Glitter and Be Gay: Difference between revisions
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#REDIRECT [[Candide (operetta)#"Glitter and Be Gay"]] |
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{{Unreferenced|date=January 2007}} |
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'''''Glitter and Be Gay''''' is an [[aria]] from the operetta ''[[Candide (operetta)|Candide]]'', sung by the character of [[Cunegonde]]. It was written by [[Leonard Bernstein]] and [[Richard Wilbur]]. The tune of the up-tempo section ("Ha ha, ha ha ha ha") is well-known from its prominence in the show's [[overture]], as well as from its use for years as the theme music of [[Dick Cavett]]'s talk show. |
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This aria poses considerable difficulties. Technically, it is among the most fiendishly challenging [[coloratura soprano]] arias. If sung as written throughout (alternative phrases are provided at several points in the score), there are three high E-flats (above [[high C]]), two [[staccato]] and one sustained; there are also numerous uses of high C and D-flat. Some of the florid passages are very intricate, calling for marksmanship of the highest order. Theatrically, it demands an elaborate comic staging (in which Cunegonde adorns herself with jewelry while singing and dancing around the stage), and has a satirical quality that is a challenge to perform. |
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"Glitter and Be Gay" was introduced by [[Barbara Cook]]. She discussed the most difficult part of this aria - the "Ha ha hahahaha" section-- with [[Renée Fleming]] for ''Opera News'' in December 2001: |
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:'''Barbara Cook''': It was terrible how nervous I was. I'd been singing stuff like "I'll be loving you always", and here I was singing Cunegonde. You know what else is hard with that thing? [[Leonard Bernstein|Lenny]] insisted on the "Ha-ha-ha"s really being "Hha-hha-hha"s. No "Ah-ee-ah-ee-ah"s but "Ha-ha-ha-HA-ha-ha"s. And I was never, never able to do it the way he really, really wanted it done. He wanted the ... |
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:'''Renée Fleming''': You mean the aspiration? |
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:'''Barbara Cook''': Oh, that. I did do that. But what he wanted was the syncopation. So it would have to be [''speaks, beating time''], "Ha-ha-hahahaha. HAhahahaHAhahaha." You try that on for size. That's hard, because you are losing all that air. |
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Apart from Cook, most other singers of this aria generally simplify this section by eliminating the [[Aspirated h|aspirated "H's"]] and sing staccatti instead. |
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Subsequent performers of the role of Cunegonde have included: |
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*[[Mary Costa]] (in the 1959 London premiere) |
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*[[Madeline Kahn]] (in a 1968 concert version) |
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*[[Maureen Brennan]] (In [[Hal Prince]]'s first broadway revival of the show in 1974) |
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*[[Erie Mills]] (at the [[New York City Opera]] in 1982) |
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*[[June Anderson]] (under Bernstein's direction in concerts and a recording shortly before his death) |
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*[[Constance Hauman]] (understudy to Anderson, filled in for at least one performance) |
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*[[Elizabeth Futral]] (at [[Lyric Opera of Chicago]] in 1994) |
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*[[Michael Callen]] (in his 1996 posthumously released [http://members.aol.com/sigothinc/mcmusic.htm LEGACY 2-CD album]) |
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*[[Harolyn Blackwell]] (in [[Hal Prince]]'s 1997 Broadway revival of the show). |
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*[[Kristin Chenoweth]] (in a 2004 concert production with the [[New York Philharmonic]]) |
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This aria has been performed in concert by many musical theatre and opera stars, including (in addition to those listed above): [[Diana Damrau]], [[Natalie Dessay]], [[Renée Fleming]], [[Edita Gruberová]], [[Sumi Jo]], [[Roberta Peters]], and [[Dawn Upshaw]].<!--please keep alphabetical order of listing--> |
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==External Links== |
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcmAdS8vkDA June Anderson sings "Glitter and Be Gay"] from ''[[Candide (operetta)|Candide]]'', [[Leonard Bernstein]] conducting, London, 1989. |
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*[http://youtube.com/watch?v=aS2c-pgm3jg Diana Damrau sings "Glitter and Be Gay"], performing with the aforementioned aspirated H, WM-Concert 2006. |
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkdM_jHEsjo Kristin Chenoweth sings "Glitter and Be Gay"] with the Boston Pops Orchestra. |
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[[Category:Songs from Candide]] |
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[[Category:Arias]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:05, 2 February 2011
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