The 1977 film version of Stephen Sondheim’s fabulous Broadway musical was a somewhat fumbled affair. It starred Elizabeth Taylor as Désirée and Diana Rigg with members of the original Broadway production including Hermione Gingold. One of the numbers of the film, a reworked (by Sondheim) ‘The Glamorous Life’, is included as a bonus track at the end of this album.

Sondheim’s A Little Night Music is more than just a musical it has stature and can compare with the best of operetta. This original Broadway Cast Recording consists of 16 numbers each one a perfect gem – a perfect fusion of bitter-sweet, ironic music and words. A Little Night Music is based on the Ingmar Bergman film, Smiles of a Summer Night. It is set in turn-of-the-century Sweden and it is a light confection of complicated romantic liaisons. Briefly, middle aged lawyer, Frederik has married a girl (Anne) his son’s age. She is still a virgin after 11 months of marriage. Frederik’s son, Henrik, lusts after Anne. Frederik has sentimental feelings towards his old flame Désirée who still lusts after Frederik. Désirée is lusted after by Count Carl-Magnus who has to cope with his long-suffering wife, Charlotte. Observing this tangle is Désirée’s elderly mother-with-a-past, Madame Armfeldt. It is she who alerts her granddaughter - and us - to watch for the summer night to smile: "It smiles three times – first, for the young, who know nothing; second, for the fools who know too little; and, third, for the old, who know too much."

A Little Night Music is clever and sophisticated; and innovative. It sparkles. The music is very much based on the waltz - appropriate to its fin de siecle setting. The Overture (and Night waltz) begins in a novel fashion with a quintet of principals singing la-la-la before the music breaks into the engaging Viennese Waltz that has that certain Ravelian touches that vaguely disturbs. Then another interesting number follows - the 10½ minute, ‘Now… Later… Soon’ in which Frederik, Henrik and Anne all state their own agendas: Frederik (Now) muses on the problems caused by his new marriage; Henrik is concerned with flirting with the maid and moaning about being perpetually frustrated in love (Later); while Anne promises Frederik she will allow him to consumate their marriage (Soon). All the themes are cleverly dovetailed, and progressed against their varied conflicting interests, as the number proceeds.

Of the other numbers I must mention two or three. Frederik who has just met Désirée again after a long interval, tells her ‘You Must Meet My Wife’. The verbal sparring between the two is delicious; here’s a sample: ‘She flutters’ – ‘how charming.’ ‘She twitters’ – ‘my word.’ ‘She floats’ – ‘isn’t that alarming; what is she – a bird?’ ‘She makes me feel...’ ‘Like an old man? ‘Yes – NO!’ ‘No?!? - I must meet your Gertrude; Sorry your Anne.’ ‘The point is that she’s really simple.’ Yes, that much is clear.’… Then there is the inimitable Hermione Gingold recollecting her ‘Liaisons’ as she sings ‘Liaisons what’s happened to them?…What was rare champagne is now just an amiable hock. What once was a villa, at least, is now digs. What was a gown with a train is now just a simple frock. … At the Duke of Ferrara’s castle I acquired some position and a tiny Titian…’

Then of course there is Désirée’s famous number ‘Bring on the Clowns’ which Glynis Johns sings with such pathos when she thinks that Frederik will not abandon his child wife for her. It is reprised when he does just that and they both realise they have both been clowns. All, of course, ends happily with the lovers paired off satisfactorily.

A hugely delightful album that will make repeated visits to my CD player.

Reviewer

Ian Lace

Reviewer

Ian Lace