November 20, 2014

  • New Broadway Disc from Chandos

     

    Something’s Gotta Give
    Simon Keenlyside, baritone. Scarlett Strallen, soprano.  BBC Concert Orchestra/David Charles Abell
    Chandos 10838
    Total Time:  75:38
    Recording:   ****/****
    Performance: ****/****

    Classical labels do not have a good track record when it comes to exploring American Musical theater.  John McGlinn managed to record a number of albums some 20 years ago now that allowed listeners to go hear original orchestrations for musicals by Irving Berling and Cole Porter, and even some Gershwin.  Often, the major labels reissue original cast recordings of more recent musicals thus making a re-recording less important.  The costs associated with such an endeavor would likely make it impossible all the same.  This new Chandos release explores some sixteen great hits of the Broadway stage returning to the original stage, or film, orchestrations many of which are receiving premiere digital or CD appearances here.  Some of these are period orchestrations that were made for publishers to sell as concert arrangements, but in most cases are by the same orchestrators that worked on the musicals originally.

    The performances feature baritone Simon Keelyside and occasionally soprano Scarlett Strallen.  Both are noted opera performers.  Keelyside is a world-renowned recitalist and performer with a fairly wide range of opera roles to his credit from Monteverdi to Thomas Ades.  This will mean that for Broadway purists, his rich baritone may at first seem to “artsy” than what they have become accustomed to from the original productions.  But, there is some great music making that goes on here.

    Rather than present a host of “American Songbook” classics from Broadway, the release sets each song from within the context of the musical as much as possible so we do not have the more common verse and chorus pops performances.    Thus the “Soliloquy” from Carousel in its original Broadway setting, becomes a real highlight of the disc as the music and story unfolds.  Characterizations sometimes work less well in selections such as “Reviewing the Situation” (Oliver!) and “If I Were A Rich Man” (Fiddler on the Roof) both in their original Broadway orchestrations.  The performances are still valid but remind the listener how character songs require much more context than can be given in a single excerpt from the show itself.  The Cole Porter selections from Kiss Me, Kate (“So In Love”), and Gay Divorce (“Night and Day”) are equally good recalling Thomas Hampson’s Cole Porter disc.

    Scarlett Strallen provides some variety in important classic duets.  The first of these is “People Will Say We’re In Love” (Oklahoma!) where both vocal lines feel equal here with such trained voices.  The results are stunning and the same can be said for “When Did I Fall in Love?” (Fiorello!).  The operatic touch works very well in the overwrought “Stranger in Paradise” (Kismet) which is very lush appropriately.

    What is most appreciated in this release is the mix of more widely familiar selections alongside the less familiar and even the Hollywood musical numbers like the disc’s title song from Daddy Long Legs work well within the general flow of this well chosen program.  The release comes with an immense accompanying booklet that is filled with informative essays about the restoration of the music and Keelyside’s own essay about his interest and choices for this program.  The BBC Concert Orchestra is really stunningly captured in this excellent release.  While some may long for the drier “live” feel that cast recordings often have, the performances captured here are all committed to recreating these “songs” as the integral musical segments that they often were in the shows and with excellent diction and often moving interpretations.