London and Provincial Music

Archive for the ‘London Music Awards’ Category

The world’s longest-running live music programme, featuring the BBC concert orchestra have invited one of the worlds most pioneering solo violinist, Diana Yukawa, to perform with them for the performance on 5th February 2010.

The performance for Radio 2 will be broadcast live from the Mermaid Theatre in London in recognition of the arranger Angela Morley who died last year at 7:30pm.

Angela was born Wally Stott in Leeds in March 1924. In a career at the BBC, Wally was the musical director for the Goons Show and wrote the signature tune and accompanying music to Hancock’s Half Hour. As a musical director in the 1950s, Wally worked with the cream of British pop including the likes of Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield and Ronnie Carroll. He also composed a number of tuneful light music pieces including Rotten Row and Canadian in Mayfair.

Following a sex change operation in 1960, Wally took the name Angela Morley and became one of the great orchestral arrangers working mostly in the United States. She won two Emmy Awards for her work with Julie Andrews and was nominated twice for an Oscar for her work on The Slipper and the Rose with the Sherman Brothers and The Little Prince with Lerner and Loewe. She also provided the scores for classic 70s television shows such as Dallas, Dynasty and Cagney and Lacey.

From the 1970s Angela was closely associated with the composer John Williams and aided him in the production of many of his classic film scores – including Star Wars, Superman and ET. It began a long association with the Boston Pops Orchestra.

The London based violinist, Diana Yukawa is due to perform “St Patrick’s Day (from the multi Oscar winning motion picture, The Quiet Man) and Laura (from the Oscar winning motion picture Laura) both by John Williams and arranged by Angela Morley.

Diana Yukawa has recently released her new crossover album “The Butterfly Effect” in Japan  which also features a track she performed for the motion picture Shizumanu Taiyo (The Sun that Doesn’t Set). Eleven of the fourteen tracks were co written by Diana and recorded at Abbey Road studio in London, a venue often used by Angela Morley.

The revolutionary album is not yet available in the UK but is expected to make an appearance later in 2010.

Tune in to Radio 2 on Friday 5th February 2010 at 7:30pm on Digital, online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wrrv or on 88-91 FM.

www.dianayukawa.co.uk – Diana’s official website.

Although he is in the midst of a globe-trotting tour in support of his latest album Crazy Love, Michael Buble returned to his native Canada for the country’s biggest awards show, the Juno Awards. After receiving an award on the untelevised part of the awards, Billboard.com reports that Buble was honored with four awards during the televised show from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Buble was honored with the coveted Album of the Year award for Crazy Love, Pop Album of the Year for Crazy Love, Single of the Year for “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” and the Fan Choice Award.

Buble performed “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” during the Juno Awards, which were broadcast by CTV on April 18, and told fans when accepting his Fan Choice Award, “This is the best one. We talk about our managers and our companies but we don’t talk about you enough.” For fans who didn’t catch Buble’s performance of “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” at the Juno Awards, <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.stubhub.com/”>StubHub.com</a> has <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.stubhub.com/michael-buble-tickets/”>Michael Buble tickets</a> to see the Canadian crooner live this summer.

Michael Buble released Crazy Love, his first album of new material since 2007′s Call Me Irresponsible, in November 2009. The 13-track album is named after a 1970 Van Morrison song and features 11 cover songs—like “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes),” “Cry Me A River” and “Georgia On My Mind”—and two original songs: “Hold On” and “Just Haven’t Met You Yet.” Crazy Love just missed the Sept. 1 cutoff date for the 2010 Grammys (although Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden was nominated in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album) but expect to see it receiving some recognition for next year’s Grammys!

Since he first emerged onto the music scene, Michael Buble has been compared to artists of another era, and on his official website he described recording Crazy Love as a return to an earlier time. “I started this record knowing I was going to record it differently than my previous ones. I dug way deeper and was more introspective on this one. Basically I sang the truth—made each song autobiographical—and you can definitely hear the difference. I went back to the way my idols made their records,” said Buble. Crazy Love was recorded in studios in New York and Vancouver and saw Buble working with a batch of veteran producers featuring David Foster, Humberto Garcia and Bob Rock.

Buble recently tacked on addition dates to the U.S. run of his current tour in support of Crazy Love, according to the singer’s official website. Michael Buble’s Crazy Love Tour, sponsored by Nordstrom, will now stop in Sacramento, Calif. (at Arco Arena on Aug. 24), San Diego (at San Diego Sports Arena on Aug. 27) and Las Vegas, Nev. (MGM Grand on Aug.28). These dates join previously announced dates in Tulsa, Okla.; Wichita, Kan.; Saint Louis, Mo.; Omaha, Neb.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Columbus, Ohio; Uncasville, Conn.; Richmond, Va.; Raleigh, N.C.; New Orleans, La.; Houston, Texas; Montreal, PQ; London, ON; Winnipeg, MB; Vancouver, BC and more.

Wicked is one of the most popular musicals in recent memory. With songs and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, the story is loosely based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The show celebrated its 7th Anniversary on October 30, 2010. It is currently the 25th longest-running show in musical theatre history and the 17th longest-running Broadway show, having played over 2,926 performances to date.

The short Munchkins feeling comfortable with middle-class stability and the Tin Man is victimized by the domestic violence. Instead of these evident tales, a little green-skinned girl is the centre of the story of Wicked. Her name is Elphaba. She has grown up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West. Wicked is based on the story of this top-selling novel. The Wicked witch is such a creature that introduces us a new concept of good and evil. She is smart, prickly and misunderstood creature. The story is sensational and it creates great interest among the spectators. There are special seats and discount on wicked tickets for all the theatres hosting the play.

The score of Wicked is heavily thematic, bearing in some senses more resemblance to a film score than a traditional musical score. While many musicals’ scores develop new motifs and melodies for each song with little overlap, Schwartz integrated a handful of leitmotifs throughout the production. Some of these motifs indicate irony – for example, when Galinda presents Elphaba with a “ghastly” hat in “Dancing through Life”, the score reprises a theme from “What Is This Feeling?” a few scenes earlier, in which Elphaba and Glinda had espoused their mutual loathing.

The musical began previews on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre on October 8, 2003, and officially opened on October 30. Most of the production team and original cast members remained with the show, except for some minor ensemble changes. The production has consistently been one of the two highest weekly grossing shows since its opening and has grossed over million every week.

In 2004, Wicked was nominated for ten Tony Awards, and came away with the top prize in the Best Actress, Scenic Design, and Costume Design categories. It also won six Drama Desk Awards and an Olivier Award. The musical has also broken several box office records around the world, holding weekly-gross-takings records in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, and London. The Broadway production welcomed its 5 millionth audience member on September 29, 2010.

Wicked has evolved over the years as well with other off shoot productions like Wicked: A New Musical.  Despite that variance Wicked continues to sell out theatres both in New York on Broadway or through its touring productions.  Broadway Tickets can be very expensive ranging from up to 0 depending on your location in the theatre.

Whether you’ve seen the production previously, or have anxiously anticipating seeing it, now is the perfect time to purchase Wicked Tickets, as the musical is currently embarked on a nationwide tour.  If you cannot make it an original production of Wicked then make sure you get out and see Wicked: A New Musical before it is too late!

BAFTA awards Live streaming, Live BAFTA Awards, 2010 BAFTA Awards Live Streaming

Royal Opera House at London is once again in picture for hosting British Academy Film Awards 2010 or BAFTA awards on Sunday 21 February 2010. BAFTA awards are equally known as British Oscar’s that honors for best skills in various categories like excellence in film, television, television craft.

Jonathan Ross from BBC will host for this year of British Academy Film Awards. He recently quit from BBC. Avatar nominated for six categories for this year highest by any movie. It nominated for best film, cinematography, editing, music, production design, sound and special visual effects.

Full details of BAFTA nominations once again:

BEST FILM

Avatar
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Up In the Air

DIRECTOR

Avatar – James Cameron
District 9 – Neill Blomkamp
An Education – Lone Scherfig
The Hurt Locker – Kathryn Bigelow
Inglourious Basterds – Quentin Tarantino

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

An Education
Fish Tank
In the Loop
Moon
Nowhere Boy

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Hangover – Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
The Hurt Locker – Mark Boal
Inglourious Basterds – Quentin Tarantino
A Serious Man – Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Up – Bob Peterson, Pete Docter

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

District 9 – Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell
An Education – Nick Hornby
In the Loop – Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire – Geoffrey Fletcher
Up In the Air – Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Broken Embraces
Coco Before Chanel
Let the Right One In
A Prophet
The White Ribbon

ANIMATED FILM

Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Up

LEADING ACTOR

Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
George Clooney – Up In The Air
Colin Firth – A Single Man
Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker
Andy Serkis – Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

LEADING ACTRESS

Carey Mulligan – An Education
Saoirse Ronan – The Lovely Bones
Gabourey Sidibe – Precious: Based On The Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire
Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia
Audrey Tautou – Coco Before Chanel

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Alec Baldwin – It’s Complicated
Christian Mckay – Me And Orson Welles
Alfred Molina – An Education
Stanley Tucci – The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Anne-Marie Duff – Nowhere Boy
Vera Farmiga – Up In The Air
Anna Kendrick – Up In The Air
Mo’nique – Precious: Based On The Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire
Kristin Scott Thomas – Nowhere Boy

MUSIC

Avatar – James Horner
Crazy Heart – T-Bone Burnett, Stephen Bruton
Fantastic Mr. Fox – Alexandre Desplat
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll – Chaz Jankel
Up – Michael Giacchino

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Avatar – Mauro Fiore
District 9 – Trent Opaloch
The Hurt Locker – Barry Ackroyd
Inglourious Basterds – Robert Richardson
The Road – Javier Aguirresarobe

EDITING

Avatar – Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, James Cameron
District 9 – Julian Clarke
The Hurt Locker – Bob Murawski, Chris Innis
Inglourious Basterds – Sally Menke
Up in the Air – Dana E. Glauberma

The Sound of Music comes to Eastbourne

The smash hit production of legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music comes to the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne this summer,and brings with it the worlds second most famous Maria in the shape of Connie Fisher.

Since winning the BBC show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? Connie has played the role at the London Palladium for 15 months to critical acclaim. More recently she has starred in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of They’re Playing Our SongCaught in a Trap. and was also seen in ITV drama

This lavish production tells the story of the Von Trapp family’s flight across the mountains, with its unforgettable score, that includes some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical stage including; My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, The Lonely Goatherd and The Sound of Music.

This production of the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical opened to rave reviews and sell-out business at the Wales Millennium Centre in July 2009 following a record-breaking 954 performances at the London Palladium. The Sound of Music originally premiered on Broadway in 1959, when it won six Tony Awards, including “Best Musical”.

The show first opened in London in 1961 with a revival in 1981, both productions having record-breaking runs.  The 1965 Hollywood film, which starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, won five Oscars, including “Best Picture”.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and The Really Useful Group’s smash hit production features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, with a book suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” Maria Augusta Trapp, the show is directed by Jeremy Sams, with choreography by Arlene Phillips.

Catch the must see summer musical, The Sound of Music, at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne from Tuesday 1 – Saturday 19 June, Monday’s at 7pm, Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 7.30pm and Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets priced from £16 – £39.50, with selected concessions including generous group discounts are available. To book call 01323 412000 or online www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

London’s West End is home to a number of musicals that have been running for many years and never cease to draw in the crowds.

London’s longest running show of all time is the classic Les Miserables. Based off of Victor Hugo’s classic novel of the same name, the musical is a tale of love and redemption set against the bloody and violent French Revolution. Famous songs include “I Dreamed a Dream” and “Can You Hear the People Sing.” The show opened in 1985 and is currently in its twenty-fifth year.

Queen jukebox musical We Will Rock You is in its eighth year. The show is about Galileo, a young noncomformist who faces off against the corporate Killer Queen in a dystopian world that’s set 300 years in the future. The popular musical is a fan favorite and features famous Queen songs like “We Are the Champions” and “Another One Bites the Dust.”

The Phantom of the Opera is London’s second-longest running show and opened just one year after Les Miserables. The musical is perhaps composer Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous show and is based off of Gaston LeRoux’s famous novel. The show tells the tale of a rising opera star and the tortured man who is obsessed with her. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score is a complicated blend of opera and rock and the show offers dazzling special effects in numbers like “The Point of No Return” and “Masquerade.”

Disney’s Lion King The Musical is in its eleventh year on the West End and is adapted from Disney’s classic animated movie The Lion King. The show continuously thrills entire families with its stunning puppets and visuals along with a familiar score that includes Lion King favorites like “Hakuna Matata,” “Circle of Life,” and Elton John’s classic “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”

Willy Russell’s smash hit Blood Brothers holds the third-longest run in West End history with twenty-two years of continuous performances. The musical is about two twins who were separated at birth and raised in two completely different backgrounds. Blood Brothers has amassed a number of Olivier Awards, including one for Best New Musical in 1983.

Kander and Ebb’s gritty musical Chicago is currently in its twelfth year on the West End. The show’s plot revolves around Roxie Hart, a jailed murderess who dreams of a career in vaudeville. The musical is famous for its signature Bob Fosse choreography and classic numbers like “All That Jazz” and “Cell Block Tango.”

Finally, Mamma Mia opened in 1999 and is famous for its score comprised entirely of songs from the Swedish pop group Abba. The plot revolves around a young girl, Sophie, who decides to invite all three of her potential fathers to her upcoming wedding. The musical features classic Abba hits like “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia.”

London holds a remarkable history of over 2000 years. Located on the banks of the River Thames, London is an excellent blend of museums, galleries, shopping areas, historical landmarks, entertainment and tourist attractions. Read on to learn more about these great art galleries, and also learn how you can benefit from taking a London Taxi whilst experiencing art in London.

Tate Modern Art Gallery

Tate Modern Art Gallery is England’s national art gallery. Established in the year 2000, it contains international art collections dating from the 1900s. It is a part of the Tate network which includes 4 art galleries. With over 4.5 million visitors every year, this gallery is the world’s most visited art gallery. The collections in the gallery are categorized into four groups: ‘History/Memory/Society’, ‘Nude/Action/Body’,'Landscape/Matter/Environment’ and ‘Still Life/Object/Real Life’.

In 2006, spaces were allocated in different floors to exhibit special art from the twentieth century. Level 2 exhibits contemporary art collections that are open for visitors for 2-3 months. In level 3, you can find collections based on material gestures, poetry and dream. The paintings look lively depicting human emotions, abstraction and expressions. All temporary exhibitions with admission fees are hosted in level 4. Level 5 displays the works of famous artists based on energy, process and flux. You would definitely find that booking a London Taxi for your trip adds even more ease to your day. Do not rely on other forms of London transport to ensure you arrive at your destination on time.

Tate Britain

Tate Britain is another gallery under the Tate network and opened in 1897. This gallery contains traditional English collections which date from the 1500s. The majority of the collections are those of J.M.W.Turner. Every year, one artist is chosen for the Turner Prize award hosted in the gallery. The works of four authors are shortlisted and displayed. Works that display controversial and offensive works get priority and the best author is awarded the prestigious prize. The main space in the gallery displays permanent British collections and some rooms exhibit work of individual artists. The first Friday of every month is busy as visitors flood to the ‘Late’ at the gallery when live music, performance arts and exhibitions are offered at half-priced admission fees. So, rush up without waiting for buses or trains. You had better book London Taxis to enjoy these programs.

The National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery with over 10,000 portraits of historically important and famous people. This is the world’s first portrait gallery established in 1856 and is run by public sponsors from the Department for Culture, Media and Sports. After its expansion the gallery also exhibits paintings, sculptures and miniatures.

Trafalgar Square’s National Gallery

The best time-honored British and some European artists of the Romanticism, Renaissance & Baroque movements and their collections are displayed here. It is also home to some of the world’s finest western European paintings and collections. The gallery is open for all visitors without any admission fees.

All of these galleries are located at ideal locations convenient for travel. As you have private transportation operating 24/7, you need not worry about visiting galleries around London. You can also travel to any destination at your comfort. London Taxis are available for a safe and comfortable form of transportation for London’s visitors to and from different galleries and destinations.

Hollywood A-listers, rock stars, literary greats… London hotels have had their fair share of celebrity guests. If you want to spot David Beckham over breakfast or share a lift with Lily Allen, check out our pick of the top 5 London celebrity hotels. Who knows who you’ll bump into!

The May Fair

Where better to spot A-list fashionistas than at the official hotel of London Fashion Week, The May Fair. This 5-star London hotel was first opened by King George V in 1927. Today it is the latest word in glamour, where Fendi sofas sit under the bright lights of Baccarat chandeliers. Stylish guests have included Lady Gaga, Cheryl Cole and Whitney Houston each no doubt attracted by the in-room spa treatments on offer, Amba Bar & Grill gourmet restaurant and award-winning May Fair Bar perfect for those A-list parties. Located in the heart of exclusive Mayfair, this is decadence at its most chic.

K West Hotel & Spa

Cool and chic, K West Hotel & Spa is the London hotel of choice for those in the music biz from Franz Ferdinand and Moby to Kelly Osbourne and Pete Doherty. The Shepherd’s Bush hotel is less than five minutes away from the designer heaven that is Westfield London. Inside, the treats continue with DJs playing the K Lounge on Friday and Saturday nights, the K Spa, and contemporary cuisine in the Kanteen restaurant. Eco-friendly features also make it one of London’s top green hotels, as well as one of its top celebrity hotels.

Blakes Hotel

Blakes Hotel describes itself as “the London base for film stars, musicians and all the top designers” and promises to respect the privacy of guests from the paparazzi. But a little public star-spotting is surely allowed! Small but perfectly formed, this London boutique hotel has welcomed everyone from David and Victoria Beckham to Lindsey Lohan and Quentin Tarantino. Created by acclaimed designer Anoushka Hempel, Blakes Hotel has become known as London’s ‘Couture’ hotel, a name well served by its popular, decorative Chinese Room.

Dorchester

The Dorchester has long been known as one of the top London celebrity hotels. For 75 years it has attracted an elite A-list of celebrities and world leaders, including Nelson Mandela, Woody Allen, Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross. Located on Park Lane in Mayfair, it’s a short walk (or chauffeur-driven drive) from exclusive London shopping spots such as New Bond Street, Old Bond Street and Knightsbridge. Out of your budget? Instead of booking a room, why not enjoy one of The Dorchester’s other famous attractions Afternoon Tea!

The Athenaeum

Dating back to the 19th century, the building that houses The Athenaeum has a rich history. Originally an entertainment spot for MPs and Lords, it went on to become a popular hotel with 70s screen stars filming at London’s famous Pinewood and Ealing Studios. In more recent times, the family-run London hotel has hosted Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford and Sandra Bullock. As one of the top London celebrity hotels, The Athenaeum has all the facilities expected by your average A-lister spa, award-winning restaurant, 5-star rooms but delivers them with a warm, down-to-earth manner.

While composers like Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber still hold dominion over West End musicals in the public eye – particularly with televised cast auditions for shows like the Wizard of Oz providing a prime time advertising campaign for that traditional brand of musical – the more down-to-earth alternative of the classic rock opera is still a mainstay of the stage.

While it’s unlikely you’ll see rock operas attracting sell-out crowds at mainstream venues such as the London Palladium, this ever-popular brand of musical is still a firm favourite of audiences who know how to look beyond the glitz and find musicals that really rock. One place they can reliably turn is Broadway.

Indeed, all four ‘best musical’ nominees for this year’s Tony Awards, the prestigious accolade of American theatre, are fundamentally rock operas, though with varying degrees of integrity and acceptance by traditional rock fans. The Green Day inspired American Idiot and the Afrobeat of Fela! are up against Memphis and Million Dollar Quartet, both of which look back to the golden age of rock and roll. It’s a theatrical battle of the bands that is sending out a clear message to theatregoers and producers alike – the rock musical is far from dead.

While rock musicals have often faced criticism for failing to live up to the ideal of a traditional rock concert, the best don’t simply aim to transfer the live music experience to the stage, but will involve an intriguing and electrifying plot that captures the spirit and attitude conveyed by the music, though this can be a challenge to pull off expertly.

Some overcome these teething problems by seeking creative ways to break down the barriers of the accepted musical form. One case in point is the classic rock opera Hair, now enjoying a new lease of life at London’s Gielgud Theatre, which involves the audience directly and still has much of the anarchic energy that made it such a controversial hit during its original run.

Others are less successful in making the transition from best-selling album to stage, something that is arguably the case with American Idiot, which Green Day fans have argued was already ‘complete’ in its original CD form. By weaving a story through songs and lyrics, songwriters don’t even require a stage to tell their musical stories, but can let it play out in the minds of their fans.

This may be one reason why so many fans of musicals seek to relive their audience experience soon after attending shows with the help of online music streaming, and it is the mark of an effective musical that the songs remain fresh and engaging even when the choreography and costumes are stripped away.

Have you ever wondered why one movie musical receives critical acclaim and maybe even an Academy Award and another movie based on an equally good Broadway musical ends up on a studio shelf, rarely seen after its initial release? There are several key factors that lead to a quality movie musical. These factors include a strong story line and well-written screenplay, quality music, great casting, and effective direction. Great choreography is often a plus but a movie musical, unlike a Broadway musical, can be a quality movie without elaborate dances. In this article, I compare two movie musicals based on successful Lerner and Loewe Broadway musicals — “My Fair Lady” and “Camelot” — and I discuss why “My Fair Lady” was an acclaimed, award-winning movie that is still viewed and loved by millions of people and why “Camelot” has become a mostly forgotten film. 

Both plays were successes on Broadway, although “My Fair Lady” did receive more praises than “Camelot” and it ran for a significantly longer time. Nevertheless, “Camelot” had a healthy initial Broadway run and both plays have had three short-run revivals on Broadway. Also, both plays earned Tony awards for their male leads and Tony nominations for Julie Andrews, the leading female star in both plays. Yet, the movies based on the plays had vastly different outcomes, with “My Fair Lady” garnering eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, and Camelot earning only three minor awards. So, where did “Camelot,” the movie, go wrong?

Plot and Screenplay

Both plays and movies were based on good works of literature — “My Fair Lady” on the play “Pygmalion” by George Bernard Shaw, and “Camelot” on the book “The Once and Future King” by T. H. White. The screenplays were both authored by an experienced and award-winning author, Alan Jay Lerner, who also wrote the lyrics for the songs in both works. Therefore, the story lines and screenplays do not seem to be where the differences lie. In fact, the plot of “Camelot,” with its historic setting, romantic entanglements and scenes of chivalry and war, made it a better vehicle for film than “My Fair Lady” with its dialog-filled, actionless scenes. 

Quality Music

The scores from “My Fair Lady” and “Camelot,” both written by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner, are wonderful, with a good blend of beautiful melodies and sometimes poignant and other times humorous lyrics. Both shows had one major hit romantic ballad — “On the Street Where You Live” for “My Fair Lady” and “If Ever I Would Leave You” for “Camelot” — and both songs were dubbed in the movies by professional singers. The songs for the male lead are more melodious in “Camelot” and, at least in the movie version, the male lead, Richard Harris, had a better singing voice than Rex Harrison had in “My Fair Lady.” With basically equivalent scores, it seems that it is not the music that distinguishes the two works. 

Casting

Although Richard Harris was the perfect King Arthur, casting is one major area where the movie version of “Camelot” fell short of its potential. Both plays starred Julie Andrews and her beautiful voice added much to the already great scores, but, unfortunately, she was not cast as the female lead in either film. However, the producers of the movie version of “My Fair Lady” had the good sense to hire Audrey Hepburn who was perfectly cast as Eliza Doolittle. She had the innocence and fragility needed for the role with just enough fire in her to finally rebel against Henry Higgins, while still leaving the audience sympathetic to her. On the other hand, the female lead in “Camelot,” Vanessa Redgrave, although an extremely gifted actress, was miscast as Guenevere. She presents the character as a cold, selfish woman who is indifferent to the tragedy she brings to her husband and his empire. Unfortunately, she was permitted to do her own singing with the result of a lessening of the impact of some of the songs in “Camelot.” On the other hand, Audrey Hepburn’s singing was dubbed by Marni Nixon, a singer with a beautiful, trained voice. 

The casting of the third lead character in each film also differed in quality. In “My Fair Lady,” Colonel Pickering was played by a distinguished English actor, Wilfrid Hyde-White, whose acting was excellent. Unfortunately, the key role of Lancelot in “Camelot” was played by a novice Italian actor, Franco Nero, with limited command of English. Although he certainly fit the role physically, with his exceptional good looks, his acting was stiff and his delivery of lines was almost robotic. 

The male leads in both films were perfect. In fact, the casting of Richard Harris probably saved “Camelot” from being a disaster. He was so well-cast as King Arthur that after the film, he became associated with the role and played it in several major productions, including one on Broadway and one in London. 

Direction

Both movies had well-known and well-respected directors, but their approaches to directing the films were vastly different. George Cukor, the director of “My Fair Lady,” let the story and music give the movie its strength and character. There were no special effects used and no unique filming techniques, but, rather, just good direction of excellent actors and actresses performing on studio lots. Cukor used the strong screenplay and beautiful music of “My Fair Lady” to guide his direction. 

On the other hand, Joshua Logan, the director of “Camelot,” used far too many close-ups that had the audience focused on the leads’ make-up rather than on the strong plot and music. In some scenes, instead of presenting a natural context for appreciating the songs or dialog, Logan chose to fill the large screen with the actors’ faces, resulting in a distracting rather than enhancing effect. 

Conclusion

Although both “My Fair Lady” and “Camelot” had the potential to be great films, “Camelot” lacked two of the four factors necessary for a quality movie musical. These factors, strong story line and well-written screenplay, quality music, great casting, and effective direction, could be used to compare other movie musicals, for example, “Gigi” and “Brigadoon” or “Oklahoma” and “South Pacific,” and the results would be similar. A movie musical that is deficient in even one of the four factors could make the difference between a film that lives on for generations or one that gets lost on a shelf. 

Copyright 2008 Claire J Rottenberg, All rights reserved

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