Ferde Grofe / Man of La Mancha
On this day in classical music: The Paul Whiteman Orchestra gave the premiere of Ferde Grofé’s “Grand Canyon Suite” in 1931. Grofé began playing piano with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in 1920 and served as chief arranger for the group from 1920 to 1932. His most popular arrangement was that of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” The “Grand Canyon Suite,” which is Grofé’s most popular composition, was written between 1929 and 1931. Each of the five movements evokes a particular scene about the famous canyon: Sunrise, Painted Desert, On The Trail, Sunset and Cloudburst. Grofé also composed suites depicting the Mississippi River and Niagara Falls. Listen to Keith Lockhart and the Brevard Sinfonia perform the opening “Sunrise” from Grofé’s “Grand Canyon Suite.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5yZcwe_T48
On this day in the musical theatre: Few theater insiders thought “Man of La Mancha” had much chance for success when it opened on Broadway in 1965. But it quickly caught on with audiences, thanks largely to its compelling story and accomplished lead actor Richard Kiley. The musical also contained Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion’s “The Impossible Dream,” a standout that enjoyed a long and profitable existence outside the trappings of the musical. Adapted from Dale Wasserman’s non-musical 1959 teleplay “I, Don Quixote,” which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ 17th century masterpiece “Don Quixote,” “Man of La Mancha” was the story of a mad knight who is imprisoned and acts out his story as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. The original production ran for nearly six years and won five Tony Awards, including one as best musical. The popular musical has been revived four times on Broadway and remains one of the musical theater’s most enduring works. Listen to Tony Award winner Richard Kiley perform “The Impossible Dream.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xStXix7VDCU
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