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Tenor Nicky Spence explores the deep and often-overlooked connections between classical music and the world of musical theatre.

Tenor Nicky Spence explores the deep and often-overlooked connections between classical music and the world of musical theatre.

In episode 1, he tells the story of how musical theatre was born out of operetta in the early 20th century; from composers such as Offenbach and Arthur Sullivan to Noël Coward, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Richard Rodgers.

Nicky speaks to the musicologist Dominic Broomfield-McHugh about the phenomenon of Gilbert and Sullivan, how Gershwin and Kurt Weill blurred genres on Broadway, and how Rodgers and Hammerstein created the template for the modern musical.

Nicky and his husband, the pianist Dylan Perez, also perform musical excerpts from Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow and Noël Coward's Bitter Sweet, drawing out hidden connections.

Produced by Rachel Gill for BBC Audio.

27 days left to listen

59 minutes

Last on

Sunday15:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Cole Porter

    Another Op'nin', Another Show (Kiss Me Kate)

    Ensemble: 2000 New Broadway Cast.
    • DRG.

  • Jacques Offenbach

    Can-Can (Orpheus in the Underworld)

    Orchestra: Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Johannes Wildner.
    • Naxos.

  • Johann Strauss II

    Mein Herr Marquis - Adele's Laughing Song (Die Fledermaus)

    Singer: Diana Damrau. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: David Charles Abell.
    • Warner Classics.

  • William S. Gilbert

    With Cat-Like Tread (The Pirates of Penzance)

    Composer: Arthur Sullivan. Performer: John Pryce‐Jones. Choir: D’Oyly Carte Opera Chorus. Orchestra: D’Oyly Carte Opera Orchestra.
    • That’s Entertainment.

  • Victor Herbert

    March of the Toys (Babes in Toyland)

    Orchestra: Boston Pops Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Franz Lehár

    Love unspoken (The Merry Widow) - excerpt

    Performer: Dylan Perez. Singer: Nicky Spence.

  • Noël Coward

    I'll See You Again (Bitter Sweet) - excerpt

    Performer: Dylan Perez. Singer: Nicky Spence.

  • Jerome Kern

    Ol' Man River (Show Boat)

    Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II. Singer: Paul Robeson.
    • EMI.

  • Cole Porter

    You're The Top (Anything Goes)

    Singer: Sammy Davis Jr.. Singer: Carmen McRae.
    • Festival.

  • George Gershwin

    Oh, Lady Be Good! (Lady Be Good)

    Music Arranger: Jerry Gray. Orchestra: John Wilson Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Warner Classics.

  • George Gershwin

    Summertime (Porgy and Bess), arr for violin and piano

    Performer: Tamsin Waley-Cohen. Performer: Huw Watkins. Music Arranger: Jascha Heifetz.
    • Champs Hill.

  • Kurt Weill

    Lonely House (Street Scene)

    Composer: Langston Hughes. Singer: Jerry Hadley. Orchestra: Scottish Opera Orchestra. Conductor: John Mauceri.
    • Decca.

  • Richard Rodgers

    Oklahoma!

    Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II. Singer: Hugh Jackman. Ensemble: National Theatre Cast & Orchestra. Conductor: John Owen Edwards.
    • First Night Records.

  • Richard Rodgers

    You'll Never Walk Alone (Carousel)

    Composer: Oscar Hammerstein II. Singer: Francesca Chiejina. Orchestra: Sinfonia of London. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Scènes de ballet: VIII. Variation 'Ballerina'

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ilan Volkov.
    • Hyperion.

  • Frederick Loewe

    My Fair Lady (Overture)

    Composer: Alan Jay Lerner. Ensemble: My Fair Lady 2018 Broadway Cast Recording. Conductor: Ted Sperling.
    • Broadway Records.

  • Kay Swift

    Can't We Be Friends (The Little Show)

    Composer: Paul James. Singer: Ella Fitzgerald. Ensemble: Frank De Vol and His Orchestra.
    • Verve Records.

Broadcast

  • Sunday15:00
    BBC Radio 3

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Podcast

  • Music Matters

    The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters