From: Karen Mercedes
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Subject: Re: Musical Theatre Fachs?
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

On Sat, 29 Jan 2000 RALUCOB-at-aol.com wrote:

> i think of christa ludwig singing in 'candide'. you'd have to be a
> serious opera fan to like it. anyone who loves broadway and is even remotely

A very interesting comment, given the original Old Woman in CANDIDE, Irra
Petina, was an opera singer.

Some other opera singers who created roles on Broadway:

Robert Rounseville - the original Candide, the original Padre Anselmo in
MAN OF LA MANCHA (also the Mr. Snow in the Hollywood film version of
CAROUSEL)

Theodore Uppmann - in the original cast of COURTIN' TIME, which was also
choreographed by George Balanchine; not a success as a show. Uppmann went
on to sing the title role in the U.S. premiere of BILLY BUDD at the Met
(where he performed frequently for years).

Ruth Kobart (my second cousin) - the original Domina in A FUNNY THING
HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM.

Robert Weede - the original Tony Esposito in THE MOST HAPPY FELLA (a role
written for him) and the original male lead in Jerry Herman's MILK AND
HONEY (along with operatic soprano Mimi Benzell - both singers sang at
the Met)

Ezio Pinza - the original Emile in SOUTH PACIFIC.

Rebecca Caine - the original Cosette in LES MISERABLES.


And no doubt many more.

It may be that your ears and expectations have been conditioned by hearing
later casts of CANDIDE, but to say an opera singer is out of place in a
role created by an opera singer is, frankly, absurd.


Karen Mercedes
=====
There is delight in singing,
tho' none hear Beside the singer.
- Walter Savage Landor
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