REVIEWS

RETURN TO REVIEWS - MAIN PAGE

NOTE: Graphics are thumbnailed.  Click on the graphic to view full size.
 

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S "ALLEGRO": THE COMPLETE CAST RECORDING

Double CD
Reviewed by Jason Fortner

The most exciting new recording to come out in years was also an unexpected choice for me - one that, upon repeated listening sessions,  has completely swayed my opinion about this forgotten gem.

I am speaking of the new 2 CD complete version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's ill-fated fourth collaboration. (After adapting GREEN GROW THE LILACS, LILIOM and the non-musical STATE FAIR into OKLAHOMA!, CAROUSEL and STATE FAIR the musical.) This original musical was the show with the bad rep, aided and abetted by a truncated cast recording and a libretto that reads very flatly without music. For years it sat there, getting the least attention from me toward the R & H canon.

As for hearing the music, there were various concert recordings that I admired, but none of these were released as true cast recordings. Additionally, songs from the show would surface in various tributes and revues, but none truly displayed the actual brilliance of the piece.

Considered by many to be the first real concept musical, ALLEGRO tells the story of Doctor Joseph Taylor, Jr. from birth to re-birth after a mid-life crisis. With a Greek Chorus, fragmented musical numbers and several plot propelling ballets, it is a monumental undertaking to perform, with most tributes focusing on the songs and usually skip the dances altogether.

The score is epic in scope, with universal themes of man's integrity at odds with a corrupting world, playing as though it were a Wagnerian opera. Themes and motifs come and go, weaving in and out of scenes and dance pieces to create a universal musical fabric that is the heart of ALLEGRO.

The far too short Original Cast Recording never did Justice to the detailed writing of the score, ignoring the dance segments and presenting the top tunes of the show. Among the memorable numbers for the OCR were The Gentleman Is A Dope, So Far, A Fellow Needs A Girl and the jaunty title tune. This rendition was pleasant enough, but merely the tip of the ALLEGRO iceberg, so to speak.

This piece desperately needed a full recording, and Ted Chapin, Bruce Pomohac and company have truly delivered. With a large orchestral setting that is never heard today, these CDs sweep you away to a bygone Broadway era where Hammerstein's faith in humanity creates a modern saga of faith, corruption and redemption.

The top notch cast features an all star “dream cast”, with performers such as Patrick Wilson, Audra McDonald, Norbert Leo Butz, Liz Callaway, Marni Nixon, Judy Kuhn,  Laura Benanti, Danny Burstein and dozens more. Add to them a large singing chorus, a large speaking chorus plus a children's chorus and celebrity cameos and you've got an amazing achievement.

This is NOT your Grandmother's ALLEGRO! (Although Marni Nixon's turn as Grandma is truly touching.)

Whether you like the storyline or not, this is a vibrant, exciting recording - especially the breathtaking orchestral renditions of the complex dance pieces, expertly performed by the Istropolis Philharmonic Orchestra. Listening to the ever-changing rhythms, motifs and themes (including to the classic Rodgers & Hart tune “Mountain Greenery”) one can only imagine the field day original director/choreographer Agnes DeMille must have had with this show.

Though the show is looked back on as one of Rodgers & Hammerstein's three failures (ME & JULIET and PIPE DREAM would be the other two) this recording has helped to elevate this exciting score to its proper place in musical theatre history. Later in their careers both Rodgers & Hammerstein expressed a desire to revisit ALLEGRO and make it work, and this show, with its stylized scenery and staging laid the groundwork for such future concept shows as CABARET and COMPANY.  (Some writers have accused Sondheim of spending his career trying to “fix” ALLEGRO, a show on which he served as a Production Assistant, thanks to his childhood connection to Hammerstein. Sondheim's distinctive voice is featured in a pivotal scene of this recording, lending real resonance to the circle of life allegory.)

Despite any negatives people may hold toward this show, this recording is a must-have for any true devotee's collection. How often do we get the chance to rediscover a lost gem from Broadway's Golden Age?

So move “one foot, other foot” and get out there and buy this CD!
 

Have a question or comment on this review? All reviews are reprinted in their entirety at our blog, Small World, Isn't It. We welcome you to post any comments there.  If you can't locate the review, please consult the page summary menu on the right side of the blog page.