Carnival (1961 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Carnival (1961 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: Magical!
Hit: 5 Stars
A magical creation that both was part of the proud succession of hit Broadway musicals in the 1950s and 1960s and has a special quality all its own, "Carnival" is a memorable show that is too little known today and awaits rediscovery (and a major, full-scale New York revival). Rarely has a musical captured the mystery and enchantment of live performance as movingly and ingeniously as this multifaceted theatrical gem.Adapted from the film "Lili", "Carnival" goes its source material one better by virtue of Bob Merrill's memorable score, best known for "Love Makes the World Go 'Round" and filled with delightful, often uniquely beautiful songs and numbers, truly without a dud among them. And the story, apparently based in part on the real-life relationship between Burr Tillstrom and Fran Allison of "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" fame, provides the basis for a Broadway book of rare literary merit.
The cast is the stuff of legends.
Fans who know the great Anna Maria Alberghetti only through her delicious comic turn as the Mafia don's wife in the film "Friends and Family" may not be familiar with her accomplishments as a singer. Alberghetti originally made her mark as a child prodigy operatic soprano, and she created the role of Lili on Broadway when still barely out of her teens. Her combination of grit and vulnerability, part woman, part adolescent, combined with her gorgeous singing voice, make her Tony-winning performance a classic.
Suffice it to say that the supporting cast includes Jerry Orbach, in his original glory days as a musical theater leading man, and the marvelous all-around entertainer Kaye Ballard, and you'll get some idea of the depth of talent on display here.
For the score, the touching story and Anna Maria Alberghetti's indelible performance, "Carnival" is a must for everyone who cares about musical theater.
Free Music Review: ONE OF THE LAST FROM BROADWAY'S GOLDEN AGE
Hit: 5 Stars
I remember the musical more fondly than any of its contemporaries; West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Funny Girl, Hello Dolly, Wildcat, and even Gypsy.
Nothing compared with the Chaplainesque Pierre Orloff wandering onstage to sit at its edge and play his melancholy concertina. Around him wagons and circus folk began entering and before the audience's eyes a huge big top tent was erected. All the folk together inline kicking up their legs and singing, The Grand Imperial Cirque de Paree. It was a fabulous experience bringing the classic movie Lili to Broadway musical expression. Anna Maria Alberghetti as Lili was sheer genius. Jerry Orbach fresh from The Fantastiks made his presence uncontended. Kaye Ballard tore the roof off with her Mermanesque singing style. But the coup de gras was its director Gower Champion. No one on Broadway has done it the same nor better, he was the greatest musical director of his or any time.
Take time and listen to the story come alive. A waif named Lile becomes the top attraction as she naively wanders in to the Carnival and meets with Jerry Orbach's puppets... talking, joking, and singing with her friends, she believes they are real and alive. No one can escape this musical's charming story combined with a great score and memorable lyrics.
The recording's sound has been improved for modern format and even its lyrist sings one of the songs at the album's end. Close your eyes, sit back, relive, and enjoy a true gem in musical lore.
Free Music Review: Odd this hasn't been revived since '61; it deserves it
Hit: 5 Stars
Perhaps "Carnival!" suffers from excess baggage -- starting with Bob Merrill, the guy who banged out his tunes on a toy xylophone and wrote "How Much is That Doggie in the Window?"; or its movie inspiration "Lili", notorious for its theme song and its treacle; maybe even Anna Maria Alberghetti, famous for her temper. Perhaps it suffers from following "Jumbo", the majestic circus musical; perhaps with the circus itself having been dumbed down into mere arena spectacle it wouldn't work. Perhaps it was done in when Arthur Freed abandoned a film version. I doubt all this, for here is a truly charming score, and though hampered here by some needless production edits and very prominent tape hiss its charm still shines. It should not be too hard to revive it; but Branson East nowadays is nothing without bloated spectacle. When Jones and Schmidt rebelled at "Camelot" for its bigness they could not have foreseen contraptions like the upcoming "Shrek The Musical" and "Spider-Man". No, there is a place for such low-key, effortless drolleries as "Carnival!" Why not again?
P. S. I thank D. Fletcher for the most interesting display of LP cover art; evidently MGM Records couldn't make up its mind. I must note that "Carnival!" did have an exclamation point in its title -- the Internet Broadway Database says so -- and I'm certain it appeared on a record cover. Maybe D. Fletcher could find that one and upload it.
Free Music Review: a gorgeous Broadway show
Hit: 5 Stars
CARNIVAL is a gorgeous Broadway musical based on the MGM musical "Lili". "Lili" was adapted by Helen Deutsch from Paul Gallico's story.The musical CARNIVAL is essentially a showcase for the amazing talents of Anna Maria Alberghetti, as Lili herself. Alberghetti has the most interesting voice I have ever heard, and was a child prodigy with her huge vocal range. Just listen to her soaring voice in "Beautiful Candy" (where she hits a high-C), "A Very Nice Man", "I Hate Him" and "Mira".
The story of CARNIVAL is Lili's tale; the charming orphan happens upon a troupe of performers from a travelling circus, and joins the act. The lame puppeteer Paul (Jerry Orbach) unwittingly hires her, and she ends up performing with his puppets in a charming show that ends up as the circus' star attraction.
Adding to the cast are Kaye Ballard, Henry Lascoe, Pierre Olaf and James Mitchell.
A fantastic under-rated musical which was recently revived in the City Center's Encores! series, starring "The Princess Diaries" Anne Hathaway as Lili.
A charming recording which features bonus tracks from composer Bob Merrill as well as lovely cover-versions from Richard Chamberlain, J. J. Johnson and Mel Torme.
Free Music Review: An Imaginative Pleasure
Hit: 5 Stars
I had a chance to become familiar with Carnival last summer, and this consistently melodic, varied, and interesting soundtrack never grows old. Especially (but certainly not exclusively) if one sees the stage production, this music has an incredible capacity for combining fantasy and poignancy in ways that allow me to lose myself in the music. From lush, rich songs like "I've Got to Find a Reason" and "Mira" to colorful numbers such as "A Sword and a Rose and a Cape" and "Humming," this album does not contain a single weak link. Particularly catchy tunes include "Yum Ticky Ticky Tum" as well as "A Very Nice Man," and the centerpiece of the show, "Love Makes the World Go Round," is utterly sweet and touching. Anna Marie Alberghetti brings both fluidity and precision to the role of Lili, and is well matched by the surrounding cast in terms of artistic merit. The aural quality of this CD is quite clean and rich for its age, and the bonus tracks are worth hearing as well. Anyone should give Carnival a chance, it is a beauty.