Post by jo on Nov 26, 2020 4:53:00 GMT -5
They have forged a professional singing partnership for so long now -- which includes doing a stage concert of LES MISERABLES and releasing another album, in time for Christmas.
But in this interview - they can be fun, too. Both are not the typical English stiff upper lip demeanor. Michael is the more boisterous of the 2 and Alfie provides the balancing element.
Michael first hit Broadway in 1990 in ASPECTS OF LOVE while Alfie was in Baz Lurhmann's Broadway version of La Boheme. Michael would later appear in Gilbert&Sullivan operetta PATIENCE at the New York State Theatre ( Lincoln Center) and in the short-lived run of Woman in White. Alfie reprised the Valjean role on Broadway.
Both relate to Les Miserables as career-making ( Michael was the original Marius in 1985, with Patti Lupone as Fantine) while Alfie was a late-cast Jean Valjean. In the new stage concert, Michael now sings Javert while Alfie continues to sing the role of Valjean. Michael also had a chance to sing Valjean at a special concert at Windsor Castle for The Queen and her state visit guest, the PM of France
They are interviewed here by someone from Broadway ... both re the staged concert and their new Christmas album TOGETHER AT CHRISTMAS. They also share pandemic stories ( like how much weight Michael has further gained while Alfie confesses to have become a top bread baker)
www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Michael-Ball-Alfie-BoeVisit-Backstage-LIVE-with-Richard-Ridge--Watch-Now-20201124
PS: I am a great fan of Michael Ball and was lucky to have had so many experiences watching him perform in the theatre ( Aspects of Love/Passion/ChittyChittyBangBang/Hairspray/WomanInWhite/Kismet where he performed with Alfie... and he has also done Sweeney Todd/Mack&Mabel/ and of course the original Les Miserables and an early Raoul in Phantom of the Opera) s well as a concert version of Sunset Blvd, TV tapings for a musical series, and many concerts. I also had many chances to meet him both at the stagedoor and backstage ( the first time, he invited me and my sister to visit him in his dressing room before going on stage at the Broadhurst for Aspects of Love...and he casually met us after coming out of a pre-show shower, in his short bathrobe - haha!). How I got to know him and meet him many times is a long story which I do treasure. I first saw him onstage in Aspects of Love in London when he was only 27 or so...he is now 58 or so
I first saw Alfie ( and only time) in Kismet, which turned out to be disappointing after anticipating being able to see him sing in public. He did sing A Stranger in Paradise & And This Is My Beloved ( 2 gorgeous musical theatre songs) beautifully but he could not act too well - -he stood there like a wooden post. I guess when he started doing Les Miserables in London, that has improved much. He did come from the world of opera. Btw, he was the only known Mackintosh candidate for Valjean in the film adaptation... But Hugh Jackman won the casting team over when he auditioned for the role ( group included Hooper/Mackintosh/Boublil/Schonberg/Fellner of WorkingTitle&UniversalStudios& casting director Gold).
In the last few years both have shared the spotlight together ( recordings/arena concert tours/restaging of Les Miserables as a concert) after the first collaboration in Kismet ( Michael played Hajj, the Poet) and Alfie being guest singer in Michael Ball's concert at the famous classical music festival The Proms. Michael Ball has been the only non-operatic singer so honored to be featured as solo artist for the entire concert at The Proms ( with even Andrew Lloyd Webber being in the audience).
It is a fun interview - the British side of the pandemic
Jo
But in this interview - they can be fun, too. Both are not the typical English stiff upper lip demeanor. Michael is the more boisterous of the 2 and Alfie provides the balancing element.
Michael first hit Broadway in 1990 in ASPECTS OF LOVE while Alfie was in Baz Lurhmann's Broadway version of La Boheme. Michael would later appear in Gilbert&Sullivan operetta PATIENCE at the New York State Theatre ( Lincoln Center) and in the short-lived run of Woman in White. Alfie reprised the Valjean role on Broadway.
Both relate to Les Miserables as career-making ( Michael was the original Marius in 1985, with Patti Lupone as Fantine) while Alfie was a late-cast Jean Valjean. In the new stage concert, Michael now sings Javert while Alfie continues to sing the role of Valjean. Michael also had a chance to sing Valjean at a special concert at Windsor Castle for The Queen and her state visit guest, the PM of France
They are interviewed here by someone from Broadway ... both re the staged concert and their new Christmas album TOGETHER AT CHRISTMAS. They also share pandemic stories ( like how much weight Michael has further gained while Alfie confesses to have become a top bread baker)
www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Michael-Ball-Alfie-BoeVisit-Backstage-LIVE-with-Richard-Ridge--Watch-Now-20201124
PS: I am a great fan of Michael Ball and was lucky to have had so many experiences watching him perform in the theatre ( Aspects of Love/Passion/ChittyChittyBangBang/Hairspray/WomanInWhite/Kismet where he performed with Alfie... and he has also done Sweeney Todd/Mack&Mabel/ and of course the original Les Miserables and an early Raoul in Phantom of the Opera) s well as a concert version of Sunset Blvd, TV tapings for a musical series, and many concerts. I also had many chances to meet him both at the stagedoor and backstage ( the first time, he invited me and my sister to visit him in his dressing room before going on stage at the Broadhurst for Aspects of Love...and he casually met us after coming out of a pre-show shower, in his short bathrobe - haha!). How I got to know him and meet him many times is a long story which I do treasure
. I first saw him onstage in Aspects of Love in London when he was only 27 or so...he is now 58 or so I first saw Alfie ( and only time) in Kismet, which turned out to be disappointing after anticipating being able to see him sing in public. He did sing A Stranger in Paradise & And This Is My Beloved ( 2 gorgeous musical theatre songs) beautifully but he could not act too well - -he stood there like a wooden post. I guess when he started doing Les Miserables in London, that has improved much. He did come from the world of opera. Btw, he was the only known Mackintosh candidate for Valjean in the film adaptation... But Hugh Jackman won the casting team over when he auditioned for the role ( group included Hooper/Mackintosh/Boublil/Schonberg/Fellner of WorkingTitle&UniversalStudios& casting director Gold).
In the last few years both have shared the spotlight together ( recordings/arena concert tours/restaging of Les Miserables as a concert) after the first collaboration in Kismet ( Michael played Hajj, the Poet) and Alfie being guest singer in Michael Ball's concert at the famous classical music festival The Proms. Michael Ball has been the only non-operatic singer so honored to be featured as solo artist for the entire concert at The Proms ( with even Andrew Lloyd Webber being in the audience).
It is a fun interview - the British side of the pandemic
Jo
