Robert Schumann / Dear World

On this day in classical music: Robert Schumann conducted the premiere of his “Symphony No. 3” (Rhenish) in Dusseldorf in 1851. Schumann was inspired to write this symphony after he and his wife Clara took an enjoyable trip to the Rhineland. The composer incorporated elements of his journey and portrayed other experiences from his life in the music. Cast in five movements, the Rhenish Symphony was the last of Schumann’s four symphonies to be completed but is known as the third because of its publication date. Listen to Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic perform the finale of Schumann’s Rhenish Symphony. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpwSIi6E0VA

On this day in the musical theatre: Jerry Herman’s “Dear World” opened on Broadway in 1969. music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. Buoyed by the success of “Hello, Dolly!” and “Mame,” Herman adapted Jean Giraudoux’ play “The Madwoman of Chaillot” into “Dear World.” Angela Lansbury starred as Aurelia, a countess who plots with her friends to stop businessmen from drilling for oil in the Parisian neighborhood of Chaillot. The forces of idealism, love and poetry ultimately win out over those of greed, materialism and science. The simple story was overwhelmed by the elaborate production although Herman’s score proved to be as tuneful as his earlier shows. Lansbury won a Tony Award for her performance. Listen to Lansbury and company perform the musical’s title number. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQW0EvRh0SM

Musical musings: So much hard work and so many weeks of industrious previews have gone into the making of “Dear World” that it would have been poetic justice if it could have turned out to be a brilliant show. But the melancholy truth, it seems to me, is that the musical comedy is, despite a picturesque performance by Angela Lansbury, disappointingly mediocre. “The Madwoman” was greatly admired when it was done as a straight play, although it is only fair for me to add that I was not among its critical enthusiasts. I believe that the Giraudoux fantasy was a provocative idea to begin with but had a very scanty narrative to keep it going. “Dear World” is by no means a terrible show. It is actually quite pleasant. Unfortunately, it never comes to stimulating life musically, dramatically or humorously. The mad countess is so buried in grotesque makeup that there is little of the handsome Miss Lansbury left, but her skill and vitality are still there, and she is the evening’s major blessing. – Richard Watts, Jr. in The New York Post

Thank you for joining our conversation on Articulations. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.