InfoAnda - 'Firebrand of Florence': smashing concert version

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

77 Year old Ukrainian man wins dumpling eating contest then promptly dies | 23 September 2011
Red Moon: Lunar eclipse to make it memorable solstice | 20 December 2010
Mines, bombs killing more Afghan civilians: ICRC | 15 April 2010

Beijing's 'mice' seek shelter from high costs | 10 January 2011

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : 'Firebrand of Florence': smashing concert version

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Asia Pacific World Search Search: 'Firebrand of Florence': smashing concert version By MICHAEL KUCHWARA,AP Drama Critic AP - Saturday, March 14 NEW YORK - For musical theater buffs, flops always are more intriguing than hits _ especially if their creators have impeccable credentials. And it doesn't get more classy than Kurt "Threepenny Opera" Weill and Ira "Porgy and Bess" Gershwin. ADVERTISEMENT Yet these two giants managed to produce "The Firebrand of Florence," a musical that's pretty much unknown more than six decades after it quickly expired at Broadway's Alvin (now the Neil Simon) Theatre. New York heard it again Thursday in a smashing concert version at the newly refurbished Alice Tully Hall. Shorn of much of what apparently was a misguided book and its original stodgy staging, the Weill-Gershwin score glistened in a gloriously sung performance that vibrantly celebrated the vanished world of operetta spiced up with a bit of more modern musical-comedy sass. When "The Firebrand of Florence" opened in March 1945, Broadway already was enthralled by a new team on the street: Rodgers and Hammerstein. "Oklahoma!" was only 2 years old, and "Carousel" was set to arrive less than a month later. Musical theater was moving past the old-world charms of Romberg and Friml and into a post-World War II flowering that would last until the advent of rock. And "The Firebrand of Florence" is a curious, if ambitious hybrid, musically a mixture of old-fashioned operetta and up-to-date musical theater. The concert version, featuring the Collegiate Chorale and the New York City Opera Orchestra, employed a cast drawn from both opera and musical theater. It was headed by Nathan Gunn, the opera world's reigning hunk. Gunn was the perfect choice to play the narcissistic, womanizing sculptor Benvenuto Cellini, the toast of Renaissance Florence. The singer has a big, booming voice and an outsized personality. He and soprano Anna Christy, as Cellini's paramour and muse, meltingly worked their way through two of Weill's more unusual duets, "You're Far Too Near Me" and the haunting "Love is My Enemy." The composer peppered the score with extensive chorale work for the townspeople of Florence, who comment on the antics of Cellini and his attempts to evade the hangman while finishing a sculpture for the Duke of Florence (played by Terrence Mann). The Duke is the musical's comic relief, and Mann, known for more ominous roles in such musicals as "Les Miserables" and "Beauty and the Beast," exuded a surprising goofy, likable charm. He also got to sing some of Gershwin's more inviting lyrics in "A Rhyme for Angela" (a name that is not easy to put in song). But perhaps the show's best-known number, "Sing Me Not a Ballad," was reserved for the Duke's worldly wise and deliberately anti-romantic Duchess, portrayed by Victoria Clark. She brought a sheen of witty, present-day sophistication to the proceedings. The musical's truncated story line was narrated by Roger Rees, who also directed the evening. Rees sat on the side of the stage at Alice Tully Hall. He ably filled in the gaps in the story, which confusingly unraveled as the evening went on. Not so the music and lyrics. The Weill-Gershwin score remains a remarkable achievement. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle US-ENTERTAINMENT SummaryReuters - Saturday, March 14 New Orleans musician rebounds, opens 'Gate'Reuters - Saturday, March 14 Second Life finding new lifeAFP - Saturday, March 14 People mag retracts Brown and Rihanna duet storyAFP - Saturday, March 14 First Superman comic book raises 317,200 dlrsAFP - Saturday, March 14 Most Popular – Entertainment Viewed For sale: nagging wife, very high maintenance VW reveals race to overtake GM, Toyota World Bank warns of "very dangerous" year ahead Space junk sparks crew scare on ISS Chimp used planning skills to attack humans View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Saturday, 14 March 2009
World court prosecutor to appeal Bashir genocide ruling | International |
Brazilian hijacks small plane, kills child in crash | International |
Fresh face lifts ex-guerrillas in Salvador election | International |
Ericsson signs U.S. deal worth over $2 billion: report | Technology |
Alfa's Fridman fighting different war on Vimpelcom | Technology |
Qimonda still seeks investors, cuts production | Technology |
Almodovar shows his dark side with Broken Embraces | Entertainment |
U.S. band Pixies to play single gig at UK festival | Entertainment |
UK rocker Pete Doherty lauded for solo debut | Entertainment |
UN chief: 2009 is critical year for Afghanistan
U.N. says security in Afghanistan may worsen in 2009 | International |
Sudan says aid workers still being held | International |
Livni, Netanyahu said weighing alliance talks
Israel's Netanyahu and Livni make new contact
Hopes for Pakistani compromise fade, protests go on | International |
G20 ministers deny rift over fighting credit crisis
World court prosecutor to appeal Bashir genocide ruling
Tibet silent, shut-off on riot anniversary | International |
Obama program helping US economy: Summers
American badly hurt in clash with Israeli military
Austrian diplomat appointed as Bosnia peace envoy | International |
World Bank warns of "very dangerous" year ahead
Nine nations agree plan to combat arms flow to Gaza | International |
Iraqi leaders cite security problems
European states pledge to ease bank secrecy
European auto sales slump by 20%
Iran dismisses sanctions and launches gas project
Israel's Netanyahu and Livni make new contact | International |
U.S. in deal to refurbish aircraft for Taiwan | International |
Georgian protesters demand Saakashvili resign | International |
Obama, Yudhoyono discuss economic crisis
US drops 'enemy combatant' detention status
Qimonda still seeks investors, cuts production
Catholic church paid 436 mln dlrs for abuse cases
Alfa's Fridman fighting different war on Vimpelcom
Clinton to visit Mexico to support drug crackdown
Web founder fears 'snooping' on the Internet
EU to test US data sharing on Guantanamo inmates
German Qimonda closer to liquidation: administrator
Tech, music and film converge at SXSW Festival
NIreland salutes slain policeman
Dutch police arrest top suspect in German mafia killings
Gunman shot dead in Siberian hostage-taking
Ex-KGB agent wanted by Britain to run for mayor
Japan protests NKorea's rocket launch plan
China's Premier Wen defends Tibet policies
Obama, Yudhoyono discuss economic crisis
Obama, Arroyo back controversial defense treaty
China 'worried' about US Treasury holdings
Oil soaks Australian beaches after spill
Pakistan complains of 'alienation' from US drone strikes
White House: No safer investment than US
G20 discuss credit crunch fight, deny split
US assures China over bond investments
Filipinos in immigration row with Japan
Fire at Bangladesh's largest mall kills 4
US in deal to refurbish aircraft for Taiwan
PLDT takes 30 pct in Meralco
Thai economy facing delay in recovery: PM
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
China 'worried' about US Treasury holdings
New Orleans musician rebounds, opens 'Gate'
Second Life finding new life
People mag retracts Brown and Rihanna duet story
First Superman comic book raises 317,200 dlrs
Wash state: 'Ax Men' crew salvaged logs illegally
Reinvigorated, lip-synching Spears wows N.Y. fans
Stewart, Cramer TV battle royal draws big audience
Ericsson signs U.S. deal worth over $2 billion: report | Technology |
Pattinson: New role's 'naked stuff' uncomfortable
'Firebrand of Florence': smashing concert version
Clooney's quiet ER return boosts show ratings | Entertainment |
Reinvigorated, lip-synching Spears wows N.Y. fans | Entertainment |
A-Z of Aussie musicians unite for bushfires benefit | Entertainment |
New Orleans musician rebounds, opens Gate | Entertainment |
Madagascar opposition deadline passes | International |
Israeli police fatally shoot Palestinian
Three men arrested over killing of British soldiers | International |
Iran says oil market oversupplied
Afghan police say victims of U.S. raid not militants | International |
OPEC hardliners hint at cuts on eve of meeting
Afghan father, four sons killed in US raid: police
Two Gaza rockets hit Israel: military
Iraq president to retire from office next year | International |
Madoff reveals $823 million life of luxury
Sri Lanka rejects U.N. allegations on civilian deaths | International |
Bin Laden accuses Arab leaders of plotting against Muslims | International |
Zimbabwe's Mugabe says unity government to bring stability | International |
Russia weighs Cuba, Venezuela bases: report
US Salvadorans make opinion count in election
Web founder warns against website snooping | Technology |
Cash-hungry U.S. states turn to Web to auction goods | Technology |
Nicaragua blasts US's decision to hold back aid
U.S. and Britain at odds over detainee
Web founder warns against website snooping
Cash-hungry U.S. states turn to Web to auction goods
Three arrests over N.Ireland soldiers' killings
Australian stars line up for bushfire victims | Entertainment |
Sri Lanka rejects UN charge of possible war crimes
5 killed in Afghan operation targeting bomb-maker
Pakistan protesters defy government ban
Stars turn out for Australia wildfires concerts
Nepal police detain 2 foreign pro-Tibet protesters
Indian forces kill 3 suspected rebels in Kashmir
China investigating freighter that hit fishermen
NKorea bars border crossing for 2nd straight day
G20 to agree IMF funding boost: European source
Hundreds of Taiwanese rally in support of Tibet
Pakistani c.bank sells 10 bln rupees of T-bills
Australian stars line up for bushfire victims
John Woo to make 'Titanic of the east': report
Young bloods vie to be Bollywood's new leading men
Tenor Philip Webb makes surprise Met debut
A-Z of Aussie musicians unite for bushfires benefit
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01