Happy September! As usual, we’re showcasing some of the musicals that opened this month on this week’s Dress Circle (9/6 7:00 p.m.). Since there hasn’t been a new musical open since 2020 (2021 if you count the Covid “reboot” of “Waitress.”), we thought we’d do something a little different. We’re still looking at overtures and opening numbers, but this time, we’re focusing on eight operettas from the pens of Victor Herbert, Sigmund Romberg, Rudolf Friml, Johan Strass II, Oscar Straus, and Reginal De Koven.
The earliest opening is “Robin Hood” by Reginald De Koven which appeared on Broadway eight times beginning in 1891. Extremely popular through the 1940’s, it’s been totally forgotten today.
Other shows you’ll hear overtures and openings from include “The Red Mill,” “Sweethearts,” “Weiner Blut” (“Vienna Blood”), “The New Moon,” “The Chocolate Soldier,” and “The Vagabond King.”
Oh, and you don’t have to worry about any ancient recordings this week. (We do, however love to include them when we can.) We’re going to hear fairly recent recordings by The Coffee Club Orchestra of City Center Encores fame, the Berlin Municipal Orchestra, an orchestra led by Lehman Engle, and five more performed by The Ohio Light Opera Orchestra.
It’s another hour of wonderful music, so if you need a pleasant getaway, please join jus this Sunday.
