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re: Teachout on FIDDLER
Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 10:14 am EST 12/23/15
In reply to: re: Teachout on FIDDLER - AlanScott 03:08 am EST 12/23/15
"As a music critic, he should at least be able to realize what the problem might be, even if he hasn't listened to the extreme choices that can be heard on some recordings of the score to accommodate Goldes who can't sing Golde's music in those original keys."

For example, on the recording with Robert Merrill and Molly Picon, where Picon sings some of Golde's solo stuff in the same octave as Karnilova but most of it down the octave, and the switching back and forth -- sometimes from one line to the next -- is disconcerting.
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re: Teachout on FIDDLER
Posted by: NewtonUK 11:55 am EST 12/23/15
In reply to: re: Teachout on FIDDLER - Michael_Portantiere 10:14 am EST 12/23/15
Changing keys for artists in revivals of musicals - sometimes for someone taking over in a role in the original production - is nothing new.

In opera, composers frequently have had mezzos sing soprano roles and vice versa, with frequent key changes. And opera singers thru the ages have either interpolated flashier high notes, or edited out the existing ones.

The only pertinent issue is - 'How does it sound?'
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re: Teachout on FIDDLER
Posted by: Chromolume 09:25 pm EST 12/23/15
In reply to: re: Teachout on FIDDLER - NewtonUK 11:55 am EST 12/23/15
Changing keys for artists in revivals of musicals - sometimes for someone taking over in a role in the original production - is nothing new.

And even prior to that. People tend to assume that songs are initially written in the 'show key" but that's not always true. Songs are always fitted to the keys appropriate for the performers - but the composer may have written the songs in keys better suited to his voice, piano skills, etc. Also, many published scores and rental scores reflect the keys that were used on the tour, not on Broadway. And, there's always the possibility that the recorded keys might be different than what's performed onstage (anyone who's seen the film of the Company recording session saw that almost happen to "The Ladies Who Lunch"). So the whole concept of "original key" is a very loose one.
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re: Teachout on FIDDLER
Posted by: scoot1er 02:05 pm EST 12/23/15
In reply to: re: Teachout on FIDDLER - NewtonUK 11:55 am EST 12/23/15
Actually, there is a second pertinent issue directly related you yours: Is the actor comfortable singing in the original key? If not, up then, I believe, the song needs to be transposed. In fact, I have always made it a practice to do so.
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