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American Masterworks Series
May 15,
2009
Friday, 8:00pm, Paramount Theatre, Oakland
Michael Morgan, Conductor
Pre-concert speaker: John
Kendall Bailey
Program
SHOW
BOAT IN CONCERT (1927)
Music by JEROME KERN
Book and Lyrics by
OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Based on the novel SHOW BOAT by Edna Ferber
Ben Jones, Tenor, as Gaylord Ravenal
Julie
Adams, Soprano as Magnolia
and Oakland Symphony Chorus;
other
soloists tba
For our season finale and
the third presentation in the American Masterworks Series, we'll present a
concert version of the groundbreaking musical, Show Boat. The first
major Broadway musical to deal with difficult social issues in a serious
manner, Show Boat introduced a new genre -- the musical play -- to the
American stage, demonstrating that musicals could be more than just
light-hearted comedies.
Considered progressive - even subversive - when
first presented in 1927, Show Boat was the first racially integrated
musical on Broadway, and the first to depict an interracial marriage. It opened
the door for public discourse in the arts about racism in America and brought
something unique to the musical stage of its day: an American musical with
serious themes, dramatic truth, a believable love story and three-dimensional
characters. Its score boasts some of the most imaginative lyrics and wonderful
melodies to grace the stage, including Ol' Man River and Can't Help
Lovin' Dat Man.
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Julie Adams
Ben Jones
Concert Sponsor
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