My Musical Theater Voyage of Discovery; The Sondheim Files - A Little Night Music
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is one of my so, so favourite shows and scores. I learned the OBC in high school and was always struck my the lush romanticism of the score and the intense intelligence of the show. I have never not loved listening to Len Cariou sing, I have never not loved Glynis Johns (from Mary Poppins to While You Were Sleeping, she is always perf), I have never not been enthralled by Hermione Gingold. I was destined to love A Little Night Music from the first listening – and even though Send in the Clowns is the most famous song, the loveliest and most recorded, the song that caught my attention at my first listening was Liaisons. So, natch, I imported the OBC and I listen to it often, with gleeful appreciation.
I picked up the original West End cast album with Jean Simmons last year (I had never heard it) and imported it. Upon listening to it, I promptly deleted I (most of) it. Joss Ackland is unbearable and I would much rather hear Laurence Guittard on the OBC than David Kernan (who I love on Side by Side by Sondheim); and though the other performances on this cd are alright, I already have the OBC… Hermione Gingold is nearly a carbon copy on the UK album and Jean Simmons, while a lovely actress, is not the easiest singer to listen to. Out of respect for her acting, I DID leave her tracks in my Ipod. Once or twice a year, I will play them.
In the 80s, PBS broadcast a NYCO production of A Little Night Music of tv and I videotaped it. When it became possible, I transferred it to dvd and I watch it, often (still). It has been hailed as being a flawed production but I just don’t care: I like it. In fact, I love it. That love starts with the show, the score; it continues with a genuine affection for the performances of George Lee Andrews and Regina Resnick and it finishes up with a devotion to Maureen Moore (who, as Countess Charlotte Malcolm, is one of the most perfect actors giving one of the most perfect performances in one of the most perfect marriages of actor and character EVER). Then there is the Desiree Armfeldt – Sally Ann Howes. I love her; and true love lasts forever. So, being so enamoured of this production, I took my vhs and made it into a cd, which I imported into my Ipod and which I listen to as often as I do the OBC. Heavenly.
Then we have the matter of a little UK production starring the greatest English actress currently living (possibly of all time), who happens to be a friend of mine (who I never see but who I love and with whom I have an epistolary friendship – she being a famous actress who lives in another country, it is difficult to call her up and say ‘let’s go to the movies’ – still, she is my friend and I am her devoted servant). Her performance as Desiree Armfeldt has become something of a legend, not just for those who saw the actual production but for those who saw a tv special about the creation of the show and for those who saw Judi Dench (oops – dropped a name, better pick it up) perform Send in the Clowns on a tv special called HEY MR PRODUCER that paid tribute to Cameron Mackintosh. It has been called (by many that I have read online and heard in person) the greatest musical theater performance they have ever seen. Dudes, that’s more than enough for me. I didn’t see the show. Wasn’t in London for that. I hate it but there it is. What I have is the cd and the videotapes of the specials I just mentioned.
I imported the cd of this production (now out of print and hard to find) into my Ipod and listened to it. A lot of it is listenable, especially Jude’s tracks. I will play Sian Phillips’ version of Liaisons and the recordings of the Night Waltz’s; but that’s it. The rest was expendable – I wasn’t in love with some of the English singing voices. Sorry. But I AM in love with Jude and will listen to her do, say or sing anything. It’s nice to have her in my Ipod.
I will not, will not, will not import the soundtrack to the movie version of Night Music; but I do, from time to time put the record on my turntable and play it around the house. It’s not bad.
It’s not good, either.
I can’t wait for the new cast album with Catherine Zeta Jones and Miss Angela Lansbury.
They would be foolish NOT to do one.
I picked up the original West End cast album with Jean Simmons last year (I had never heard it) and imported it. Upon listening to it, I promptly deleted I (most of) it. Joss Ackland is unbearable and I would much rather hear Laurence Guittard on the OBC than David Kernan (who I love on Side by Side by Sondheim); and though the other performances on this cd are alright, I already have the OBC… Hermione Gingold is nearly a carbon copy on the UK album and Jean Simmons, while a lovely actress, is not the easiest singer to listen to. Out of respect for her acting, I DID leave her tracks in my Ipod. Once or twice a year, I will play them.
In the 80s, PBS broadcast a NYCO production of A Little Night Music of tv and I videotaped it. When it became possible, I transferred it to dvd and I watch it, often (still). It has been hailed as being a flawed production but I just don’t care: I like it. In fact, I love it. That love starts with the show, the score; it continues with a genuine affection for the performances of George Lee Andrews and Regina Resnick and it finishes up with a devotion to Maureen Moore (who, as Countess Charlotte Malcolm, is one of the most perfect actors giving one of the most perfect performances in one of the most perfect marriages of actor and character EVER). Then there is the Desiree Armfeldt – Sally Ann Howes. I love her; and true love lasts forever. So, being so enamoured of this production, I took my vhs and made it into a cd, which I imported into my Ipod and which I listen to as often as I do the OBC. Heavenly.
Then we have the matter of a little UK production starring the greatest English actress currently living (possibly of all time), who happens to be a friend of mine (who I never see but who I love and with whom I have an epistolary friendship – she being a famous actress who lives in another country, it is difficult to call her up and say ‘let’s go to the movies’ – still, she is my friend and I am her devoted servant). Her performance as Desiree Armfeldt has become something of a legend, not just for those who saw the actual production but for those who saw a tv special about the creation of the show and for those who saw Judi Dench (oops – dropped a name, better pick it up) perform Send in the Clowns on a tv special called HEY MR PRODUCER that paid tribute to Cameron Mackintosh. It has been called (by many that I have read online and heard in person) the greatest musical theater performance they have ever seen. Dudes, that’s more than enough for me. I didn’t see the show. Wasn’t in London for that. I hate it but there it is. What I have is the cd and the videotapes of the specials I just mentioned.
I imported the cd of this production (now out of print and hard to find) into my Ipod and listened to it. A lot of it is listenable, especially Jude’s tracks. I will play Sian Phillips’ version of Liaisons and the recordings of the Night Waltz’s; but that’s it. The rest was expendable – I wasn’t in love with some of the English singing voices. Sorry. But I AM in love with Jude and will listen to her do, say or sing anything. It’s nice to have her in my Ipod.
I will not, will not, will not import the soundtrack to the movie version of Night Music; but I do, from time to time put the record on my turntable and play it around the house. It’s not bad.
It’s not good, either.
I can’t wait for the new cast album with Catherine Zeta Jones and Miss Angela Lansbury.
They would be foolish NOT to do one.
posted by StephenMosher at 8:36 AM
2 Comments:
Nice post, very informative, you certainly know your shows.
That's a nice thing to say. Thank you. I don't really know if I do, though -- there's so much I don't know and so many others who DO. Maybe after this little journey, I will!
Cheers
ste
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