Douglas Moore / A Chorus Line

On this day in classical music: American composer Douglas Moore died in New York in 1969. Moore studied with Ernest Bloch at the Cleveland Institute of Music and made his conducting debut with the Cleveland Orchestra in 1923. From 1926 to 1969, Moore was a member of the music faculty at Columbia University. A noted composer of operas, Moore is best remembered for “The Devil and Daniel Webster” (1938) and “The Ballad of Baby Doe” (1956). Listen to Beverly Sills sing the “Willow Aria” from “The Ballad of Baby Doe.” Douglas Moore makes the introduction. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqEe4ib1LDg&feature=related 

 On this day in the musical theatre: One of the greatest musicals of all time opened on Broadway in 1975. “A Chorus Line” made its off-Broadway debut on April 15 at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre. Conceived and directed by Michael Bennett, this backstage look at the joys and hardships of Broadway dancers was so successful that a Broadway transfer was arranged. With music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban, “A Chorus Line” would become one of the longest running shows of the American musical theater. In 1983, “A Chorus Line” passed the record previously held by “Grease.” The musical would hold that record until “Cats” surpassed it in 1997. The musical, which won nine Tony Awards, virtually shut out most of its competition. Stephen Sondheim’s “Pacific Overtures” won awards for costume and scenic design and George Rose took the Best Actor Tony for his role as Alfred P. Dolittle in a revival of “My Fair Lady.” While Kander and Ebb’s “Chicago” lost all 11 of the categories in which it was nominated, a 1996 revival finally received its long overdue acclaim by winning six Tony Awards and ultimately passing “A Chorus Line’s” run. “Chicago will celebrate its 16^th anniversary in November. Today, “A Chorus Line” is the fifth longest running musical, having been surpassed by “Chicago,” “Les Miserables,” “Cats” and “The Phantom of the Opera.” Watch the finale of “A Chorus Line,” the inimitable “One.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtInDkT7GHQ 

Musical musings: If you glance at the logo of “A Chorus Line,” you see a uniform line of faceless dancers. But wait, no they’re not. Each one holds himself or herself a little differently. It’s there if you look. The slim, strawberry-blond Trish Garland stands ponyish and shy with one knocked knee. There’s a very personal flair about Thommie Walsh’s scarf, and a proud challenge in Ron Dennis’ black chest. Statuesque Kelly Bishop stands with the sensuality of a fallen Miss America. Sammy Williams, the one with the moustache, seems to asking for something. It’s in the way he holds his head. Before they speak, before they move, before they even appear on the stage, the dancers on that logo are telling who they are. They may be just another chorus line, but each is special. – from On the Line – The Creation of “A Chorus Line.”

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