Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 48 - A dozen roses
As it is Valentines Day on Sunday, this week I offer you a bouquet of a dozen roses. The giving of roses has long been a gesture of love and there is a tradition of giving a dozen (red) roses. I confess that I have never given Judy any roses. She prefers freesias.
Monday February 8
Roses from the South Rosen aus dem Süden (Roses From the South) is a waltz medley composed by Johann Strauss II in 1880. Performance |
Second Hand Rose
Second Hand Rose is a 1921 popular song written by Grant Clarke and James F. Hanley for Fanny Brice. This recording features Barbra Streisand. Performance |
Tuesday February 9
The English Rose Merrie England is an English comic opera in two acts by Edward German to a libretto by Basil Hood. It opened at the Savoy Theatre in London on 2 April 1902. The patriotic story concerns love and rivalries at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. The English Rose is also known by the first few words of the song, Dan Cupid hath a Garden. It is sung here by Richard Tauber. Performance |
Hab mir's gelobt (I made a vow)
Der Rosenkavalier (The Knight of the Rose) is a comic opera in three acts by Richard Strauss. It was first performed in Dresden on 26 January 1911. In this famous trio the Marschallin gracefully releases her lover (Octavian), as Sophie and Octavian marvel at the feelings that have filled their hearts with the promise of happiness. Octavian is a trouser-role. This extract from the 1962 film features 3 great singers, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Sena Jurinac, Anneliese Rothenberger. Performance |
Wednesday February 10
Ramblin' Rose Ramblin' Rose is a 1962 popular song written by brothers Noel Sherman (words) and Joe Sherman (music) and made popular by Nat King Cole. Performance |
Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson. In 1957, the show became a hit on Broadway, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and running for 1,375 performances. A film version was released in 1962. Performance |
Thursday February 11
Everything’s coming up roses Everything's Coming Up Roses is a song from the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Jule Styne. First sung by Ethel Merman, this became one of Merman's signature songs. Performance |
Red Roses for a Blue Lady
Red Roses for a Blue Lady is a 1948 popular song by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett (alias Roy Brodsky). It is sung here by Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti (1917 – 1995), an American singer, actor, and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed 'The King of Cool'. Performance |
Friday February 12
Heidenröslein Heidenröslein or Heideröslein ("Rose on the Heath" or "Little Rose of the Field") is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, published in 1789. It has been set to music by a number of composers, most notably in 1815 by Franz Schubert. I have chosen this recording of Fritz Wunderlich as he has not previously appeared on Tonic Jukebox. Friedrich "Fritz" Karl Otto Wunderlich (1930 – 1966) was a German lyric tenor, famed for his singing of the Mozart repertory and lieder. Wunderlich's promising career was cut short by an accident while he was on a hunting trip. He fell down a set of stairs due to carelessly tied shoelaces and died just days before his 36th birthday. He was just a few weeks away from his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York City. Yet another great musician who died in his 30s, just like Schubert. Performance Lyrics |
La fleur que tu m'avais jetée (The flower that you threw at me)
Carmen is an opera in four acts by French composer Georges Bizet, who also died young, aged just 36 (see Wunderlich above). The opera was first performed by the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 3 March 1875. This aria, also known as The Rose (or Flower) Song occurs in Act 2. As proof of his love, Don José shows Carmen the flower that she threw at him some time before. He has kept with him ever since. Enjoy this excellent performance by Jonas Kaufmann at the Royal Opera. Performance Lyrics |
Weekend February 13/14
I won’t send roses Mack and Mabel is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The original 1974 Broadway production starred Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters. It received eight Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, but did not win any. Although the original production closed after only eight weeks, the songs were praised, and subsequent productions, especially in Britain, have had success. In 1984, Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean famously used this song for one of their wonderful routines. Performance |
The Rose
The Rose is a classic pop song written by Amanda McBroom. Bette Midler made the song famous when she recorded it for her 1979 film The Rose, in which it plays during the closing credits. This is the last rose in our Valentine's bouquet. I am sure you all guessed this one would be included as it has became a Tonic Choir favourite. Performance |