Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 37 - One, Alone
Monday November 23
One (from A Chorus Line)
A Chorus Line is a musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban.
Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre, the musical is about seventeen Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line.
The only video version I could find is the finale from the (unsuccessful) movie of the show. I much prefer the original cast recording.
I leave the choice to you.
Movie version
Original cast recording
Tuesday November 24
Una furtiva lagrima (from L'elisir d'amore)
L'elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love) an opera buffa (comedy) in two acts by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti, who wrote almost 70 operas. The opera premiered on 12 May 1832 in Milan. Written in six weeks, L'elisir d'amore was the most often performed opera in Italy between 1838 and 1848 and has remained continually in the international opera repertory.
The aria Una furtiva lagrima (A furtive tear) is sung by Nemorino when it appears that the love potion he bought to win the heart of his dream lady, Adina, works. Nemorino is in love with Adina, but she is not interested in a relationship with an innocent, rustic man. To win her heart, Nemorino buys a love potion with all the money he has in his pocket. That love potion is actually a cheap red wine sold by a traveling quack doctor, but when he sees Adina weeping, he knows that she has fallen in love with him, and he is sure that the "elixir" has worked.
Performance by Juan Diego Flórez
Wednesday November 25
Alone (from A Night at the Opera)
A Night at the Opera is a 1935 American comedy film starring the Marx Brothers. It has always been one of my favourite movies. So many classic scenes - the sanity clause, ordering food from the cabin, flying across the Atlantic and only getting half way, Il Trovatore, etc. If you don't know the movie this will make no sense. If you do, you will already be smiling.
This song is taken from a scene where Ricardo (Allan Jones) is saying goodbye to Rosa (Kitty Carlisle) as she sets sail for America (from Italy). Sound quality of a 1930s film does no favours to Carlisle's voice, but Jones makes a lovely sound.
Interesting note: Allan Jones was the father of the 60s/70s pop singer/actor, Jack Jones.
Performance
Thursday November 26
Alone in the Universe (from Seussical)
Seussical is a sung-through musical comedy by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, based on some of the children's stories of Dr. Seuss. Following its Broadway debut in 2000, the show was widely panned by critics, and closed in 2001 with heavy financial losses. It has spawned two US national tours and a West End production, and has become a frequent production for schools and regional theatres.
Alone in the Universe is sung by Horton, a compassionate and determined elephant, and Jojo, an imaginative and misunderstood young boy. I (Philip) have enjoyed performed an abbreviated version of the song many times.
Performance
Lyrics
Friday November 27
One Flower and One Alone (from The Desert Song)
The Desert Song is an operetta with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel. It was inspired by the 1925 uprising of the Riffs, a group of Moroccan fighters, against French colonial rule. The original Broadway production opened on 30 November 1926, and ran for 465 performances. The third film version was made in 1953 and starred Kathryn Grayson and Gordon MacRae.
In 1967 John Hanson brought The Desert Song to the Palace Theatre in the heart of London's West End. I (Philip) was taken by my parents and I loved it. For me, this was the height of romantic theatre. OK, so I was born in the wrong decade. I wrote to John Hanson telling him how I wanted to be a singer. He wrote back a lovely letter enclosing a signed photograph.
Perfomance
if you enjoyed that you might also enjoy the same duo singing The Desert Song.
Weekend November 28/29
One Voice
All of us at Tonic Choir know One Voice, a song we have worked on and performed. It was written by Barry Manilow and sung by him on his 1979 album of the same name. Sorry if I am about to disappoint anyone but I do not like the recording of Manilow singing the song. I chose this one by Only Men Aloud.
Performance
One (from A Chorus Line)
A Chorus Line is a musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban.
Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre, the musical is about seventeen Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line.
The only video version I could find is the finale from the (unsuccessful) movie of the show. I much prefer the original cast recording.
I leave the choice to you.
Movie version
Original cast recording
Tuesday November 24
Una furtiva lagrima (from L'elisir d'amore)
L'elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love) an opera buffa (comedy) in two acts by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti, who wrote almost 70 operas. The opera premiered on 12 May 1832 in Milan. Written in six weeks, L'elisir d'amore was the most often performed opera in Italy between 1838 and 1848 and has remained continually in the international opera repertory.
The aria Una furtiva lagrima (A furtive tear) is sung by Nemorino when it appears that the love potion he bought to win the heart of his dream lady, Adina, works. Nemorino is in love with Adina, but she is not interested in a relationship with an innocent, rustic man. To win her heart, Nemorino buys a love potion with all the money he has in his pocket. That love potion is actually a cheap red wine sold by a traveling quack doctor, but when he sees Adina weeping, he knows that she has fallen in love with him, and he is sure that the "elixir" has worked.
Performance by Juan Diego Flórez
Wednesday November 25
Alone (from A Night at the Opera)
A Night at the Opera is a 1935 American comedy film starring the Marx Brothers. It has always been one of my favourite movies. So many classic scenes - the sanity clause, ordering food from the cabin, flying across the Atlantic and only getting half way, Il Trovatore, etc. If you don't know the movie this will make no sense. If you do, you will already be smiling.
This song is taken from a scene where Ricardo (Allan Jones) is saying goodbye to Rosa (Kitty Carlisle) as she sets sail for America (from Italy). Sound quality of a 1930s film does no favours to Carlisle's voice, but Jones makes a lovely sound.
Interesting note: Allan Jones was the father of the 60s/70s pop singer/actor, Jack Jones.
Performance
Thursday November 26
Alone in the Universe (from Seussical)
Seussical is a sung-through musical comedy by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, based on some of the children's stories of Dr. Seuss. Following its Broadway debut in 2000, the show was widely panned by critics, and closed in 2001 with heavy financial losses. It has spawned two US national tours and a West End production, and has become a frequent production for schools and regional theatres.
Alone in the Universe is sung by Horton, a compassionate and determined elephant, and Jojo, an imaginative and misunderstood young boy. I (Philip) have enjoyed performed an abbreviated version of the song many times.
Performance
Lyrics
Friday November 27
One Flower and One Alone (from The Desert Song)
The Desert Song is an operetta with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel. It was inspired by the 1925 uprising of the Riffs, a group of Moroccan fighters, against French colonial rule. The original Broadway production opened on 30 November 1926, and ran for 465 performances. The third film version was made in 1953 and starred Kathryn Grayson and Gordon MacRae.
In 1967 John Hanson brought The Desert Song to the Palace Theatre in the heart of London's West End. I (Philip) was taken by my parents and I loved it. For me, this was the height of romantic theatre. OK, so I was born in the wrong decade. I wrote to John Hanson telling him how I wanted to be a singer. He wrote back a lovely letter enclosing a signed photograph.
Perfomance
if you enjoyed that you might also enjoy the same duo singing The Desert Song.
Weekend November 28/29
One Voice
All of us at Tonic Choir know One Voice, a song we have worked on and performed. It was written by Barry Manilow and sung by him on his 1979 album of the same name. Sorry if I am about to disappoint anyone but I do not like the recording of Manilow singing the song. I chose this one by Only Men Aloud.
Performance