I had never heard of Jerome Kern's 1924 musical Sitting Pretty when I bought this studio cast album of the "reconstructed" score. I probably bought it because of either Jason Graae or John McGlinn. More on them later.This show is more old-fashioned than Ye Olde Apothecary Shoppe. While the songs do have some emotional connection to the characters performing them, the music is equally extractable without missing any of the context. In other words, it's not a book musical, where the songs are specific to time/place/character.
That being said, there is a lot to like in listening to this album that was released in 1990. There are very listen-able performers such as Mr. Graae, Judy Blazer, Beverly Lambert, and Paige O'Hara who continue to have musical careers. There is operatic soprano Roberta Peters. And there are hummable tunes, that while being clearly of another era, have some vitality. And the 'legit' soprano song "Days Gone By" sung here by Ms. Peters is a beautiful operetta aria, in the vein of "Vilja" from The Merry Widow.
Musical historian and conductor John McGlinn includes extensive notes on the back story of Kern and collaborators P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton. He also clearly appreciates this music. Even if his love of this score is a bit over-zealous, he rightfully credits Sitting Pretty with paving the way for more substantial shows like Kern's Showboat.
I mentioned that Jason Graae is in this cast, and he is a delight. I've heard him perform live and always thought of him as a character singer, but he proves here to have a pleasant, light baritone voice with some true legato to it.
Sitting Pretty
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse
Book by Guy Bolton
1990 Studio cast recording conducted by John McGlinn
Cast: Judy Blazer, Davis Gaines, Merwin Goldsmith, Beverly Lambert, Paula Laurence, Paige O'Hara, Jason Graae, Paul V. Ames, Richard Woods, Roberta Peters
No comments:
Post a Comment