Rodgers & Hammerstein's Allegro - First Complete Recording by Rodgers & Hammerstein: CD Cover
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Rodgers & Hammerstein's Allegro - First Complete Recording Rodgers & Hammerstein

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CD

  • Release Date: 02/03/2009
  • 2 Disc Set
  • Sales Rank: 7,495
  • Label: MASTERWORKS
  • UPC: 886974173823

Listener Rating: (2 ratings)

Detailed Rating: "Originality" See All

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  • Overview
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  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
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Track List
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Rodgers & Hammerstein's Allegro - First Complete Recording

Disc 1
1Allegro/Act 1. Overture 5:23
2Allegro/Act 1. Opening (Joseph Taylor, Jr.) 3:56
3Allegro/Act 1. I Know It Can Happen Again 1:27
4Allegro/Act 1. Pudgy Legs 0:15
5Allegro/Act 1. Dialogue/One Foot, Other Foot 0:40
6Allegro/Act 1. One Foot, Other Foot 3:07
7Allegro/Act 1. Children's Dance 5:38
8Allegro/Act 1. Grandmother's Death 1:10
9Allegro/Act 1. Winters Go By 0:51
10Allegro/Act 1. Dialogue/Poor Joe 0:13
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Disc 2
1Allegro/Act 2. Entr'acte 3:00
2Allegro/Act 2. Opening 0:48
3Allegro/Act 2. Money Isn't Everything 3:41
4Allegro/Act 2. Dance (Money Isn't Everything) 3:07
5Allegro/Act 2. Dialogue/Poor Joe (Reprise) 0:50
6Allegro/Act 2. Poor Joe (Reprise) 0:13
7Allegro/Act 2. Dialogue/You Are Never Away (Reprise) 1:30
8Allegro/Act 2. A Fellow Needs a Girl (Reprise) 0:56
9Allegro/Act 2. Yatata 3:56
10Allegro/Act 2. The Gentleman Is a Dope 2:54
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About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

Written between two of Rodgers and Hammerstein's biggest hits, "Carousel" and "South Pacific," "Allegro" is one of their least-often performed collaborations; its original 1947 Broadway production was a financial failure, and critical and public opinion was decidedly mixed. Part of the problem must have been its stark departure from the dramatic realism of their earlier work; with its use of a Greek chorus, nearly continuous music even under the spoken dialogue, minimal set, and innovative cinematic cross-cutting between scenes, it was a show ahead of its time. Stephen Sondheim, who was a production assistant for the Broadway run, has written that "Allegro" was "the first really good experimental show." Another issue is its lack of dramatic focus; the diversity of critical opinion about what exactly it was supposed to be about indicates that the authors in fact were not effective in communicating their vision with any clarity. The second act in particular rushes over a number of fairly complicated plot points without much elucidation. Although the music is inventive and always dramatically apt, the fact that there are no truly memorable, show-stopping tunes also probably contributes to its continued obscurity. It's an intriguing show, though, particularly when viewed as a predecessor of the conceptual musicals of the 1970s and 1980s.

The producers pulled out all the stops for this studio cast recording, the first complete recording of the show, which includes 100 minutes of music. It features veterans Nathan Gunn, Audra McDonald, and Patrick Wilson, and populates the smaller roles with an astonishing array of luminaries, including Marni Nixon, Schuyler Chapin, and Stephen Sondheim (as well as a recording of Hammerstein himself). "Allegro" is absolutely an ensemble piece rather than a star vehicle; the spirited cast, including a very fine chorus of adults and children, works together beautifully, and makes a strong case for the musical. This lovingly produced version of a fascinating footnote in American theater should be of interest to any fans of musical theater. Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

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  • Ratings: 2Reviews: 1

A REVELATION AND LONG OVERDUEby Anonymous

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April 13, 2009: Flop is not a word usually associated with Rodgers and Hammerstein, but for this show, it applied. Coming after Carousel and before South Pacific, Allegro just didn't live up to its expectations, and until the release of this recording, it couldn't. The Original Cast Album, released by RCA, is a major disappointment. RCA simply didn't have the finesse that Columbia did in recording Broadway cast albums, and Allegro highlights all the flaws. The songs included on the original release are flat and truncated, and even though the show did have some hits (think the charming ballad, So Far, and the wonderful novelty number, The Gentleman Is a Dope), their appeal is completely lacking in the original recording, and the other eight pieces included on that compilation are entirely forgettable.

This new release, however, supervised by the R&H organization, is an eye-opener, and brings Allegro, warts and all, to a new public. This time, there are very few warts. The cast for this release includes the sublime Audra MacDonald, and that by itself should be enough to commend it. Beyond the cast, offering the complete score brings out the sheer beauty of the piece. All the hallmarks of a Richard Rodgers score, flowing melodies, eminently singable lines, and lush-and-lovely waltzes are all here. Oscar Hammerstein's lyrics are brimming with intelligence, wit, and heart, and are masterfully paired with Rodgers' music. But Allegro simply tried too hard and asked too much from a post-war audience to find the mass appeal of Oklahoma! or, surprisingly, Carousel.

Unlike those shows, Allegro was original material, set in the present. And perhaps, it was too insightful for its own good. Particularly in the second act, Allegro highlighted some of the issues of its day that are even more disconcerting now. Patients suffering from angst and anxiety, visiting a physician, and demanding the newest pill to pop, may have offended an audience just beginning to live a life that imitated the art they were seeing on stage. But in the 1960's, the Rolling Stones gave us "Mother's Little Helper," and TV today peddles every pill known to science. Who would have guessed that R&H were so far ahead of their time? And who would have guessed that Allegro would finally come into its own?

The extras included with this recording are every bit as good as the score. The essays are honest and straightforward and bring a sense of completion to the show. Full lyrics and some candid photographs are also included in this excellent release. It may take a little time and study for you to fully appreciate the genuine pleasures of this long ignored musical, but the effort is worth your investment. Perhaps a revival will soon be in the works, but in the meantime, this much is certain: Allegro is a flop no more.