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All Music Guide -
Written between two of Rodgers and Hammerstein's biggest hits, "Carousel" and "South Pacific," "Allegro" is one of their least-often performed collaborations; its original 1947 Broadway production was a financial failure, and critical and public opinion was decidedly mixed. Part of the problem must have been its stark departure from the dramatic realism of their earlier work; with its use of a Greek chorus, nearly continuous music even under the spoken dialogue, minimal set, and innovative cinematic cross-cutting between scenes, it was a show ahead of its time. Stephen Sondheim, who was a production assistant for the Broadway run, has written that "Allegro" was "the first really good experimental show." Another issue is its lack of dramatic focus; the diversity of critical opinion about what exactly it was supposed to be about indicates that the authors in fact were not effective in communicating their vision with any clarity. The second act in particular rushes over a number of fairly complicated plot points without much elucidation. Although the music is inventive and always dramatically apt, the fact that there are no truly memorable, show-stopping tunes also probably contributes to its continued obscurity. It's an intriguing show, though, particularly when viewed as a predecessor of the conceptual musicals of the 1970s and 1980s.The producers pulled out all the stops for this studio cast recording, the first complete recording of the show, which includes 100 minutes of music. It features veterans Nathan Gunn, Audra McDonald, and Patrick Wilson, and populates the smaller roles with an astonishing array of luminaries, including Marni Nixon, Schuyler Chapin, and Stephen Sondheim (as well as a recording of Hammerstein himself). "Allegro" is absolutely an ensemble piece rather than a star vehicle; the spirited cast, including a very fine chorus of adults and children, works together beautifully, and makes a strong case for the musical. This lovingly produced version of a fascinating footnote in American theater should be of interest to any fans of musical theater.
Editorial Reviews
All Music Guide - Stephen Eddins
Written between two of Rodgers and Hammerstein's biggest hits, "Carousel" and "South Pacific," "Allegro" is one of their least-often performed collaborations; its original 1947 Broadway production was a financial failure, and critical and public opinion was decidedly mixed. Part of the problem must have been its stark departure from the dramatic realism of their earlier work; with its use of a Greek chorus, nearly continuous music even under the spoken dialogue, minimal set, and innovative cinematic cross-cutting between scenes, it was a show ahead of its time. Stephen Sondheim, who was a production assistant for the Broadway run, has written that "Allegro" was "the ...