Reviews

Just a review of the couple of albums I have been listening too recently:
NINE: Nine is quite simply a musical theatre triumph. For sure one of the richest scores in recent memory. Maury Yeston's score is beautiful, moving, challenging, and profound. I don't often lavish compliments, but this music is so fantastic, I bought the 2002 revival cast days after acquiring the original. Highlights in include, "My Husband Makes Movies", Guido's wife's intro, and subsequent explanation of her husband's livelihood. Upon first listen, I assumed this would be one of the best of the album, but it was quickly forgotten when "A Call From the Vatican" raged on to my iPod. Anita Morris from the Original Broadway Cast purrs, and then quite literally growls into a climax. Beautiful and seductive. "Folies Bergeres" is a bit of a fantasy number, highlighted even more so by the casting of Chita Rivera in the new Broadway cast. "The Bells of St. Sebastian" is full of imagery, but the structure of the song did not suit me. And then "Unusual Way". What other superlatives can I use. It is breathtaking, easily exploding into the top 30 of 100 my Favorite Showtunes. And then, "Getting Tall".  Nine's retrospective finale has orchestrations unheard of in modern musical theatre. Large orchestras are a dying breed on Broadway today, and it was refreshing to hear such a grand sound from Nine. Yeston also creates one of the most necessary overtures in Broadway history, and even more innovative, it is sung by the cast. Undoubtedly, unquestionably beautiful. Grade: A

GRAND HOTEL: To perhaps defend my partiality to Yeston's "Nine", I cannot be so kind about his revisions to Grand Hotel. Originally conceived by Robert Wright and George Forrest, Yeston was brought in by director Tommy Tune to revise the ailing score and lyrics. Grand Hotel has a bloated concept that interweaves six or seven different stories of guests and employees at the hotel. The score is not completely devoid of beauty, the ballad, "Love Can't Happen" is lush, but a bit melodramatic,. It's reprise in "Roses at the Station" highlights it's beauty especially. "Maybe My Baby Loves Me" isn't awful, and it entertains, but its one of those playful, meaningless numbers. "I want to Go to Hollywood" and "Who Couldn't Dance With You" also highlight a forgettable cast album and a near forgotten one as well. Grade: C

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE: Sondheim at his best. With a book that has a fantastic first act, but a simply disappointing and dull second act. Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin are combined with such great material, the cast album is an instant classic. They both give incredibly touching vocal performances. The song, "Sunday in the Park with George" is a good opener. "Finishing the Hat" is a fantastic male solo, both touching and loosely structured to reflect the pointillism of the painting the musical is based on. "Sunday" was my instant favorite from the recording. It's on par with the operatic melodies of Leonard Bernstein. "We Do Not Belong Together" has a heart-wrenching line from Peters, that gives her character and Patinkin's a whole new level of characterization. The second act opener, "It's Hot Up Here" is funny, and melodic, and a highlight of the dismal second act. And "Move On" is a beautiful tribute to artists, as is the entire show. Grade: A

IN TROUSERS: I have been waiting a long time to listen to this cast album, as William Finn has recently become one of my favorite composers. It's a song cycle. It leaps from Marvin's adulthood to his labored past and adolescence. It is abrasive and distinct even today, as I am sure it was even more shocking when it was produced. "Whizzer Going Down", while perhaps nice musically, is a terror of a song, with far too many innuendos for my taste. The real triumphs here are Finn's two female ballads, "Love Me For What I Am" and "I'm Breaking Down".  Overall, the first part of the "Marvin Trilogy" is less focused and more repetitive, but still has valuable musical qualities. Grade: B

Top 100 Showtunes

1. I Am the One/You Don't Know-Next to Normal            

Defying Gravity-Wicked

Everything's Coming Up Roses-Gypsy            

The I Love You Song The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee           

Comfort and Joy-Bat Boy

Heaven On Their Minds-Jesus Christ Superstar

Tomorrow Is A Latter Day-The book of Mormon

Tonight (Quintet and Chorus)-West Side Story

Till We Reach That Day-Ragtime

What Would I Do?-Falsettoland

Another Winter In a Summer Town-Grey Gardens

Who Will Love Me As I Am?-Side Show

Make Our Garden Grow-Candide

Unworthy of Your Love-Assassins

Opening: The New World-Songs for A New World

What's the Use of Wond'rin'-Carousel           

This Nearly Was Mine- South Pacific

I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face-My Fair Lady

Camelot: Act II: If Ever I Would Leave You

Sunday- Sunday in the Park with George

How Glory Goes-Floyd Collins

My Strongest Suit-Aida

A New Argentina- Evita

The Gods Love Nubia- Aida

What I Did for Love- A Chorus Line

Flying Home-Songs for A New World

Die Vampire, Die!- [title of show]

All the Wasted Time-Parade

Send in the Clowns-A Little Night Music

Make Them Hear You-Ragtime

Company

Unlikely Lovers-Falsettoland

I Feel So Much Spring-A New Brain

Hear My Song-Songs for a New World

Tradition- Fiddler on the roof

Unusual Way-Nine

I Will Never Leave You-Side Show

The Impossible Dream-Man of La Mancha

Old Man River-Show Boat

What Would You Do?-Cabaret

Suddenly Seymour-Little Shop of Horrors

Losing My Mind-Follies

No One Is Alone- Into the Woods

A Light In the Dark-Next to Normal           

Roses’s Turn-Gypsy

Tomorrow Belongs to Me (Reprise)-Cabaret

 Dividing Day- The Light in the Piazza           

Momma Look Sharp-1776

It Sucks to Be Me-Avenue Q

The Revolutionary Costume for Today-Grey Gardens

Man Up-The Book of Mormon

A Home for You-Bat Boy

Back to Before-Ragtime

Brotherhood of Man- How to Succeed

I'd Give It All for You-Songs for A New World

Getting Tall-Nine

The Music Still Plays On-A New Brain

Where Do I Go?-Hair

I Miss the Mountains-Next to Normal           

King of New York-Newsies

Anything Goes

Put on Your Sunday Clothes- Hello Dolly

Edelweiss-The Sound of Music

Nine People's Favorite Thing-[title of show]

Run, Freedom, Run!-Urinetown           

All That Jazz- Chicago           

I Never Wanted to Love You-March of the Falsettos            

Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat-Guys and Dolls            

The Beauty Is [Reprise]-The Light in the Piazza

The Flesh Failures (Let The Sunshine In)-Hair           

Oklahoma

Getting Ready-13           

Soon It's Gonna Rain-The Fantasticks           

Just Another Day-Next to Normal

Don't Walk Away-Xanadu

Say It Somehow-The Light in the Piazza

Still Hurting-The Last Five Years            

Yours, Yours, Yours-1776

Comedy Tonight-Forum

Revolting Children-Matilda

Didn't We?-Adding Machine           

Christian Charity-Bat Boy

What More Can I Say?-Falsettos

Light-Next to Normal

Wilkommen- cabaret

Sailing-A New Brain

Seasons Of Love-Rent

Finale Ultimo (Don't Feed the Plants)-Little Shop of Horrors

One (Reprise) / Finale-A Chorus Line

Luck Be A Lady-Guys and dolls

Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again- The Phantom of the Opera

Will You?-Grey Gardens

 Hello!-The book of Mormon           

Any Moment / Moments in the Woods-Into the Woods

For Now-Avenue Q

King Herod's Song-Jesus Christ Superstar            

By the Sea-Sweeney Todd

Cabaret         

Naughty-Matilda

Love Never Dies

Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'-Oklahoma

Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man-Show Boat

Forget About the Boy-Thoroughly Modern Millie

Before the Parade Passes By-Hello Dolly

Fantasies Come True-Avenue Q

Any Minute-13

You Should Be Loved-Side show

My Own Best Friend- Chicago