PS Classics The Golden Apple

[DCS]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 10:04pm

PS Classics has recorded the full score of The Golden Apple...from last year's Lyric Stage in Irving, Texas production....sounds like it may be a live recording....will be released on May 19th.
PS Classics Golden Apple

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 10:16pm

Wonderful news!

Mr. Nowack may have a heart attack. Updated On: 2/19/15 at 10:16 PM

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 10:17pm

Excellent news. Looking forward to the complete Apple.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 11:10pm

I literally might!!!

I've been waiting for a full recording for years! They are seriously on a roll with these spring releases.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 11:14pm

an orchestra of 38

Ugh I cannot wait to hear this score in completion, in full stereo, with a full orchestra!!

[Cesare2]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 12:14pm

This is really a work that deserves to be much better known. Encores had indicated it was on its "to do" list, but it may be too ambitious an undertaking for it. Would like to see Lincoln Center Theater try it someday.
http://jeromemoross.com/GA/ga-riv.html

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 12:34pm

It's such a wonderful, fun score that as you said isn't nearly as well known as it should be. Despite the strong performances on the OBC the score is really done something of a disservice by the mono, truncated, narrated version of the score being the only one available unless you see a regional production.

That being said I'm not sure the new complete version will be able to totally replace the original, in the same way the more complete versions of FOLLIES and DREAMGIRLS can only really be supplements to the woefully incomplete originals.

(It also just occurred to me that the original finale will finally be recorded!!)

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 12:55pm

That might be true, and it has also happened with scores like Candide, but for me the recording quality is so bad that I have a hard time listening to it, even though I love the music.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 1:27pm

I've heard it said that for the original Lp release of GOLDEN APPLE was sped up in order to fit more music on the disc. I wonder how unlistenable that must have made this glorious score!

I actually don't mind old mono cast albums, though in this case it makes the gorgeous orchestration so muddled.

[Cesare2]

Posted: 2/20/15 at 1:39pm

By a goona, goona-goona,
By a goona, goona-goona lagoon,
We will croon a, croon a, croon a,
We will croon a, croon a real jungle tune.
Upon that golden shore, kids,
We'll lie on bedds of orchids,
And then later, by the crater
Of an old volcano,
We can promise we won't say "No
A-no-a," let's-a go-a,
Let's-a go-a, go-a go-away soon,
Where breezes blow-a, blow-a, blow-a,
Breezes blow-a like a big, big bassoon.
Snug as two baboons in a bamboo tree,
I'll bamboozle you and you'll bamboozle me,
By a goona, goona-goona,
By a goona, goona-goona lagoon.

By a goona, goona-goona,
By a goona, goona-goona lagoon,
We will swoon-a, swoon-a, swoon-a,
We will swoon-a, swoon-a beneath the moon.
Those hula-dancin' mamas
Are really yama-yamas,
They can shake and they can shimmy
Till they charm wild cobras,
Also, fellas, they wear no bras.
Aloha, lo-a, lo-a,
Let's-a go-a, go-a go-away soon,
We will throw a, throw a, throw a,
We will throw a, throw a big, big harpoon.
We'll hunt and fish-a the whole day long,
Whatever you wish-a, just sound the gong
By a goona, goona-goona,
By a goona, goona-goona lagoon.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 11:54pm

I've always loved that line about the sirens wearing no bras!

For those interested, here is a clip from the production from which the recording will be. It's the actual finale, as left off the recording.

Updated On: 2/24/15 at 11:54 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/22/15 at 12:29am

Also, Cesare2, that site is amazing! So many production stills, in color no less.

The original set designs by the Eckharts seems to have been marvelous.

[Lovinbroadway2]

Posted: 2/22/15 at 12:56am

YES!!!!! I'm getting sick of the narration in the original cast album.

Updated On: 2/22/15 at 12:56 AM

[Lovinbroadway2]

Posted: 2/22/15 at 1:24am

Also BWW put up the track listing:


Track listing

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/22/15 at 1:50am

I wonder what the cover will be? I think it would look marvelous if they used the original show curtain.

[yfs]

Posted: 2/22/15 at 9:16pm

I assume none of the posters above actually saw the production that is the basis of the recording. It was far from ideal, to say the least. One can only hope it sounds better than the experience of sitting through it, which verged on the painful.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/22/15 at 11:44pm

That's sad to hear!

Though I'm still overjoyed to have the score in some capacity on record. And I'm sure the large orchestra will at least be phenomenal!

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/23/15 at 10:28pm

You can look up critic's reviews of the show and see that yfs seems to be in the minority:

http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/columnists/nancy-churnin/20141027-bite-into-irresistible-golden-apple-at-lyric-stage.ece

http://www.theaterjones.com/ntx/reviews/20141026082125/2014-10-28/Lyric-Stage/The-Golden-Apple

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/23/15 at 11:37pm

I have a friend who saw it and absolutely adored it, and he's an ardent GOLDEN APPLE fan/advocate. Tommy Krasker and Phillip Chapin apparently loved it as well so it clearly was well received by some. That doesn't mean that the negative comments here aren't viable, just that it can go both ways.

What was it that you didn't like about the production, yfs? If it was more the direction or presentation, it won't matter very much, but if the voices or acting choices were bad that would certainly impact the recording.

I will admit, as much as I adore the score I can imagine it being a rough show to actually sit through, what with the fast-moving recitative, often in easy to misunderstand soprano, and the sheer amount of plot shoved into the thing.

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/23/15 at 11:45pm

While the score is wonderful and Not Since Carrie praises the show to high heaven, from what I understand the plot is extremely confusing if you are not familiar with the Odyssey ands Illiad or know the plot in advance. I think one of those reviews mentions that you should read a synopsis before seeing the show so it isn't too confusing. Lamplighters has the show on their to do list, so I will see it there when they present it and see how good the show actually is.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/23/15 at 11:56pm

Yeah in that respect the narration is actually somewhat helpful!

It seems like in reality it's best just to listen to as a score.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/24/15 at 3:31pm

There's really no excuse for not having read at least a synopsis of the ILIAD and ODYSSEY, whether or not you go to see THE GOLDEN APPLE. All of Western literature draws on the two works in one way or another.

But get good translations (I prefer Robert Fagles) and neither work is difficult to read or particularly long.

Wikipedia has both synopses and other discussion. Here is the link for THE ILIAD:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliad

(True confession: I'm not being a snob here. I am embarrassed to admit I waited until Middle Age to read both works fully. (Previously, I had only read excerpts as needed for research.) Entirely stupid on my part.)


Updated On: 2/24/15 at 03:31 PM

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/24/15 at 10:47pm

A pretentious "art song" score, cold and unappealing.

I wish they had recorded Forrest and Wright's The Carefree Heart instead.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 2/24/15 at 10:53pm

Saw the show several years ago at Bard College, and was truly disappointed. Aside from "Lazy Afternoon," never found the score very interesting.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/24/15 at 11:15pm

AfterEight, were you one of the lucky (or as you would put it unlucky) people who saw the original production?