Talk:Concert version

Concert versions of musicals

Just a thought, but musicals are often presented in concert versions now as well for the same reasonings. Perhaps this should also be included in the article. Also the programming of musicals and operas by orchestras should be mentioned. One of the reasonings behind this kind of staging is because it allows organizations like the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra etc. to perform works that they would never do if it was a fully staged production. Best.4meter4 (talk) 14:08, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

Go for it, 4meter4 :). I just created this brief stub (intending to expand it at some point), as I realized that non-specialists may not be aware of what "concert version" means when applied to opera performances. There's plenty of material in the references to expand this (including its increasing use by symphony orchestras). The Accademia di Santa Cecilia Orchestra recently did Aida in concert version and plans more of this. I think a section on its use in musical theatre would also be a good idea, as well as a section listing operas which first premiered in concert version. Best, Voceditenore (talk) 15:06, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

I'd be happy to add more, but should this article then be moved to simply Concert version?4meter4 (talk) 15:37, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

Well, I wasn't very happy with this title in the first place, precisely because musicals are also given in concert version. I think a move would be a good idea. In fact, I'm going to do it now. Voceditenore (talk) 15:41, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

Great! I put a note at WP:WikiProject Musical Theater for help in expansion. Best.4meter4 (talk) 15:44, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

Musical theatre

Here are a few suggestions you might want to add in the way of concert versions: Encores! has been doing concert versions (of musical theatre) in New York for years, and some concerts (Gypsy revival) have even been turned into full-scale productions. 42nd Street Moon in San Francisco does musical theatre concert versions. The Ravinia Festival, near Chicago, does concert versions of theatre. I don't know much about any of these, have never been to any. I'll let others decide whether and how to add these. Flami72 (talk) 20:20, 17 February 2016 (UTC) (To add: ah, I see Ssilvers has already added Encores!; is Lost Musicals a concert or full staging??)

The Actors Fund of America does concert versions of musicals as a benefit, but I don't know where to find any info on those off hand. (See On the Twentieth Century for mention of one such concert). The Actors Fund also did concert versions as benefits of Dreamgirls, Funny Girl, Chess and Hair, according to Playbill, June 27, 2005. Flami72 (talk) 20:31, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

Hi, Flami. I added Encores!, NY Phil. and Lost Musicals. Please go ahead and add other ongoing concert series, like 42nd Street Moon and the Ravinia Festival, with refs showing that they are ongoing series. It is also important for us to add examples from outside the US to make it clear that this is not just a US phenomenon. All the best. -- Ssilvers (talk) 20:38, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

I know the San Francisco Symphony recently was nominated for a Grammy in 2014 for its West Side Story concert version which was featured on Great Performances on PBS. They did a Sweeney Todd as well with Patti LuPone, George Hearn, John Aler, and Neal Patrick Harris which was also filmed in 2005 (enjoy here). A concert version of a musical might be an annual thing with that orchestra. I don't know. They certainly are worth mentioning because the orchestra's concert versions have resulted in notable recordings. 4meter4 (talk) 20:54, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

I added the concert of WSS, as 4meter4 suggested. They are doing On the Town in concert in May 2016, so maybe they do one a season?? Flami72 (talk) 13:26, 18 February 2016 (UTC)

Wagner operas in concert version

There is a long history of symphony orchestras programming Wagner operas in concert during the 20th and 21st centuries. Given the great expense of putting on a fully staged Wagner opera, this is not a surprising trend. It would be worth mentioning.4meter4 (talk) 15:41, 18 February 2016 (UTC)