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Title details for Oscar Hammerstein II and the Invention of the Musical by Laurie Winer - Wait list

Oscar Hammerstein II and the Invention of the Musical

by Laurie Winer
Tanya Eby
Audiobook
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You know his work—Show Boat, Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I. But you don't really know Oscar Hammerstein II, the man who, more than anyone else, invented the American musical. Among the most commercially successful artists of his time, he was a fighter for social justice who constantly prodded his audiences to be better than they were.

Diving deep into Hammerstein's life, examining his papers and his lyrics, critic Laurie Winer shows how he orchestrated a collective reimagining of America, urging it forward with a subtly progressive vision of the relationship between country and city, rich and poor, America and the rest of the world. His rejection of bitterness, his openness to strangers, and his optimistic humor shaped not only the musical but the American dream itself. His vision can continue to be a touchstone to this day.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    November 21, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9798350860771
      • File size: 396894 KB
      • Duration: 13:46:51

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      An ardent fan of the musical play offers a richly detailed portrait of the complicated lyricist who wrote OKLAHOMA, SHOWBOAT, and other timeless Broadway hits, Oscar Hammerstein. In the rapidly changing social climate he worked in (pre- and post-WWII), he was flawed as a man but created uplifting, socially progressive storylines that made audiences envision a more just and lighthearted future. Tanya Eby's phrasing, pitch, and tonal variety are lovely to hear, embodying the positive and optimistic mood of Hammerstein's work, if not the full pathos of his contradictions. Though difficult and sometimes cruel professionally, his romantic storylines sought to find common ground amid the boiling divides between men and women, Blacks and whites, rich and poor, America's noble experiment and injustice around the world. T.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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