I have been blissfully listening to a cd called "The Best of Broadway" as sung by the origanal stage casts. There is no music like those songs today. Where are the haunting gorgeous melodies like "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" "Memory" and "Bring Him Home"? Where are the crisp witty lyrics of Cole Porter, Rogers and Hammerstein?
In the last few years we have seen musicals set in low-rent districts and beauty shop and many revivals. It seems that creativity has left. We have heard music from Abba and Bob Dylan. There is no comparison of these with the older musicals. Today's music develops shouters and screamers not singers like John Riatt, Patti LuPone, and Michael Crawford. What a dark period in the history of Broadway!
I long for Lerner and Lowe, Rogers and Hammerstein, and for his muse to return to Andrew Lloyd Webber. The Disneyification of Broadway has helped some. I am waiting for Mary Poppins.
No comments:
Post a Comment