This is so ... english :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCU9ZKgfwlc

Really liked the arrangement and audio production on that number...


As for Foreign Devils, well...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8WiudDlTBw




<O>

Yeah. Southern AllStars....a very professional band of musos and dancers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUctjwkOva0

"Pacific Overtures"... must check out the whole show later. Looks really interesting. Tks for the heads up, vienna :up:

The whole musical is available free on YT, in stereo, filmed with the original 1976 Broadway cast; an underrated and woefully overlooked Sondheim composition...:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ546PASgHI





<O>

@ vienna...just saw "Pacific Overtures".

Wow, Superb. Many thanks, I really enjoyed it.

The practical bird

Having no nest of his own

Must borrow another.

and...

The bird from the sea

Not knowing the difference between Pine and Bamboo

doesn't care where he roosts.

:arrgh!: ( Foreign Devil smilie ).

Glad you enjoyed it... :up:


I got to see Pacific Overtures live when the show was moved to LA on its national tour in 1976, with its original cast, a great many of whom were LA/Hollywood actors well known in local stage, TV and movies; I'm not really a big fan of stage musicals, in general, but there have been some that just stand out and Pacific Overtures was one of them; bad timing probably accounts for the relatively lackluster reception when it first ran; in 1976, it was the year of the Bicentennial and the was a sort of jingoism abroad in the US that was particularly vented against Japan, who were viewed as somehow being responsible for the woes of the US economy, particularly the auto industry; putting on a show about Japan and how it was affected by the forced 'opening' to the outside world at the point of US guns was probably not the best idea given the times...

Still, the show is a marvel of a musical, an impressive blending of the Broadway musical and Japanese Kabuki theater...






<O>

This Pacific Overture is great :D

"Hello, hello" almost a wonder why Japan declared war so late :O:

"Letter from Admiral Perry addressed to the Emperor dated July 7, 1853:
"Many of the large ships-of-war destined to visit Japan have not yet arrived in these seas, though they are hourly expected; and the undersigned, as an evidence of his friendly intentions, has brought but four of the smaller ones, designing, should it become necessary, to return to Edo in the ensuing spring with a much larger force.

But it is expected that the government of your imperial majesty will render such return unnecessary, by acceding at once to the very reasonable and pacific overtures contained in the President's letter, and which will be further explained by the undersigned on the first fitting occasion.""

I guess the heralds pf the other colonial powers were equally "subtle" :haha:

A bit like a modern Jacques Offenbach's opera buffo.. also making fun of politics and politicians, hardly disguised by phantastic music. But i have never heard this before. Thanks for posting Eisenwurst and Vienna!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z-05T55nOQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgnClGC8-WQ

Very classy video from some talented people.

Always wondered how Van Gogh lost his ear......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZbLT4INFpw

Bit of an intro, but it sets the scene.....too many long hours at the office.

The Song of the Siren.