Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 52 - Extreme Mothers
At the end of this week (Sunday March 14) many people will celebrate Mother's Day. So this week we feature mothers, but not ordinary mothers, extreme mothers, and one who is definitely superior.
Monday March 8
Together, Wherever We Go
Gypsy is a 1959 musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Gypsy is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, and focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with the ultimate show business mother.
Extremely pushy mother.
Performance
Tuesday March 9
Der Hölle Rache (Hell's vengeance)
The Magic Flute is an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a Singspiel, a popular form during the time it was written that included both singing and spoken dialogue. The work premiered on 30 September 1791 at Schikaneder's theatre in Vienna, just two months before the composer's premature death.
This aria is the second one sung by The Queen of the Night. It is full of strong emotions and features very high (coloratura) singing.
Extremely angry mother who sings extremely high notes
Performance
Wednesday March 10
Climb Ev'ry Mountain
The Sound of Music is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.
This song occurs twice, the second time as the finale to the show. It is sung by the Mother Superior, played in the film by American actress Peggy Wood in her final screen appearance. Peggy Wood's singing voice is dubbed by Margery MacKay, the wife of the rehearsal pianist Harper MacKay.
Extremely brave, wise, and superior mother
Performance 1
Performance 2
Thursday March 11
Un bel dí vedremo (One fine say we shall see)
Madama Butterfly is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini.
In this, the opera's most famous aria (and one of the most popular works in the soprano repertoire), Cio-Cio-san (Butterfly) says that, 'one fine day', they will see a puff of smoke on the far horizon. Then a ship will appear and enter the harbour. She will not go down to meet him but will wait on the hill for him to come. After a long time, she will see in the far distance a man beginning the walk out of the city and up the hill. When he arrives, he will call 'Butterfly' from a distance, but she will not answer, partly for fun and partly not to die from the excitement of the first meeting. Then he will speak the names he used to call her: Little one. Dear wife. Orange blossom.
In this extract from the current Royal Opera production we see Ermonela Jaho, who as you know is one of Bryan's and my favourite dramatic sopranos.
Mother exhibiting extreme behaviour (SPOILER ALERT: takes her own life in the last act)
Performance
Here is Jaho with Argentine tenor Marcelo Puente in the famous Act duet from the same opera. Extreme love
Performance
Friday March 12
Slipping Through My Fingers
Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, former members of the band.
Slipping Through My Fingers is a song written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. The song is about a mother's regret at how quickly her daughter is growing up, and the lack of time they have spent together.
Here are Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried from the 2008 film version of the musical.
Three possible fathers for her daughter - that’s extreme!
Performance
Weekend March 13/14
Come To Me/Fantine's Death
Les Misérables is a musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name. It was written by Claude-Michel Schönberg (music), Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel (original French lyrics), and Herbert Kretzmer (English lyrics). The original French musical premiered in Paris in 1980. Its English-language adaptation by producer Cameron Mackintosh started life in London in October 1985.
At this point in the musical, Fantine is in hospital, delirious, and dreaming of her daughter, Cosette. Valjean promises to protect the child. Relieved, Fantine succumbs to her illness and dies.
Extremely poor (destitute) and badly treated mother
Performance
Bonus
Looking back there has been very little humour in this week's selections.
So let's put that right, with a nod to Monday's choice.
Extremely wise advice
Performance
Monday March 8
Together, Wherever We Go
Gypsy is a 1959 musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Gypsy is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, and focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with the ultimate show business mother.
Extremely pushy mother.
Performance
Tuesday March 9
Der Hölle Rache (Hell's vengeance)
The Magic Flute is an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a Singspiel, a popular form during the time it was written that included both singing and spoken dialogue. The work premiered on 30 September 1791 at Schikaneder's theatre in Vienna, just two months before the composer's premature death.
This aria is the second one sung by The Queen of the Night. It is full of strong emotions and features very high (coloratura) singing.
Extremely angry mother who sings extremely high notes
Performance
Wednesday March 10
Climb Ev'ry Mountain
The Sound of Music is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.
This song occurs twice, the second time as the finale to the show. It is sung by the Mother Superior, played in the film by American actress Peggy Wood in her final screen appearance. Peggy Wood's singing voice is dubbed by Margery MacKay, the wife of the rehearsal pianist Harper MacKay.
Extremely brave, wise, and superior mother
Performance 1
Performance 2
Thursday March 11
Un bel dí vedremo (One fine say we shall see)
Madama Butterfly is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini.
In this, the opera's most famous aria (and one of the most popular works in the soprano repertoire), Cio-Cio-san (Butterfly) says that, 'one fine day', they will see a puff of smoke on the far horizon. Then a ship will appear and enter the harbour. She will not go down to meet him but will wait on the hill for him to come. After a long time, she will see in the far distance a man beginning the walk out of the city and up the hill. When he arrives, he will call 'Butterfly' from a distance, but she will not answer, partly for fun and partly not to die from the excitement of the first meeting. Then he will speak the names he used to call her: Little one. Dear wife. Orange blossom.
In this extract from the current Royal Opera production we see Ermonela Jaho, who as you know is one of Bryan's and my favourite dramatic sopranos.
Mother exhibiting extreme behaviour (SPOILER ALERT: takes her own life in the last act)
Performance
Here is Jaho with Argentine tenor Marcelo Puente in the famous Act duet from the same opera. Extreme love
Performance
Friday March 12
Slipping Through My Fingers
Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, former members of the band.
Slipping Through My Fingers is a song written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. The song is about a mother's regret at how quickly her daughter is growing up, and the lack of time they have spent together.
Here are Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried from the 2008 film version of the musical.
Three possible fathers for her daughter - that’s extreme!
Performance
Weekend March 13/14
Come To Me/Fantine's Death
Les Misérables is a musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name. It was written by Claude-Michel Schönberg (music), Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel (original French lyrics), and Herbert Kretzmer (English lyrics). The original French musical premiered in Paris in 1980. Its English-language adaptation by producer Cameron Mackintosh started life in London in October 1985.
At this point in the musical, Fantine is in hospital, delirious, and dreaming of her daughter, Cosette. Valjean promises to protect the child. Relieved, Fantine succumbs to her illness and dies.
Extremely poor (destitute) and badly treated mother
Performance
Bonus
Looking back there has been very little humour in this week's selections.
So let's put that right, with a nod to Monday's choice.
Extremely wise advice
Performance