The History of The Musical, Richard Fawkes
The History of The Musical, Richard Fawkes
List: $17.50 | Sale: $12.25
Club: $8.75

The History of The Musical

Author: Richard Fawkes

Narrator: Kim Criswell

Unabridged: 5 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/09/2001


Synopsis

A major production for Naxos AudioBooks and a unique Audiobook, this bold and entertaining undertaking traces the musical from its origins in classical music (Gay's The Beggar's Opera, Offenbach's operettas and Gilbert and Sullivan) through to its flowering in America; Showboat, Anything Goes, High Society, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Oliver, Cabaret, A Little Night Music, The Rocky Horror Show, The Phantom of the Opera - the list is endless. So are the stars who made the musicals live the composers, Kern, Porter, Gershwin, Bernstein, Lloyd Webber; the famous partnerships such as Rogers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe; the performers Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Howard Keel, Julie Andrews. and the tempestuous creative background to the productions themselves. With over 120 musical examples illustrating this remarkable story, the history of the musical in all its glory comes alive. Features over 100 musical examples.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Deacon Tom on May 14, 2022

First off, I need to confess that I am a musicals fan. This audiobook really brought to life and really showed the listener/reader that progress that by musicals as they moved from opera; to operettas; vaudeville and finally modern musicals we today. It was very educational. I really enjoyed it on aud......more

Goodreads review by Rebecca on February 01, 2023

"The History of the Musical" is a really nice listen but the actual book part of this audiobook left something to be desired. Overall, this audiobook was a nice 3 star read, recommended for a musical fan - as long as you're aware that there aren't any current musicals covered! My full review: https:/......more

Goodreads review by Joe on September 23, 2020

Beautiful audiobook higlighting the best of musicals from Offenbach's operettas to Boublie and Schonberg's Les Miserables. A must listen for Broadway enthusiasts!......more

Goodreads review by Eric on August 13, 2019

Could be a nice companion piece to a music appreciation class, and I did enjoy the musical snippets included in the work, but I am not so sure I know much more about the history of the musical now than I did before. The author's comment about some actors being able to sing if the part they played ca......more

Goodreads review by Michael on January 17, 2016

Interesting history with clips of many old musicals. It ended with Les Mis so it had nothing in it on any new stuff. Listened to the Overdrive recording on my iPhone.......more