|
Recorded By Barbra Streisand from "The King and I":
"My
Lord and Master"
People
(1964)
"I Have Dreamed / We Kiss In A Shadow /
Something Wonderful"
The Broadway Album
(1985) |
"The King and I" was
a five time Tony award winning musical when it first played
Broadway. The show opened on March 29, 1951 at New York's St. James
Theatre and lasted 1,246 performances. Yul Brynner as The King and
Gertrude Lawrence as Mrs. Anna were awarded Best Actor and Best
Actress Tonys for their performances. Tony Awards were also given to
"The King and I" for Best Musical, and to Irene Sharaff for Best
Costume Design.
Three notable revivals of "The King and I" were presented on
Broadway over the ensuing decades. Yul Brynner reprised his role in
two of them. In 1977, he and Constance Towers played 695
performances in a stunning revival at the Uris Theatre. Shortly
before his death, Brynner gave theatre-goers one final look at his
classic portrayal. His 1981 reprise as The King played the Broadway
Theatre and lasted 191 performances. In 1996, a new generation had a
go at the story of Anna and the King. Lou Diamond Phillips and Donna
Murphy starred at the Neil Simon Theatre and went on to give 780
performances. The show was up for eight Tonys and won four,
including Best Musical Revival and Best Actress in a musical for
Murphy.
"The King and I" is
based on the story "Anna and the King" which was written in 1944 by
Margaret Landon. The musical is a quasi-autobiographical story taken
from the diaries of school teacher Anna Leonowens, a British tutor
who was brought to Siam to teach the children of the royal court.
Anna and the King confront one another in a social dynamic that
becomes a challenge of pride vs. will. European parliamentary
culture and Siam's eastern autocracy achieve cultural compromise
with the passing of The King. The next King to ascend the thrown is
one of the children taught by Anna.
The music of "The King and I" was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein
and the original production was directed by Christopher Renshaw.
Jerome Robbins choreographed the show's musical dance sequences.
The film version of "The King and I" came out in 1956 starring Yul
Brynner and Deborah Kerr. The picture was nominated for nine Oscars
and won five, including Best Actor (Brynner) and Best Costume Design
(Sharaff).
|
The
Barbra Connection |
|
|
A lesser known
number from "The King and I" was included in one of Barbra
Streisand's earliest studio albums. "My Lord and Master" is
featured on Barbra's fourth album, "People" and her
rich vocal rendition of the ballad is a delivered in
Streisand's typical theatrical style. Despite it being, as
Barbra might say, "a dependent victim" song, "My Lord and
Master" was a perfect addition to the collection of songs that
made up one of her best albums.
When Barbra championed her 1985 album, "The Broadway Album,"
it was only fitting that several "King and I" ballads were to
be included. Heartfelt performances of "We Kiss In A Shadow,"
"I Have Dreamed" and "Something Wonderful" are included in
marvelous medley. |
May 16,
1969: The Friar's Club roast
That's Richard Rodgers behind Barbra
(photo: "Just For The Record" liner notes) |
So
good was this performance that Warner Bros. borrowed Barbra's
medley and included it in in their animated version of 1999's "The
King and I." Barbra's vocal performance is heard over the credits.
A medley of "Shall We Dance" and "Hello Young Lovers" was recorded
by Barbra for possible inclusion on "The Broadway Album." The
number features an brisk up-tempo arrangement, but was never
released.
|
|
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
On May 16,
1969, Barbra Streisand was roasted by several world famous
composers at the Friar's Club in New York, the first woman to be
so honored. Among the many composers paying tribute to Barbra that
evening was Richard Rodgers. Barbra said, "For them to sing me
their songs, with special lyrics written by Sammy Cahn (Richard
Rodgers wrote his own) was an unforgettable honor." For
his part that evening, Rodgers serenaded Barbra with special
poignant lyrics to his composition, "The Sweetest Sounds":
"The sweetest sounds she's ever made are still inside her head.
The best reviews she's ever had, are waiting to be read.
The notes that issue from her throat, will still be lovely things,
And the world will know its happiest times, when wondrous Barbra
sings,
Whenever Barbra, our Barbra, sings."
|
|
On
November 4, 2001, Barbra Streisand made a surprise singing
appearance on the Emmy awards telecast. Her performance was
crafted as a tribute to the victims of 911, and for the occasion,
she chose the Rodgers and Hammerstein composition, "You'll Never
Walk Alone." The ballad is from the musical, "Carousel" and
Barbra's rendition spoke emotional volumes to every American who
had, just two months earlier, lived through one of the darkest
days in American history. Barbra performed amid a backdrop that
listed the names of the people killed in the attack. Her raw
emotion surfaced at the conclusion of the performance when the
entire audience at the Shrine auditorium leapt to their feet in
thunderous acclaim. It was arguably Barbra's finest televised
moment, one few won't ever forget |
The Emmys -
Nov 4, 2001
Barbra sings Rodgers and Hammerstein's
"You'll Never Walk Alone" |
Besides selections from "The King and I," Barbra has recorded a
multitude of other songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein (as a team),
as well as countless compositions
through their individual collaborations with Lorenz Hart, Jerome Kern
and Sigmund Romberg.
|
The Barbra
Streisand - Rodgers and Hammerstein Songbook |
|
Rodgers and
Hammerstein |
|
My Lord and
Master
People
My Favorite
Things
A Christmas Album
The Sound of Music
A Happening in Central Park
A Cock-eyed Optimist
Streisand Live in Concert 2006
Carefully
Taught
Streisand Live in Concert 2006
You'll Never Walk Alone
The Essential
Barbra Streisand
We Kiss In A Shadow
The Broadway Album
I Have Dreamed
The Broadway Album
Something Wonderful
The Broadway Album
If I Loved You
The Broadway Album
Some Enchanted Evening
Back
to Broadway
|
|
Rodgers and
Romberg |
|
Lover, Come
Back To Me
The Second Album
Stout Hearted Men
Simply
Streisand
One Kiss
Color Me
Barbra |
|
|
Rodgers
and Hart |
Where or
When
Color Me Barbra
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
The Third
Album
My Funny Valentine
Simply Streisand
Johnny One Note
Barbra Streisand ... and Other Musical Instruments
Glad To Be Unhappy
Barbra
Streisand ... and Other Musical Instruments
Quiet Night
My Name Is Barbra, Too...
Where's That Rainbow
My Name Is Barbra, Too...
|
|
Hammerstein
and Kern |
|
Make Believe
The
Third Album
All The Things You Are
Simply
Streisand
Don't Ever Leave Me
Barbra
Streisand ... and Other Musical Instruments
Can't Help Lovin' That Man
The Broadway Album
|
|
Richard
Rodgers |
|
The
Sweetest Sounds
Barbra
Streisand ... and Other Musical Instruments |
|
|
And did you
know that Barbra Streisand's former home in New York
City was previously the residence of lyricist Lorenz
Hart? |
|
|
More Information About "The King and I"
"The King and I" on Internet Broadway Database
"The King and I" on Internet Movie Database
YouTube - "Shall We Dance" with Yul Brynner on
the Tony Awards |