Glitter and Be Gay with me
They say laughter is the best medicine and I sure could use some of that right now, which is why I invite you to enjoy some performances of "Glitter and Be Gay," the aria from Candide in which a singer chortles in high C while covering herself in jewels. Iconic!
Alas, my back troubles as mentioned in last week's bonus video have gotten a touch more disruptive (don't worry, I'm getting treatment, it's just a slow recovery process) and I'm not able to shoot a bonus video for this week. HOWEVER! I'd like to share some recommendations for delightsome diversions that have been keeping my mind off of my current corporeal concerns. This morning I took some muscle relaxers and watched as many Candide clips as I could find, starting with the above-embedded video of the great Kristin Chenoweth giving her all as Cunegonde. I hope you enjoy it -- she's marvelous -- and after watching that, please compare her performance with this 1968 audio of Madeline Kahn doing the same number. Then read this frankly astonishing story of Constance Hauman's cursed/blessed 1989 performance of "Glitter and be Gay," which involves consulting a psychic and hiding in a closet to evade a rival soprano. For a bonus, here's Barbara Cook telling a very funny story about auditioning for the show and pulling a real gutsy move with Leonard Bernstein.
Hopefully I'll be back on two feet and ready to shoot fresh videos for you by this time next week. Until then, if you can't be pure, then at least let your jewels be!
Comments (15)
This is exactly what I needed to get me out of bed this morning! Thank you for posting it. She鈥檚 wonderful!!馃挄馃挄
Hope you feel better soon!
Thanks! Definitely doing better now, but WHEW it was hairy for a moment there
Oh, I do hope you are better soon!
Thank you! It's looking up now -- we've found the culprit (a goofy vertebra) and I'm seeing a specialist next week. WHEW
Sorry about your back! I鈥檝e been there. Take all the time you need to care for yourself, and don鈥檛 be in a rush to get back to normal- that鈥檚 how you get worse problems! We will all still be here when you鈥檙e ready! Thanks for sharing- it鈥檚 been a while since over seen that one. Her voice always amazes me!
Back issues are never fun. Hope you鈥檙e upright & flexible again. This video is marvelous! 鉂わ笍
Oh that Chenoweth clip has been in my regular rotation for a long time. Aside from her just everything on Pushing Daisies, it's my favorite thing she's ever done.
Thanks Matt! Is there a link to the Kahn audio?
Oops sorry here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDtwp3cB2yU
Appreciate the update and the sharing even when you aren't doing your best physically. Hope you are having a smooth recovery and that everything goes according to plan, but no worries if you need more time before filming, you have to put your health first. Cheers and happy new year!
Thank you! I鈥檓 just considering this a little bonus holiday time off.
Get better soon!
Hope you feel better soon.
Feel better, Matt.