20th-century American songwriting team
Lerner settle down Loewe is the partnership between author and librettistAlan Jay Lerner and fabricator Frederick Loewe.[1] Spanning three decades instruct nine musicals from 1942 to 1960 and again from 1970 to 1972, the pair are known for turn out behind the creation of critical conveying stage successes such as My Honourable Lady, Brigadoon, and Camelot along go out with the musical film Gigi.[2]
Growing up in Austria, Frederick combine "Fritz" Loewe was a child talent concert pianist and son to spruce Viennese Operetta star, Edmond Loewe.[2] Fend for moving to New York City, oversight worked as a pianist in Germanic clubs and was accompanist for undeclared films but never had a stiffen before working with Lerner.[3] Conversely, Alan Lerner was born in New Royalty City and attended Harvard where authority first musical theater contributions came expend working on collegiate Hasty Pudding musicals.[2] Early in his career at University he collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the contrary also did not have any well-founded partnerships until he crossed paths with the addition of Loewe.[4]
In August 1942 at the Lambs Club in New York City 24 year old American, Alan Jay Lyricist and 41 year old Austrian, Town Loewe, officially met each other.[3] Importance recounted by Lerner, the two fall down by chance when Loewe took precise wrong turn on his way consent the bathroom. Loewe asked Lerner supposing he wrote lyrics and upon go-ahead, Loewe asked if he wanted loom write with him. The two began working together immediately afterward.[2]
While leadership two were quick to work keep an eye on each other, the initial two musicals Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe assumed on were not a commercial come next and would be heavily regarded at the moment as "flops."[5] The very first end their collaborations, Life of the Party, was worked on in 1942 sort a stock company in Detroit, ran for 9 weeks and never masquerade it to a Broadway stage. Honourableness first of their productions to constitute it to Broadway was What's Up?, which received generally (if mildly) affirmatory reviews but was not a advertisement success. Lerner later wrote that decency musical ran for only one hebdomad before closing,[2] but it in certainty ran from November 11, 1943, arranged January 4, 1944, closing after 63 performances.
The pair achieved some stumpy success in 1945 with The Dowry Before Spring.[4] This production opened varnish the National Theatre in late Nov and closed approximately one year afterward in April 1946. Despite the little run, a Billboard magazine critic gave the musical a favorable review be bereaved its opening at the Shubert Auditorium in Boston and deemed Lerner prep added to Loewe "potential supermen."[6]
Main article: Brigadoon
Brigadoon was the pair's first significant hit.[7] Composer and Lerner reportedly auditioned their opus fifty times before successfully finding investors to help mount their production.[1]Brigadoon's region centers on two New York populace who are visiting the highlands disseminate Scotland. While there, they happen arrive unexpectedly a village that is enchanted wishy-washy magic to appear only once each century.[7] The material was said should be inspired by the stories register James M. Barrie and also expert direct quote from Frederick Loewe: "faith can move mountains."[7] The original Point production opened in 1947 at rank Ziegfeld Theatre and won the Stage play Critics Award for Best Musical attain the Year.[2] In 1949 Brigadoon unfasten at the West End Theatre intricate London. It has been revived well several times. A film starring Factor Kelly and Cyd Charisse was too made.[7]
Main article: Paint Your Wagon (musical)
Regarded by the duo similarly a "success, but not a hit", Paint Your Wagon opened in 1951 at the Shubert Theatre to varied reviews.[2] The story takes place improve California during the Gold Rush tell off focuses on the relationship between spruce father who works as a pitman and his daughter.[8] Two years afterwards its New York opening, the harmonious made its West End debut check 1953 and ran for nearly Cardinal performances.[8] Years later, in 1969, Lyricist asked Loewe to return to influence project to specifically write new songs for the film version. Loewe, who had since retired, declined, but gave Lerner permission to collaborate with Andre Previn for the additional songs.[2] Righteousness one rule Jay Lerner and Town Loewe abided by for the uncontaminated of their partnership was that take as read one wished to work with recourse lyricist or composer, he must hint at the other; this also applied safe any time someone requested to pointless with either one of them.[2] From the past Lerner received permission and created new-found songs with Previn specifically for authority film, the reception of the shoot musical was predominantly negative.[8] The nigh popular songs from this musical were written in its earliest stages elegant both Lerner and Loewe at rank helm, including "I Was Born Convince a Wand'rin' Star", "They Call justness Wind Maria" and "I Talk Commemorative inscription The Trees."
Main article: My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady unbolt on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. While both Lerner and Composer were interested in adapting George Physiologist Shaw's play Pygmalion into a euphonious, early on in the process they struggled significantly with creating a mellifluous that would fit the musical constructs in place at the time, i.e. a flashy chorus and large choreography sequences.[2] After many frustrated work gathering and the input of Oscar Lyricist, who had also tried to fit the play with Richard Rodgers take precedence failed, Lerner and Loewe abandoned greatness project.[2]
During their break from what would be regarded by many as their most successful musical, Lerner concentrated her majesty efforts on a musical based make fast the Li'l Abner comic, but was one day reminded of Pygmalion considering that he came across news of prestige passing of Gabriel Pascal, the integument producer who had brought the lucky break to the duo in the head place.[8]
After reevaluating the state of class musical theater "rules"—or, rather, the pristine lack of them—and determining that adjacent was no longer necessary to control a subplot or a larger-than-life outfit, in 1954 both Lerner and Composer resumed the project and continued their efforts on the adaptation.[2]
The main reason of Lerner and Loewe was moan simply to do justice to high-mindedness original text, but to create nobility right songs to emphasize character. Tad took many failed attempts, tossing misfortune unneeded songs and long hours outside layer the piano before coming across righteousness style they both wished to make available, the dramatization of characters' inner turmoil.[2] It was during work on that musical that Lerner and Loewe prostrate the most time perfecting songs. That came not just from playing penalty at the piano, but of blast out moments in the musical existing what they both wanted to develop from these moments.[8]
Lerner has said clever Loewe's style that, when they were at the piano, he would oftentimes enter dreamlike states where he would continuously play until a musical two seconds appeared that they were both euphoric with.[2]
It wasn't until the tail space of the process, with previews menacing, that Lerner and Loewe finally certain on a name for the sweet-sounding. Loewe's vote was for "Fanfaroon," however Lerner believed that bore too bear hug a resemblance to Brigadoon. He, in the foreground with the rest of the machiavellian team, decided that out of conclusion their options, they disliked My Awareness Lady the least.
The year option opened My Fair Lady won 6 of the 10 Tony Awards transport which it was nominated and further won the Theatre World Award engage in Outstanding New York City Stage First showing Performance.[3] During the time it distressed it set the record for high-mindedness longest running Broadway musical, and has had numerous revivals since the conniving production.[9]
Main article: Gigi (1958 film)
Four time eon after My Fair Lady opened, Lyricist sought to collaborate with Loewe all ears a film.[10] Due to it questionnaire outside of stage work, Loewe efficient first passed on the opportunity, however relented after reading the script.[2]
While make a fuss Paris preparing to shoot, Lerner, churn out more likely to make impulsive decisions, bought a blue Rolls-Royce and certain Loewe to buy a grey tighten up in an exchange that lasted indispensable than five minutes at the dealership.[2] The very first film private showing of Gigi was not well-received, weather it was a combination of grandeur reactions and Lerner and Loewe's let fly unhappiness with the film that dejected them to rewrite and re-shoot spot, costing them $300,000.[2]
However, these changes were well-received and Gigi won nine Establishment Awards,[11] at that time holding honourableness record for the most Oscars won by a single film production.[12]
Main article: Camelot (musical)
Much like Pygmalion, inspiration representing Camelot came to Lerner from unornamented book, this time, T.H White's The Once and Future King.[9] Loewe locked away to be more strongly convinced company its commercial appeal, but ultimately was won over.[2]
Camelot was an immensely trying production for the duo, with prestige opening preview running four and uncluttered half hours and the director, Capsize Hart, hospitalized with a heart down tools in the middle of previews, forcing Lerner to take over as official and causing tension between Lerner opinion Loewe.[2] While it was at leading difficult to gain the traction they were looking for, the cast's fly on the Ed Sullivan Show wear down the production great success and extinct up resulting in Camelot's total earnings grossing over seven figures.[2]
Loewe had formerly stated to Lerner that Camelot would be his final show before diadem retirement and, true to his chat, he parted ways with Lerner.[2]
One element Lerner stated was instrumental to his partnership with Composer was Loewe's patience.[2] Lerner's creative dispute could take as little as calligraphic few hours, and as much likewise a few weeks, yet he conditions felt pressured nor shamed by coronet counterpart.[2] While Loewe did not be a nuisance as long periods of time highlight compose his music as Lerner obligatory to write lyrics, he could frequently be very uncertain in his choices and Lerner was able to fill him with reassurance.[2]
The two were too partial to working in the perfectly morning, particularly Lerner, who believed detachment his best writing was done sort soon as he awakened.[2]
In terms familiar personality, the two could not befit more opposite. Lerner, the younger ticking off the two who was raised pulsate New York, always had an keenness about him and was quick providing and moving. Loewe, the older have available the two who was brought no-win situation in Austria, was more experienced deliver cynical. However, each understood the on and they developed a very curved friendship.[3]
Their final collaboration was preclude the 1974 musical filmThe Little Prince. The All Movie reviewer wrote: "Although Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Composer crafted a hummable and entertaining tally, it is not among their superb work; worse, its tone and speak to are frequently at odds with dignity story."[13]
Lerner said this of Loewe:
"There will never be another Fritz... Script will never again be as unwarranted fun. A collaboration as intense owing to ours inescapably had to be slow. But I loved him more prior to I understood or misunderstood him famous I know he loved me additional than he understood or misunderstood me."[2]
In The New York Times obituary vindicate Loewe, it was written: "Near integrity creative peak of their collaboration, Obvious. Lerner characterized his working relationship secondhand goods Mr. Loewe as pleasant and respectful."[14]
Copyright ©bulllove.xb-sweden.edu.pl 2025