The Frogs / Evening Primrose

Submitted by nonesuch on
genre
Musical Theater
Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

Nathan Lane, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Neil Patrick Harris are featured performers on this premiere recording of early, essential Sondheim works, the farcical The Frogs and the wistful Evening Primrose. The New York Times praised the album as “dazzling.”

Description

In October 2001, Nonesuch Records released the first-ever recording of Stephen Sondheim’s The Frogs, partnered on the same CD with a new recording of the composer/lyricist’s 1966 score, Evening Primrose. The Frogs, adapted from Aristophenes’ comedy, originally staged in the Yale University swimming pool as part as the Yale Repertory Theatre’s 1974 season, featured a cast of future stars including Christopher Durang, Sigourney Weaver, and Meryl Streep. This world premiere recording features Tony Award winners Nathan Lane (The Producers) and Brian Stokes Mitchell (Kiss Me Kate), as well as Davis Gaines (The Phantom of the Opera). Featuring the poignant “Fear No More” and the brilliantly funny “Invocation and Instructions to the Audience,” this release marks the first time that The Frogs will be available in its entirety.

Based on a short story by John Collier, Evening Primrose, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and teleplay by James Goldman, was originally produced in 1966 for the television series ABC Stage 67 and starred Anthony Perkins. This new recording featuring Neil Patrick Harris (New York Philharmonic’s Sweeney Todd: Live In Concert) and Theresa McCarthy (Floyd Collins, Titanic), is the first recording of the show under Sondheim’s supervision.

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Tommy Krasker

The Frogs
Recorded June 2000 at The Hit Factory, New York City
Engineered by Paul Zinman
Assistant Engineers: Michael McCoy, Kevin Myers
Davis Gaines appears courtesy of LAP Records.

Evening Primrose
Recorded June 2001 at The Hit Factory, New York City
Engineered by Joel Moss
Assistant Engineers: Claudius Mittendorfer, Jaime Duncan

Edited and Mixed by Joel Moss
Assistant Engineer: Claudius Mittendorfer
Mastered by Ric Wilson, Digisonics, Northridge, CA

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
The Frogs: Book by Burt Shevelove, adapted from the comedy by Aristophanes; original text abridged by Stephen Sondheim and Tommy Krasker. Evening Primrose: Based on a story by John Collier; book by James Goldman.
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick
Musical Director: Paul Gemignani
Music Preparation: Peggy Serra, Hal Serra; Katharine Edmonds (Emily Grishman Music Preparation)
Orchestral Contractor: Ronald Sell
Design by John Gall
Booklet interior design by Gabriele Wilson
Cover: Ristisaari, Finland 1974 by Pentti Sammallahti

Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz

Nonesuch Selection Number

79638

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
ns_album_artistid
105
ns_album_id
457
ns_album_releasedate
ns_genre_1
0
ns_genre_2
0
Album Status
Available
Artist Name
Stephen Sondheim
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS

Casts (in order of appearance):
The Frogs
Dionysos: Nathan Lane
Xanthias, Pluto: Brian Stokes Mitchell
Shakespeare: Davis Gaines

Evening Primrose
Charles Snell: Neil Patrick Harris
Ella Harkins: Theresa McCarthy

Orchestra:
The American Theatre Orchestra
Violin: Suzanne Ornstein, concertmistress for The Frogs; Erica Kiesewetter, concertmistress for Evening Primrose; Martin Agee, Eric DeGioia, Christoph Franzgrote, Suzanne Gilman, Katherine Hannauer, Lisa Matricardi, Joel Pitchon, Marilyn Reynolds, Richard Rood, Victor Schultz, Laura Seaton, Belinda Whitney-Barrat, Mineko Yajima, Xin Zhao, Robert Zubrycki
Viola: David Blinn, Richard Brice, Kenneth Burward-Hoy, Rick Dolan, Karen Dreyfus, Masako Yanagita
Cello: Deborah Assael, David Bakamjian, Eugene Moye, Clay Ruede, Igor Scedrov
Bass: John Beal
Woodwind: Dennis Anderson, clarinet, flute; John Campo, bassoon, bass clarinet; Melanie Feld, oboe, English horn; Mark Goldberg, bassoon; John Moses, clarinet; Les Scott, clarinet, flute, piccolo; Mark Thrasher, bassoon
Trumpet: Dominic Derasse, Lawrence Lunetta
Trombone: Lisa Albrecht, Bruce Eidem, Dean Plank, James Pugh
French Horn: Jeffrey Lang, Lawrence Dibello
Percussion/Drums: Roxan Jurkevich, Joseph Passaro, Paul Pizzuti, James Saporito, Thad Wheeler
Harp: Jennifer Hoult, Beth Robinson
Piano/Celeste: Paul Ford

Chorus:
Soprano: Marion Beckenstein, Mary Sue Berry, Patti Dunham, Melissa Kelley, Karen Patton Hall, Susan Pfau, Deborah Stephens
Alto: Yvonne Anderson, September Bigelow, Michele Hemmings, Nedra Neal, Rosa Pascarella
Jacqueline Pierce (contractor)
Tenor: James Bassi, Rodne Brown, John Demler, Drew Martin, Frank Ream
Bass: Roderick Gomez, Michael McCoy, Joseph Neal, Christopher Renquist, Charles Sprawls, Mark Sullivan, Peter Van Derick, Benjamin Whiteley

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
Price
0.00
UPC
075597963823BUN
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
603497137060
Label
CD+MP3 (SALE)
Price
0.00
UPC
075597963823

  • 79638

News & Reviews

  • Composer and Lyricist Stephen Sondheim Dies at 91

    Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim died at his home in Connecticut today at the age of 91. "An intellectually rigorous artist who perpetually sought new creative paths, Mr. Sondheim was the theater’s most revered and influential composer-lyricist of the last half of the 20th century," writes the New York Times in its obituary. Several Broadway, film, and original cast productions of his works have been recorded for Nonesuch Records, including A Little Night Music, Road Show, Sweeney Todd, Company, Bounce, Into the Woods, The Frogs, Evening Primrose, Saturday Night, and Gypsy. His songs have also been featured on Nonesuch albums by Mandy Patinkin, Audra McDonald, and Dawn Upshaw.

    Read more
  • Steve Reich to Publish 'Conversations' Book via HarperCollins' Hanover Square Press on March 8, 2022

    Steve Reich will publish Conversations, a new book, via HarperCollins' Hanover Square Press, on March 8, 2022. In the book, the composer speaks with collaborators, fellow composers, musicians, and visual artists influenced by his work—including Nonesuch Records Chairman Emeritus Robert Hurwitz, Jonny Greenwood, Kronos Quartet's David Harrington, Stephen Sondheim, Nico Muhly, Brian Eno, Michael Gordon, and others—to reflect on his prolific career as a composer as well as the music that inspired him and that has been inspired by him. The New York Times calls it "a surprising, enlightening series of conversations that shed new light on the music and career of 'our greatest living composer.'" The New Yorker says: "Through this series of insightful, wide-ranging conversations starting from his student days to the present pandemic, we gain a compelling glimpse into the mind of 'the most original musical thinker of our time.'"

    Read more
View All

Buy Now

  • About This Album

    In October 2001, Nonesuch Records released the first-ever recording of Stephen Sondheim’s The Frogs, partnered on the same CD with a new recording of the composer/lyricist’s 1966 score, Evening Primrose. The Frogs, adapted from Aristophenes’ comedy, originally staged in the Yale University swimming pool as part as the Yale Repertory Theatre’s 1974 season, featured a cast of future stars including Christopher Durang, Sigourney Weaver, and Meryl Streep. This world premiere recording features Tony Award winners Nathan Lane (The Producers) and Brian Stokes Mitchell (Kiss Me Kate), as well as Davis Gaines (The Phantom of the Opera). Featuring the poignant “Fear No More” and the brilliantly funny “Invocation and Instructions to the Audience,” this release marks the first time that The Frogs will be available in its entirety.

    Based on a short story by John Collier, Evening Primrose, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and teleplay by James Goldman, was originally produced in 1966 for the television series ABC Stage 67 and starred Anthony Perkins. This new recording featuring Neil Patrick Harris (New York Philharmonic’s Sweeney Todd: Live In Concert) and Theresa McCarthy (Floyd Collins, Titanic), is the first recording of the show under Sondheim’s supervision.

    Credits

    MUSICIANS

    Casts (in order of appearance):
    The Frogs
    Dionysos: Nathan Lane
    Xanthias, Pluto: Brian Stokes Mitchell
    Shakespeare: Davis Gaines

    Evening Primrose
    Charles Snell: Neil Patrick Harris
    Ella Harkins: Theresa McCarthy

    Orchestra:
    The American Theatre Orchestra
    Violin: Suzanne Ornstein, concertmistress for The Frogs; Erica Kiesewetter, concertmistress for Evening Primrose; Martin Agee, Eric DeGioia, Christoph Franzgrote, Suzanne Gilman, Katherine Hannauer, Lisa Matricardi, Joel Pitchon, Marilyn Reynolds, Richard Rood, Victor Schultz, Laura Seaton, Belinda Whitney-Barrat, Mineko Yajima, Xin Zhao, Robert Zubrycki
    Viola: David Blinn, Richard Brice, Kenneth Burward-Hoy, Rick Dolan, Karen Dreyfus, Masako Yanagita
    Cello: Deborah Assael, David Bakamjian, Eugene Moye, Clay Ruede, Igor Scedrov
    Bass: John Beal
    Woodwind: Dennis Anderson, clarinet, flute; John Campo, bassoon, bass clarinet; Melanie Feld, oboe, English horn; Mark Goldberg, bassoon; John Moses, clarinet; Les Scott, clarinet, flute, piccolo; Mark Thrasher, bassoon
    Trumpet: Dominic Derasse, Lawrence Lunetta
    Trombone: Lisa Albrecht, Bruce Eidem, Dean Plank, James Pugh
    French Horn: Jeffrey Lang, Lawrence Dibello
    Percussion/Drums: Roxan Jurkevich, Joseph Passaro, Paul Pizzuti, James Saporito, Thad Wheeler
    Harp: Jennifer Hoult, Beth Robinson
    Piano/Celeste: Paul Ford

    Chorus:
    Soprano: Marion Beckenstein, Mary Sue Berry, Patti Dunham, Melissa Kelley, Karen Patton Hall, Susan Pfau, Deborah Stephens
    Alto: Yvonne Anderson, September Bigelow, Michele Hemmings, Nedra Neal, Rosa Pascarella
    Jacqueline Pierce (contractor)
    Tenor: James Bassi, Rodne Brown, John Demler, Drew Martin, Frank Ream
    Bass: Roderick Gomez, Michael McCoy, Joseph Neal, Christopher Renquist, Charles Sprawls, Mark Sullivan, Peter Van Derick, Benjamin Whiteley

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced by Tommy Krasker

    The Frogs
    Recorded June 2000 at The Hit Factory, New York City
    Engineered by Paul Zinman
    Assistant Engineers: Michael McCoy, Kevin Myers
    Davis Gaines appears courtesy of LAP Records.

    Evening Primrose
    Recorded June 2001 at The Hit Factory, New York City
    Engineered by Joel Moss
    Assistant Engineers: Claudius Mittendorfer, Jaime Duncan

    Edited and Mixed by Joel Moss
    Assistant Engineer: Claudius Mittendorfer
    Mastered by Ric Wilson, Digisonics, Northridge, CA

    Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
    The Frogs: Book by Burt Shevelove, adapted from the comedy by Aristophanes; original text abridged by Stephen Sondheim and Tommy Krasker. Evening Primrose: Based on a story by John Collier; book by James Goldman.
    Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick
    Musical Director: Paul Gemignani
    Music Preparation: Peggy Serra, Hal Serra; Katharine Edmonds (Emily Grishman Music Preparation)
    Orchestral Contractor: Ronald Sell
    Design by John Gall
    Booklet interior design by Gabriele Wilson
    Cover: Ristisaari, Finland 1974 by Pentti Sammallahti

    Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz