Word: musics
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
While Sullivan's music in H.M.S. is generally a pleasure to listen to, the orchestra in the Agassiz production was frequently off-key, which made it slightly disappointing. There was a confusion with timing as well, best exemplified by the opening act, in which, after the orchestra finished playing, all the members turned to stare expectantly at the empty stage for nearly half a minute before the first scene began...
Despite these faults, last weekend's performance could not completely destroy Gilbert and Sullivan's lyrics and music. Gilbert's quick-witted criticisms of the arbitrary English caste system--as well as some of the slapstick humor added by director Matt Buchanan--made the audience laugh...
Overall, H.M.S. Pinafore was not a great success. The disparity between the quality of the lead roles and the lack of attention to the details of choreography, music and enunciation of the lyrics made it difficult to watch. Each time a smaller scene began, one hoped the show might be picking up, but it returned again to the mire of an over-crowded stage and an overzealous orchestra...
...only other unfortunate choice in this production is the addition of music, presumably to heighten the tension of the play. The problem is that the tension is already running excruciatingly high, and the synthesized music, often overamplified, is simply annoying. In more than one case music is used to signify an approaching flashback, and the actors seem to wait for it to end before continuing the action. Not surprisingly, this takes away some of the fluidity of the performance...
Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra (HRO) will forsake its traditional repertoire of classical music tonight as it performs a Soviet avant-garde piece never before played in the United States, HRO members said yesterday...