Across a Crowded Room (9/14/24)

Final Presentations of New Musicals

This is a great program that I have experienced in the past. Here's the drill. Composers, lyricists, and book writers are pretty much thrown together (across a crowded room, get it?) to write a twenty-minute musical. Sometimes that is the goal, but sometimes it's something that may be expanded in the future.

This season's results provided nine mini-musicals. An added caveat was that the musicals should be inspired by/from the archives of the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center (they produce the program for the writers and the results, and that is where I saw the nine mini-musicals).

The small scale (twenty minutes) pretty much guarantees small casts, and this was the case here. I'll list the shows (and sources) and then highlight favorites. "Red" (The Red Shoes); "Call Waiting" (a Dorothy Parker monologue); "Volpe!" (an illustration of an 18th-century box); "ON THE J-TRAIN" (a photo of a 1920s subway car); "On A Train" (a photo of a 1950s Long Island commuter train); "The Amazons of Overcote High" (based on "The Amazons" by Arthur W. Pinero); "The Cryptogram" (based on commentary about a séance); "Equinox Of The Earth" (I stopped trying by then); and "My Better Alien" (see stopped trying, above).

Obviously, I'm not going to dissect every musical. Three had pre-recorded scores (not my favorite) and I have no idea how they synchronized them (yes, I'm that Luddite). "Call Waiting" had a very nice score; "On A Train" was very melodic and lots of fun, and probably the most fully realized as a mini-musical—lightly and amusingly choreographed; "Amazons" had the largest cast (seven) but most of them were high school teens, so there was not a lot of variety in characterizations or line readings; "The Cryptogram" had an electronic score that was not my favorite (but maybe that was planned? a new way of looking at a score from an older time and a dramatic subject?); "Equinox Of The Earth" had a dynamite modern Gospel score that included four top-notch female vocalists and a cappella singing—you had me right there; and "My Better Alien" was the funniest of the musicals, though the pre-recorded generic rock piano score did not make my favorites list.

This is a program I will keep my eye on in the future. Fledgling composers, lyricists, and librettists spreading their wings? Thank you very much.  

ConcertMeister

Bargemusic (9/7/24)

Handel Sonata in D major, No. 4
Mozart Sonata in G major, KV 301(293a)
Beethoven Sonata in G major, Op. 30 No. 3
Schubert Rondo Brillant in B minor, D. 895

Mark Peskanov, violin; Maureen Volk, piano

This was  essentially a run-thru for the concert they played Saturday night, but you would need to pay $35. This was free on Saturday afternoon.

While pleasant, the concert was just a little much of the same style over and over again. The Handel (four movements) had a slow and sweet opening, with very spare piano writing, including a hint of sadness. The second movement was brisk and fun, with a robust ending. The third was slow and, again, a bit sad. The fourth was brisk again, feeling like a dance.

The Mozart, in two movements, was sunny with pops of dynamic changes, varied accents, and interesting phrases. Hello! ... Mozart. The second movement was gentler but still with pops of accents to liven things up.

Beethoven's sonata, in three movements, started more energetically than Mozart's, with a bit more of a flare of drama, though it had a soft ending. The second had a gentle minuet feel, though it was not necessarily something one would dance to. It had a dark side as well, and a somber section. It seemed to be the the true centerpiece of the work. The third movement was brisk-but-not-quite off to the races.

Mr. Peskanov asked whether we had some more time. We did. So they played the Schubert. It was quite tuneful; at times dark and energetic; at others dance-like; almost like it couldn't make up its mind and wanted to be all things at all times. They were all fun, but it dragged on a bit.

Am I glad I went? You bet! I'll go back. I urge my NY peeps to check out Bargemusic's admission free concerts.

ConcertMeister