Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim have always held a fascination for me, starting with the fact that these two important
American composers share so much in common. Bernstein was propelled to stardom overnight after stepping in at the last moment to replace the
ailing conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Yet, despite a monumental career in the classical music world, he left his most profound mark on
the American musical psyche through his Broadway works. Sondheim is considered to be the reigning genius of the American musical theatre stage.
Yet, his scores rise above the formulaic show tune and have one foot firmly planted in the realm of classical composition.
[Side note: both men are Jewish and Gay—the norm for the successful Broadway composer.
Can you name more than a handful of famous Broadway creators who weren’t either Jewish or Gay, or both? Very few come to mind, Meredith Willson
of The Music Man being one exception.]
Bernstein and Sondheim collaborated on West Side Story as composer and lyricist (respectively), giving Sondheim an important
early break in his career. Both men wrote songs that have become staples of the “Great American Songbook,” and that,
to the delight of choir directors everywhere, lend themselves particularly well to choral arrangements.
It’s this music that will be center stage in our upcoming GLITTER AND BE GAY program at McCaw Hall on June 25 and 26.
These concerts are part of a city-wide Bernstein Festival that features symphonic, theatrical, choral, and dance works from April to June, 2010.
The program’s title song, “Glitter and Be Gay,” is an amazing showstopper from Candide, Bernstein’s second-best known Broadway work.
You’ll hear this coloratura tour-de-force sung by local soprano Megan Chenovick in our McCaw concerts.
(Candide will also be staged by the Fifth Avenue Theatre May 25 through June 13.)
Let me share with you some of the other repertoire you’ll hear in GLITTER AND BE GAY:
WEST SIDE STORY: “Tonight,” “America,” “Gee, Officer Krupke,”
“I Feel Pretty,” “One Hand, One Heart,” “Somewhere;”
SWEENEY TODD: “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd,” “Not While I’m Around,” “Johanna;”
WONDERFUL TOWN: “Christopher Street,” “Ohio,” “One Hundred Easy Ways;”
PASSION: “No One Has Ever Loved Me;”
ASSASSINS: “The Ballad of Booth;”
COMPANY: “The Ladies Who Lunch;”
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE: “Sunday.”
We’re especially excited that our program will feature the combined talents of Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) and
Seattle Women’s Chorus (SWC), together for the first time, with over 400(!) performers creating a full, rich choral sound that will do
full justice to these two musical geniuses. This is a concert not to be missed! It’s music for everyone from Broadway Show Queens to
Serious Music Lovers. It’s music to luxuriate in and songs that will stay with you long after you leave McCaw Hall.
It’s Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Need I say more?
In this issue of Flying House Magazine we are also pleased to announce the 2010-2011 seasons for both Seattle Men’s Chorus and
Seattle Women’s Chorus, a year of music-making that will be entertaining, innovative, and daring for both Choruses. SWC kicks off the fall season
at Benaroya Hall in late October with a celebration of families, in a special collaboration with the Seattle Gay & Lesbian Film Festival that
will incorporate material from Rosie O’Donnell’s new HBO documentary A Family is a Family is a Family.
SMC’s Holiday Glee draws its inspiration from the hit TV show, and celebrates musical styles from all around the world in
Seattle’s favorite holiday choral tradition.
In February, SWC Swings Into Laughter proving once and for all that women’s choruses can be funny.
In April, the Men’s Chorus tackles a musically fascinating era — pre-WWII Germany — with Life is a Cabaret.
Along with a number of light and frothy selections recalling a carefree life before the war, we will also present a moving musical drama of two
gay lovers caught up in the Holocaust, created by noted American composer Jake Heggie, in a version commissioned especially for this program.
SMC’s season then wraps up in June with an effervescent and toe-tapping exploration of male pop groups called Heartthrobs.
We know you’ll want the best seats for all of these concerts, so why not become a subscriber this year?
You won’t want to miss one moment of the fun and inspiration!
