92Y: Lyrics & Lyricists: Preludes

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/15/20 at 4:01am

Did anyone watch the first one? How long was the program? How was it compared to a regular Lyrics & Lyricists performance? How was the filming?

https://www.92y.org/lyrics#season-subscription

[lachri5]

Posted: 11/15/20 at 10:12am

I enjoyed the Jones and Schmidt one. It was 45 minutes. It's my first time seeing a 92Y Lyrics & Lyricists concert, so I have nothing to compare it with. But the filming was pretty good. The group singing is edited together, since the actors were probably standing too far apart. I'm looking forward to the Rodgers, Rodgers & Guettel one!

[jdrye222]

Posted: 11/22/20 at 12:46pm

The Gershwin one was phenomenal and quite informative even as someone who thought they knew a lot about him. It definitely is a small slice due to the length of the format but what they packed into just an hour was pretty amazing. And there is a section on Porgy and Bess that is quite special and is exactly what that kind of program needs to be right now.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 7:40pm

Thanks for the feedback. I'd happily watch them all but... budgeting. I'll try the Rodgers, Rodgers, & Guettel one to see how I feel about the shortened format.

[jdrye222]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 10:31pm

I just watched that one tonight and found it to be quite beautiful... One great performance after another, and then the ending is sort of brilliant.

[lachri5]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 10:45pm

I agree, it was wonderful. Although I have to say Julia Murney crying during The Boy from... was kind of odd. I couldn't tell if she's in character or not.

[jdrye222]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 10:50pm

It’s the only time I’ve actually liked that song.
Of course she was “in character” - it is a spoofy comedy song. I always enjoy seeing her do something a little different. Her “Something Good” was so beautiful and simple I thought.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 10:55pm

Exciting! I'm hoping it's more of Rodgers and Rodgers. I like Light in the Piazza fine but the more I hear about Guettel, the less favorably I think of him and his work.

[jdrye222]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 11:01pm

It’s pretty even, though less Mary Rodgers - I presume because she didn’t write much and what she did is quite inferior (as she always said herself, that’s not me being snarky). It definitely is laid out such that she is the conduit though, I never felt like she disappeared in the course of it. They’ve done a great job with making these make sense in the format, it seems very well thought out.
It’s funny you have that sense about Guettel ... I’ve read a lot about all three and I find Mary to be the least likable..

[jdrye222]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 11:04pm

Also, I won’t describe it but the opening and the ending with Floyd Collins material is great and I liked how they brought it into the current moment.

[jdrye222]

Posted: 12/30/20 at 7:30pm

So I finally watched the rest of the episodes. I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about these .... They are done so well, and the performers seem so genuine.
They aren’t “full” lyrics and lyricist programs, they are each under an hour, but they feel complete and satisfying. Especially the Jule Styne and the Movie one.
They are still available, I really loved them. I’d say if you can only afford one or two, the Rodgers, Styne, and Films are the ones to choose from. (The only one I didn’t love was jones and Schmidt but there just is not as much material). And I just found a couple songs they released on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/RXv17E9M7Xw

https://youtu.be/crv0Ggf6gkQ