Having seen PASSION done both ways - original Broadway production, then the original London production - I think I marginally prefer it with "I Love Fosca", but I don't feel very strongly about it. I think it's helpful to give Georgio that moment, provided you have a Georgio who can really sing the hell out of it, but the show works perfectly well without it.
I loved PASSION in the theatre, but I very rarely get the urge to put on any of the cast recordings.
My big takeaway from the symphonic Sondheim On Sondheim concert at the Royal Festival Hall a few years ago was that at some point someone has to cast Rebecca Trehearn as Fosca. Her 'I Read' was the highlight of the entire evening - not an easy song to do out of context, and she gave an absolutely thrilling performance of it. |
