Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 58 - Overtures 2
This week we return to the theme with which we started Tonic Jukebox, Overtures. It has been (unkindly) said by some that some overtures are only there to allow latecomers to find their seats, or to allow ushers to sort out double bookings before the action gets going. In musical theatre, overtures often preview tunes we will hear later in the piece, while in some operas the overture paints a picture of a prequel to the story that we are about to see. In recent years there has been a fashion to put action on the stage during the overture. Some examples of this have been excellent. I particularly like the current Royal Opera production of the Marriage of Figaro where we are introduced to the workings of the house with servants bustling about performing their daily duties. Less to my taste is the choreography during the overture in the current Royal Opera production of Tannhäuser. For me, this detracts from the wonderful music. Whatever the case, an overture sets the tone for what is about to follow. So let's start with one of my favourites.
Monday April 19
Overture to The Bartered Bride
The Bartered Bride is a comic opera in three acts by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) to a libretto by Karel Sabina. It was composed during the period 1863 to 1866, and first performed in Prague on 30 May 1866. Some of you will remember we used one of the choruses for a workshop with the BBC Singers in 2015.
This performance is conducted by Mariss Jansons (1943-2019). Jansons was born in Riga, Latvia, then under German occupation, to Iraida Jansons, the diva of the Riga Opera, and Arvīds Jansons, conductor of the opera orchestra. Iraida, who was Jewish, gave birth to her son in hiding after being smuggled out of the Riga Ghetto, where her father and brother were murdered by the Nazis. Jansons survived to become a much admired and celebrated conductor. I just love his enthusiasm in this video. More facts about Jansons.
Performance
Tuesday April 20
Overture to My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play Pygmalion, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The original Broadway and London shows starred Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews, who was replaced by Audrey Hepburn in the movie. Hepburn was dubbed for most of the singing by Marni Nixon, who also dubbed Deborah Kerr in The King and I and Natalie Wood in West Side Story. I confidently expect most of you will sing along with this overture. I certainly will.
Performance
Wednesday April 21
Prelude to Lohengrin
Lohengrin is an opera in three acts composed and written by Richard Wagner, first performed in 1850. There are many who consider this Act I prelude to be one of Wagner's greatest single compositions. I include myself in that number. This is an example of an overture/prelude giving us a prequel to the story of the opera. In this case a musical depiction of the Holy Grail as it descends to the Earth in the care of an Angelic host. The patient melodic build to the exciting climax (at 5:55) is one of my favourite musical moments. I sometimes find that I am holding my breath as the piece ends. Superb writing.
(This piece starts very quietly so be sure you have the volume turned up - you might want to turn it down afterwards)
Performance
Thursday April 22
Opening to Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (often referred to simply as Sweeney Todd) is a 1979 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Sweeney Todd opened on Broadway in 1979 and in the West End in 1980. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Olivier Award for Best New Musical. It has since had numerous revivals as well as a film adaptation.
New York's 2014 semi-staged production with Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson in the leads came to London the following year. I paid a ridiculous amount for tickets for daughter Rachel and myself. We were not disappointed. In this video of the opening in New York, you will see where I got the idea for the Tonic Choir performance of Pick a Little in 2015.
Performance
Friday April 23 (St.George's Day)
Overture to The Wasps
In 1909 British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams composed incidental music for a production of Aristophanes' The Wasps. I thought it fitting to have an English composer on St George's Day. The Wasps is the fourth in chronological order of the eleven surviving plays by Aristophanes. It was produced at the Lenaia festival in 422 BCE, a time when Athens was enjoying a brief respite from the Peloponnesian War following a one-year truce with Sparta. One can be forgiven for looking around for some actual wasps during the opening bars of this piece.
Performance
Weekend April 24/25
Overture to Candide
Candide is an operetta (opera/musical?) with music composed by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), based on the 1759 novella of the same name by Voltaire. The piece was first performed in 1956 with a libretto by Lillian Hellman, but since 1974 it has been generally performed with a book by Hugh Wheeler which is more faithful to Voltaire's novel. The primary lyricist was the poet Richard Wilbur. Other contributors to the text were John Latouche, Dorothy Parker, Lillian Hellman, Stephen Sondheim, John Mauceri, John Wells, and Bernstein himself. There is so much great material that no two productions are alike, each director choosing what to include/exclude. For me, if there is a definitive recording it is the 1989 concert version (available on DVD) conducted by the Maestro himself. Watching Bernstein conducting the overture is wonderful.
Performance
Monday April 19
Overture to The Bartered Bride
The Bartered Bride is a comic opera in three acts by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) to a libretto by Karel Sabina. It was composed during the period 1863 to 1866, and first performed in Prague on 30 May 1866. Some of you will remember we used one of the choruses for a workshop with the BBC Singers in 2015.
This performance is conducted by Mariss Jansons (1943-2019). Jansons was born in Riga, Latvia, then under German occupation, to Iraida Jansons, the diva of the Riga Opera, and Arvīds Jansons, conductor of the opera orchestra. Iraida, who was Jewish, gave birth to her son in hiding after being smuggled out of the Riga Ghetto, where her father and brother were murdered by the Nazis. Jansons survived to become a much admired and celebrated conductor. I just love his enthusiasm in this video. More facts about Jansons.
Performance
Tuesday April 20
Overture to My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play Pygmalion, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The original Broadway and London shows starred Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews, who was replaced by Audrey Hepburn in the movie. Hepburn was dubbed for most of the singing by Marni Nixon, who also dubbed Deborah Kerr in The King and I and Natalie Wood in West Side Story. I confidently expect most of you will sing along with this overture. I certainly will.
Performance
Wednesday April 21
Prelude to Lohengrin
Lohengrin is an opera in three acts composed and written by Richard Wagner, first performed in 1850. There are many who consider this Act I prelude to be one of Wagner's greatest single compositions. I include myself in that number. This is an example of an overture/prelude giving us a prequel to the story of the opera. In this case a musical depiction of the Holy Grail as it descends to the Earth in the care of an Angelic host. The patient melodic build to the exciting climax (at 5:55) is one of my favourite musical moments. I sometimes find that I am holding my breath as the piece ends. Superb writing.
(This piece starts very quietly so be sure you have the volume turned up - you might want to turn it down afterwards)
Performance
Thursday April 22
Opening to Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (often referred to simply as Sweeney Todd) is a 1979 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Sweeney Todd opened on Broadway in 1979 and in the West End in 1980. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Olivier Award for Best New Musical. It has since had numerous revivals as well as a film adaptation.
New York's 2014 semi-staged production with Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson in the leads came to London the following year. I paid a ridiculous amount for tickets for daughter Rachel and myself. We were not disappointed. In this video of the opening in New York, you will see where I got the idea for the Tonic Choir performance of Pick a Little in 2015.
Performance
Friday April 23 (St.George's Day)
Overture to The Wasps
In 1909 British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams composed incidental music for a production of Aristophanes' The Wasps. I thought it fitting to have an English composer on St George's Day. The Wasps is the fourth in chronological order of the eleven surviving plays by Aristophanes. It was produced at the Lenaia festival in 422 BCE, a time when Athens was enjoying a brief respite from the Peloponnesian War following a one-year truce with Sparta. One can be forgiven for looking around for some actual wasps during the opening bars of this piece.
Performance
Weekend April 24/25
Overture to Candide
Candide is an operetta (opera/musical?) with music composed by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), based on the 1759 novella of the same name by Voltaire. The piece was first performed in 1956 with a libretto by Lillian Hellman, but since 1974 it has been generally performed with a book by Hugh Wheeler which is more faithful to Voltaire's novel. The primary lyricist was the poet Richard Wilbur. Other contributors to the text were John Latouche, Dorothy Parker, Lillian Hellman, Stephen Sondheim, John Mauceri, John Wells, and Bernstein himself. There is so much great material that no two productions are alike, each director choosing what to include/exclude. For me, if there is a definitive recording it is the 1989 concert version (available on DVD) conducted by the Maestro himself. Watching Bernstein conducting the overture is wonderful.
Performance