Candide--semi-staged concert version on DVD

There must be more versions of Bernstein's Candide than any other musical. There's a three-act version, a two-act version, an opera house version, and myriad concert versions that distill the dialogue down to anywhere from non-existent to nearly full-fledged. Previously, I watched a concert version from the 1980s, but today I'm taking on the 2004 semi-staged version presented at Lincoln Center by the New York Philharmonic.

This version keeps the show fairly intact, I believe--certainly more so than the earlier concert version I watched--allowing sections of dialogue to remain for all the characters, yet utilizing a narrator to talk through some of the action. There is a surprising amount of staging in this version, a ton of work for the chorus, and all of it is memorized. That's a plus; while I understand the need to present works in a compressed rehearsal time frame, sometimes I think the mere hint of a script in a binder somehow blocks the connection between performer and audience. Not here, though, the audience is mostly lapping up whatever is given them by the accomplished cast.

I have heard Kristin Chenoweth sing the aria "Glitter and be Gay" before, in a concert in Central Park, that I saw on television. So, I knew she could sing it. If she goes a little (or a lot) overboard with the camp theatrics, it would seem to be my issue, because everyone else seems to love it. I liked it up to a point--that point being when it took away from the singing.

The rather adorable Paul Groves sings the title role of Candide with all the finesse and security you would expect from an accomplished opera singer. If he seems a little one-dimensional in his portrayal and the delivery of his dialogue, well, it's balanced out by the 12-dimensional delivery of Chenoweth.

Baritone legend Thomas Allen (that's Sir Thomas, to you) takes on the role of Dr. Pangloss and provides the narration throughout. He sings his one song well, and delivers his raft of narration very well. Here clearly is a singer who can act, well giving narration is slightly different than acting, but suffice it to say he can deliver spoken word as well as he can sung words.

Candide
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Dorothy Parker, John La Touche, and others
Book by Lillian Hellman
Based on the novel by Voltaire
Opened on Broadway in 1956
This concert version filmed in 2004
Cast: Kristin Chenoweth, Paul Groves, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Thomas Allen, Patti LuPone, Janine La Manna

Sondheim: a Celebration at Carnegie Hall

Has any musical theater composer been the subject of more special concerts during his life-time than Stephen Sondheim? Doubtful. I wonder why that is?

I believe he appeals to performers, who enjoy the opportunity to sing his songs with orchestra. I don't dislike his music, but I won't be lining up to sing it with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia this summer (even if they ask me to have done, which they should have asked me to have done). I get that his shows are creatively formatted and explore more contemporary human situations in a more modern setting. He probably also appeals to anyone who appreciates clever, urban word-play--which I do.

Still, so many Sondheim revues/evenings/tributes/galas/concerts/acts? Well, I don't have any more lined up for the remainder of my Year, and gratefully Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall from 1992 is a good tribute concert on which to end my Sondheim thinking.

Firstly, while I groaned when Bill Irwin walked onto stage after the overture, he turned out to be really funny. I hate clowns, but this was a hysterical take on the "fake stage manager" routine. Of course, I'm a fake stage manager myself, so I'm biased.

I mourned the late Jerry Hadley and Madeleine Kahn, both of whom do their songs very well. Liza Minnelli was fantastic in her songs, both of which were new to me. I thought Liza Minnelli was very good. Glenn Close was not quite at the level she was at in the Lloyd Webber tribute I listened to last week. Betty Buckley was miscast singing "Children will Listen". I didn't care for the Tonics.

While I have heard most of this music before, just about everything from Merrily We Roll Along and Assassins was new to my ears.

Perhaps I do need to look for a little more Sondheim.

Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Staged in 1992
Released on video in 1993
(Amazon says this is a two-disc set and Netflix sent me only one disc that seems to contain a compilation of what is on the two-disc version. What gives?)

Cast: Bernadette Peters, Billy Stritch, Liza Minnelli, Glenn Close, Betty Buckley, Patti Lupone, Mark Jacoby, Dorothy Loudon, Patrick Cassidy, Victor Garber, Bill Irwin, Jerry Hadley,

Sweeney Todd in Concert--PBS broadcast on DVD

There are so many versions of this show that I could have chosen from, perhaps more than any other musical theatre piece. There are opera versions, Broadway versions, concert versions, a film version, and studio cast versions. What is it about Sweeney Todd that elicits such a desire to produce and record it?

Well, the strength and variety of the music in the show may be the first reason. There are many memorable songs and musical moments in Sweeney, but I was struck in watching this concert version how much music between the big numbers I didn't remember, and how good and interesting is that connective music. This version may make more of the music than many others as the score is played by a top-notch symphony orchestra. Vocally, this version is also strong across the board, as you might suspect from an orchestral production. However, most of the performers do not come from the opera house or the concert stage, they come from the Broadway tradition.

George Hearn and Patti Lupone are particularly well matched vocally. Both are firmly from the Broadway tradition and are willing to let "vocal beauty" be subordinate--when appropriate--to characterization. I was particularly struck with the ability of George Hearn to stand on equal vocal footing with Timothy Nolen, an operatic baritone who portrays Judge Turpin. I've seen Mr. Nolen live on stage in this role, at the Lyric Opera where Sweeney was sung by Bryn Terfel. Nolen can hold his own with anyone and I believe it is the strength of both Messrs Nolen and Hearn that they can morph their vocal style to match not only the character and the moment, but also their colleagues.

Props must be given to the production team for this concert version, too. This is an ambition take from a production standpoint for an orchestra in a orchestra hall. The staging is detailed, the script and music memorized by the performers, there are costumes, furniture, some props, many light and sound cues. It must have really pushed the limits of the capability of Davies Hall.

Sweeney Todd
In Concert with the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus
Conducted by Rob Fisher
Directed by Lonny Price
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Aired on PBS in 2001, released on DVD in 2002
Cast: George Hearn, Patti Lupone, Neil Patrick Harris, Timothy Nolen, Davis Gaines, Lisa Vroman, John Aler, Stanford Olsen, Victoria Clark