Post by jo on Apr 5, 2013 21:10:48 GMT -5
Are you a fan of ALWebber's musicals? I am 
Here is an interesting radio interview hosted by host Jian Gomeshi ( who had the best radio interview of Hugh Jackman when he was in Toronto for his one-man show) --
www.cbc.ca/q/news-feature/2013/04/04/andrew-lloyd-weber-triple-times-lucky/
ALW is very consistent with his views and candor --
*His latest musical is about the Profumo scandal that almost brought down the UK government many decades ago. It is going to be simply called STEPHEN WARD. Again, he chooses the most unlikely subject (Jesus, trains, scandalous almost incestous love, a deformed obssessed man, sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, etc) ;D
*He says he likes all kinds of music - there are no bad genres per se!
*He envisioned a much younger Maria ( maybe 18 years old?) for the revival of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, which he eventually cast via his controversial reality show casting ( On an aside, among the runner-ups of a reality show casting then was the unknown Samantha Barks). But he explains how that came about. He said he was ready to cast Scarlett Johansson , but her management did not think it would be a good idea to take her out of her movie career limelight. He said that they once sang some songs together ( I can't make out the name too well - but it sounded like Flower Drum Song). I wonder, would Scarlett have looked somewhat like the college student in Scoop --deglamourized but spunky?? I would have loved to have seen that stage production, if SJ defied her management's advice. Her voice is sultry and of course cannot compete with Julie Andrews...but she would also have been a very different Maria compared to the original stage Maria ( then aging Mary Martin). But I do trust ALW's instincts!
*He was obviously smitten with the Nicole Scherzinger ( sp?)'s rendition of Don't Cry for Me Argentina in the Easter Sunday special of ALW musical and thinks she could diversify from her pop career onto musical theatre. LOL - I only know Nicole from her pit garage appearances whenever her boyfriend Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton races! But I did see the clip of her Don't Cry for Me Argentina -- " the lady's got potential", as Che would sing/say it in EVITA
*He said that the music of Jesus Christ Superstar was never meant for the musical stage. He said he and Tim Rice meant it for an album for rock/pop music but its appeal spread worldwide ( starting in Holland and Brazil, etc) that it wound itself into the musical stage eventually. He has written some gorgeous music in this show ( I love the instrumental music which accompanies the crucifixion, Gethsemane, I Don't Know How to Love Him, Hossana, Everything's Alright, Could We Start Again Please, and of course the thundering of JCSS!). I saw a revival of this in London - and it had already been restaged closer to what he said the would like to see -- a concert- like rock opera ( meaning loud, blaring music but with great audience impact, instead of pure dramatics). Btw, this musical was filmed as staged in the recent revival ( Glenn Slater as JC)and I had sometimes rewatched it when Lent comes around. LOL - not exactly biblical in its cultural treatment of the subjects - but excellent dramatic music for the stage!
*His favorite musical score is also my favorite, Aspects of Love! Quoted by the late Sheridan Morley as " achingly romantic, lyrical, poignant, and almost Sondheimesque". Add to that " simply gorgeous!" from moi!!
*He also thinks the libretto of Sunset Boulevard as the best one from his works. He cites As If We Never Said Goodbye for its impact. True, this is very dramatic and even emotional as a faded star makes a comeback!
*He wants to restage The Woman in White, among others. That is also a strong favorite with me - dark but romantic!
I am an unabashed fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber! I have seen all his musicals except Love Never Dies ( although I do have the filmed version). The saddest I have ever seen was the one which dealt with sectarian violence in Northern Ireland but played within the context of the world of soccer football ( hence the original title A Beautiful Game, now retitled The Boys in the Photograph). His music lent to that very emotional reaction to the show. My favorite song from there was the little known God's Own Country ( about the plight of immigrants who only want a better life from one of starvation). Yes, he deals with social issues in his songs, too, although of course he doesn't write the lyrics.
*His first musical was Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat with Tim Rice. Loved that one!! I think they were in their early 20's when they wrote it, followed by JCSS. How many of us never sang with the music when we first encountered it? LOL!
ALW does have longterm health issues but I hope he continues to write new music for as long as he can!
Jo
Here is an interesting radio interview hosted by host Jian Gomeshi ( who had the best radio interview of Hugh Jackman when he was in Toronto for his one-man show) --
www.cbc.ca/q/news-feature/2013/04/04/andrew-lloyd-weber-triple-times-lucky/
ALW is very consistent with his views and candor --
*His latest musical is about the Profumo scandal that almost brought down the UK government many decades ago. It is going to be simply called STEPHEN WARD. Again, he chooses the most unlikely subject (Jesus, trains, scandalous almost incestous love, a deformed obssessed man, sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, etc) ;D
*He says he likes all kinds of music - there are no bad genres per se!
*He envisioned a much younger Maria ( maybe 18 years old?) for the revival of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, which he eventually cast via his controversial reality show casting ( On an aside, among the runner-ups of a reality show casting then was the unknown Samantha Barks). But he explains how that came about. He said he was ready to cast Scarlett Johansson , but her management did not think it would be a good idea to take her out of her movie career limelight. He said that they once sang some songs together ( I can't make out the name too well - but it sounded like Flower Drum Song). I wonder, would Scarlett have looked somewhat like the college student in Scoop --deglamourized but spunky?? I would have loved to have seen that stage production, if SJ defied her management's advice. Her voice is sultry and of course cannot compete with Julie Andrews...but she would also have been a very different Maria compared to the original stage Maria ( then aging Mary Martin). But I do trust ALW's instincts!
*He was obviously smitten with the Nicole Scherzinger ( sp?)'s rendition of Don't Cry for Me Argentina in the Easter Sunday special of ALW musical and thinks she could diversify from her pop career onto musical theatre. LOL - I only know Nicole from her pit garage appearances whenever her boyfriend Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton races! But I did see the clip of her Don't Cry for Me Argentina -- " the lady's got potential", as Che would sing/say it in EVITA
*He said that the music of Jesus Christ Superstar was never meant for the musical stage. He said he and Tim Rice meant it for an album for rock/pop music but its appeal spread worldwide ( starting in Holland and Brazil, etc) that it wound itself into the musical stage eventually. He has written some gorgeous music in this show ( I love the instrumental music which accompanies the crucifixion, Gethsemane, I Don't Know How to Love Him, Hossana, Everything's Alright, Could We Start Again Please, and of course the thundering of JCSS!). I saw a revival of this in London - and it had already been restaged closer to what he said the would like to see -- a concert- like rock opera ( meaning loud, blaring music but with great audience impact, instead of pure dramatics). Btw, this musical was filmed as staged in the recent revival ( Glenn Slater as JC)and I had sometimes rewatched it when Lent comes around. LOL - not exactly biblical in its cultural treatment of the subjects - but excellent dramatic music for the stage!
*His favorite musical score is also my favorite, Aspects of Love! Quoted by the late Sheridan Morley as " achingly romantic, lyrical, poignant, and almost Sondheimesque". Add to that " simply gorgeous!" from moi!!
*He also thinks the libretto of Sunset Boulevard as the best one from his works. He cites As If We Never Said Goodbye for its impact. True, this is very dramatic and even emotional as a faded star makes a comeback!
*He wants to restage The Woman in White, among others. That is also a strong favorite with me - dark but romantic!
I am an unabashed fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber! I have seen all his musicals except Love Never Dies ( although I do have the filmed version). The saddest I have ever seen was the one which dealt with sectarian violence in Northern Ireland but played within the context of the world of soccer football ( hence the original title A Beautiful Game, now retitled The Boys in the Photograph). His music lent to that very emotional reaction to the show. My favorite song from there was the little known God's Own Country ( about the plight of immigrants who only want a better life from one of starvation). Yes, he deals with social issues in his songs, too, although of course he doesn't write the lyrics.
*His first musical was Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat with Tim Rice. Loved that one!! I think they were in their early 20's when they wrote it, followed by JCSS. How many of us never sang with the music when we first encountered it? LOL!
ALW does have longterm health issues but I hope he continues to write new music for as long as he can!
Jo