Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds on DVD

When I took this DVD out of the Netflix envelope, I was afraid it was going to be another special concert offering, but it turns out Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds was made for PBS's American Masters series, and is more talking heads about the history, importance and substance of Rodgers' music than singing heads. I actually would have like a little less conversation and a little more music-making, but seeing as I've already listened to a Rodgers one-off concert, perhaps this is better--for now.

The documentary goes through the three major phases of Rodgers' career--two decades of work with Lorenz Hart, including some time in Hollywood; nearly two more decades of work with Oscar Hammerstein II; and the post-Hammerstein years when Rodgers is working on his own, and several others.

Among the many knowledgeable and informative talking heads are performers--Shirley Jones, Barbara Cook, Diahann Carroll, Maureen McGovern, and jazz musicians Billy Taylor and Barbara Carroll; Rodgers family members--daughter and composer Mary Rodgers Guettel, daughter Linda Rodgers, and grandson and composer Adam Guettel; music theater historians and producers such as Ted Chapin, president of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, which licenses Rodgers' shows.

There are several interesting historical clips the documentary including the wonderful "Bench Scene" from Carousel with John Raitt recorded for television, and the lovely Diahann Carroll singing the title song from "No Strings". I must make a point of finding more to listen to from this show.

I've had the idea for a while to do a concert called Rodgers Without Hammerstein, focusing on his work with Hart, his work alone and including things that wouldn't have lyrics like "Victory at Sea", "Slaughter on 5th Avenue", and the dance music from R&H shows --like "The Carousel Waltz" which has always been one of my favorite pieces of music.

Any takers?

Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds
Produced for PBS American Masters in 2001
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers and others
Cast: Shirley Jones, Julie Andrews, Ted Chapin, Mary Rodgers, Adam Guettel, Barbara Cook, John Raitt, Diahann Carroll, Maureen McGovern

Me and Juliet original cast album on CD

Well, I've missed the opportunity to have something Halloween-related today; I don't know maybe The Phantom of the Opera, or the musical version of Lestat the Vampire (has that opened yet?). Instead we have the scenery that ate the musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein. That's basically how the informative notes to this CD reissue describe Me and Juliet.

It's a show-within-a-show. Am I in a rut with those? Well, apparently this one takes place in just about every place within a theatre, including the lighting catwalk. No wonder the set took over.

The only song I had heard from this score is "No Other Love" and it's a wonderful song presented in duet. Bill Hayes has a nice tenor voice. Isabel Bigley a lightish soprano that gets a bit covered in the upper reaches. Of course, it sounds as if this cast album was not remastered before being transfered to CD, so that may be partly to blame.

A couple of the songs about the theatre milieu approach funny without really getting there. The "Intermission Talk" has some hysterical references to which I laughed out loud, but the music is all over the board and doesn't settle on any one style long enough to make an impression. "It's Me" is also funny, about how an actor is no one until she takes on a role. This song could easily be arranged for one women and would be a good cabaret addition. "The Big Black Giant" about the audience is a good idea, again with too many musical styles to really sink my ears into.

The two songs from the show-within are blah, although the singing of baritone Mark Dawson is very good. I must check him out to see if he can reappear in my Year.

ps. It turns out, Mr. Dawson has already appeared in my Year, having been in the original cast of Fiorello, although I didn't list him in my cast list or labels as he didn't have much solo work.

Me and Juliet
Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Opened May 28, 1953 and ran fro 358 performances
Cast: Barbara Carroll, Isabel Bigley, Bill Hayes, Arthur Maxell, Mark Dawson, Joan McCracken, Bob Fortier