Another edition of our recurring feature focusing on musical theatre on local stages. This time you get tracks from Gypsy (at Stages through the end of June), Jesus Christ Superstar (at the Fox through June 6th), and Carmen Jones, Oscar Hammerstein II's 1944 revision of Carmen. Opera Theatre is doing the original through June 26th. But wait, there's more: new re-releases of soundtrack recordings from Dances With Wolves (1990) and The Chase (1966).
PLAYLIST
| Selection |
Source |
Performer(s) |
Comments |
| Horror Scopes |
The Dead Alewives web site (now deceased) |
The
Dead Alewives |
Now, a horoscope that just might save your life.
The Dead Alewives are a Wisconsin-based comedy group that may or may not be -
well - dead. Their web site no longer exists. Anyone who has any information them
is invited to drop me a line. |
| I
Don't Know How to Love Him |
Jesus
Christ Superstar (1969) |
Yvonne
Elliman |
In this performance from the original concept album,
Mary Magdalene wrestles with her confused feelings about Jesus. Elliman also
played the role on Broadway in 1971.and again in the 1973 film. A national tour
of Jesus Christ Superstar
plays the Fox through June 6th. Read
my review! |
| If
Mama Was Married |
Sondheim:
A Musical Tribute (1973) |
Alice
Playten and Virginia Sandifur |
The song is from Gypsy (1959), which opens
a one-month run at Stages on May 28th.
Mama Rose's daughters fantasize about what life would be like if she would finally
marry her long-suffering lover Herbie. This recording is from a special all-star
Sondheim tribute concert from March 11, 1973 that was also a benefit for The National
Hemophilia Foundation. |
| L'Amour est
un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) |
Maria
Callas Sings Great Arias From French Opera (1961) |
Maria
Callas, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Franaise conducted by Georges
Prêtre |
Like many of the famous numbers in Carmen,
this uses a Spanish dance form for the emlody. Carmen warns the drooling male
population of Seville: "Si tu ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime; mais si je t’aime, prends garde à toi" ("If you do not love me, I love you; but if I love you, beware").
Don Jose doesn't listen and winds up a thief and a murderer. The Opera
Theatre of St. Louis production of Carmen runs through June 26th.
Read my review! |
| Dat's Love |
Carmen
Jones (OC 1944) |
Muriel
Smith |
Oscar Hammerstein II's 1944 musical Carmen
Jones transplants Bizet's Carmen from Spain in the 1870s to America in
1944. The action takes place in and around a parachute factory in the south and
all the characters are African Americans. Bizet's music is basically unchanged
but Hammerstein gave it new lyrics and the characters new names. "Dat's Love"
is set to the tune of the famous "Habanera" from Act I of the original and has
a similar warning ("If I love you, dat's de end of you"). |
| Spotting
the Herd |
Dances
With Wolves (OS 1990) |
Orchestra conducted by John
Barry |
Kevin
Costner starred and made his directing debut in this unusual Western about an
idealistic Civil War soldier who makes friends with and eventually joins a Sioux
tribe. The score is by film veteran John Barry (best known for his many James
Bond soundtracks) and contains his characteristic harmonic and orchestral trademarks. |
| The
Buffalo Hunt (film version) |
Dances
With Wolves (OS 1990) |
Orchestra
conducted by John Barry |
Like
the previous cut, this one was previously un-released. This re-release of the
complete score includes tracks deleted from the original as well as expanded versions
of some cues. |
| Main
Title (Alternate Version) |
The
Chase (OS 1966) |
Orchestra
conducted by John Barry |
This
adaptation of a Horton Foote novel starred Robert Redford as an escaped prisoner
pursued by the local Sheriff (Marlon Brando). Director
Arthur Penn, screenwriter Lillian Hellman and producer
Sam Spiegel were in a constant state of conflict and the resulting film is not
generally considered a success. This re-release of John Barry's score includes
tracks not in the original, like this one. |
| The
Chase |
The
Chase (OS 1966) |
Orchestra
conducted by John Barry |
Although
the film was set in Texas, the score was recorded in London (Barry's home turf). |
| Gloria
Peterbilt |
Somewhere
Over the Radio |
Stevens
and Grdnic |
If
your jeans were this tight, you'd sound like her, too. |
