47 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I completely agree re: Billy - Michael_Portantiere 03:55 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| I'd like to add that the original choice for Billy in the film of CAROUSEL was Frank Sinatra....so deal with that as you will. I am not a musician or composer, but if I WAS, I'd want to hear my music song as well as it possibly could be. Leontyne Price's version of Rodgers and Hart's "Nobody's Heart" is sublime. | |
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| re: I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Posted by: Snowysdad 07:55 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I completely agree re: Billy - Pokernight 06:47 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| Yes it is as is her Right as the Rain, but both are songs that lend to her side of the divide. She chose her popular material very carefully and very well. | |
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| re: I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 06:51 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I completely agree re: Billy - Pokernight 06:47 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| ***Leontyne Price's version of Rodgers and Hart's "Nobody's Heart" is sublime.*** I absolutely LOVE that recording, and most of the rest of Price's "pop" album. |
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| re: I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Posted by: larry13 08:40 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I completely agree re: Billy - Michael_Portantiere 06:51 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| Yes, superb album. Some recognition must go, however, to Andre Previn who was conductor/pianist/arranger. | |
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| re: I completely agree re: Billy | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:08 am EDT 07/30/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I completely agree re: Billy - larry13 08:40 pm EDT 07/29/20 | |
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| "Some recognition must go, however, to Andre Previn who was conductor/pianist/arranger." Yes, of course. Beautiful work from Previn. The only negative aspect of his participation is that, unfortunately, two tracks on the album were used for two very mediocre songs he himself wrote with his the wife, Dory, when they could have been used to have Price sing two more great classics. But, whatever, it's still a wonderful album. |
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