#katrina lenk has my soul

[singingaboutwishingx]

the band’s visit songs ranked by how much they make me feel

itz:quick note before i start: @lesbianstress has actually done something very similar already, so go check out her post here.

overture: look, i get emotional when i hear this in everyday life, but when i saw the show live, i almost started bawling the second the overture started. 7/10

waiting: ugh the HARMONIES!!!!!!!! the part at the end where they branch into the different parts and then come back together!!!! the symbolism!! i love this song so much. do i sometimes listen to it when i want to cry? yes. 10/10

welcome to nowhere: this song is my JAM. if i’m dancing around my room with no music playing, you can bet that welcome to nowhere is stuck in my head. also katrina’s very low-pitched “behold, where there was once only desert: the town of bet hatikva” is a) hilarious and b) pretty woman w sultry voice is HOT. 7/10

it is what it is: it doesn’t make me cry per se, but it makes me feel so empty inside and that’s a goddamn accomplishment. 7/10

the beat of your heart: I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH. it’s so sweet and it just makes me so happy. andrew polk, you make me cry. 9/10

soraya: i don’t really have any huge attachments to the interludes. i think they’re gorgeous, they start playing in my head all the time, and i’m always happy to hear them, but they just don’t really do it for me (yikes). again, i must reiterate that i really do love them and getting to see the musicians onstage was WONDERFUL, but these interludes just really aren’t what make me feel things during this show. 3/10 

omar sharif: this song, man. this is the first song i ever heard from the show. it was during the tonys and i watched the performance and started bawling on my couch. i wish i could listen to this song for the first time again because, my god, the raw emotion that this song evokes in me is phenomenal. 10,000,000/10

huj-butrus: see soraya. 3/10

papi hears the ocean: really related this one lol. not knowing how to talk to people bc you’re a romantic disaster? if that ain’t me... anyway, this song just provides a much-needed dose of levity after the three minutes of crying over omar sharif. it doesn’t make me feel quite so deeply, but it doesn’t mean that i don’t love it with my entire heart. 5/10

haled’s song about love: the improvised instrumental jazz in the middle is everything. the end with both haled and papi singing makes me cry. the way the improv/abstract nature of jazz and the abstract depictions of love sync up so well is EXCELLENT. 8/10

the park: OOF. it’s just... stirring. it’s a thing of beauty and complicated feelings and yearning. it hit me like a goddamn truck. 10/10

itgara’a: both tony shalhoub and sasson gabay sing this with such simple honesty and passion. it is beautiful. and the fact that it’s a capella and the only thing you hear is his voice, singing in a language you don’t understand (if you don’t speak arabic, which i do not haha) just does something to your soul. listen w headphones in if you haven’t. it’s almost a religious experience. 11/10

something different: david. my dude. you really did not have to go off this hard. you did not have to make me feel all of these emotions. can you feel beauty? not like “i feel beautiful,” but like something is so beautiful that it evokes not only the emotions it’s trying to convey, but the emotion of feeling how beautiful it is. anyway, i feel the beauty of this song so deeply. when they sing together!!!!! “maybe i’m the one who’s wishing” UGH. i cried so much when i saw this live. i also listen to this song when i want to cry. 10,000,000/10

itzik’s lullaby: yes. just...yes. the part where there’s no words, only vocalizing. the harmony. the love itzik has for his child. 9/10

something different (reprise): FUCK. it hurts real bad. the cello(?) at the end picking up the melody. the raw emotion in katrina lenk’s voice. the specific thing that her voice does with “then HONey in your ear, spice in your mouth.” also the key change from the original!!!!!!!!!!! honestly that change is really what made it hurt so much more than the original. as a lonely person, i relate to this song a whole fucking lot and i think that’s part of the reason why it hurts so much. 1,000,000/10

answer me: adam kantor sing at my wedding and my funeral and every event in all of human history challenge. “if i try, maybe i can see your shadow/in the sodium light that masquerades as moon” is one of the most beautiful lyrics of all time. the climax where they all sing “with the world around me” and then it dissolves into ahhhhhs as adam sings “when the sun and moon and stars are gone, what’s left is only you” is E V E R Y T H I N G. 10,000,000/10

the concert: kind of the same thing as papi hears the ocean where it’s just a reprieve from the sobbing. i love it. it made me so happy and excited to be able to witness these incredible musicians getting to show off front and center. this song really slaps so hard. 6/10

[bongaboi]

Grammy Awards 2019: The List, Part 3

Latin

Best Latin Pop Album

Sincera – Claudia Brant

Prometo – Pablo Alborán

Musas, Vol. 2 – Natalia Lafourcade

2:00 AM – Raquel Sofía

Vives – Carlos Vives

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

Aztlán – Zoé

Claroscura – Aterciopelados

COASTCITY – COASTCITY

Encanto Tropical – Monsieur Periné

Gourmet – Orishas

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

¡México Por Siempre! – Luis Miguel

Primero Soy Mexicana – Ángela Aguilar

Mitad Y Mitad – Calibre 50

Totalmente Juan Gabriel Vol. II – Aida Cuevas

Cruzando Borders – Los Texmaniacs

Leyendas de Mi Pueblo – Mariachi Sol de Mexico

Best Tropical Latin Album

Anniversary – Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Pa' Mi Gente – Charlie Aponte

Legado – Formell y Los Van Van

Orquesta Akokán – Orquesta Akokán

Ponle Actitud – Felipe Peláez

American Roots Music

Best American Roots Performance

"The Joke" – Brandi Carlile

"Kick Rocks" – Sean Ardoin

"St. James Infirmary Blues" – Jon Batiste

"All on My Mind" – Anderson East

"Last Man Standing" – Willie Nelson

Best American Roots Song

"The Joke"

"All the Trouble"

"Build a Bridge"

"Knockin' on Your Screen Door"

"Summer's End"

Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)

Waylon Payne, Lee Ann Womack & Adam Wright, songwriters (Lee Ann Womack)

Jeff Tweedy, songwriter (Mavis Staples)

Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters (John Prine)

Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters (John Prine)

Best Americana Album

By the Way, I Forgive You – Brandi Carlile

Things Have Changed – Bettye LaVette

The Tree of Forgiveness – John Prine

The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone – Lee Ann Womack

One Drop of Truth – The Wood Brothers

Best Bluegrass Album

The Travelin' McCourys – The Travelin' McCourys

Portraits in Fiddles – Mike Barnett

Sister Sadie II – Sister Sadie

Rivers and Roads – The Special Consensus

North of Despair – Wood & Wire

Best Traditional Blues Album

The Blues Is Alive and Well – Buddy Guy

Something Smells Funky 'Round Here – Elvis Bishop's Big Fun Trio

Benton County Relic – Cedric Burnside

No Mercy in This Land – Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite

Don't You Feel My Leg (The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker) – Maria Muldaur

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Please Don't Be Dead – Fantastic Negrito

Here in Babylon – Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps

Cry No More – Danielle Nicole

Out of the Blues – Boz Scaggs

Victor Wainwright and the Train – Victor Wainwright and the Train

Best Folk Album

All Ashore – Punch Brothers

Whistle Down the Wind – Joan Baez

Black Cowboys – Dom Flemons

Rifles & Rosary Beads – Mary Gauthier

Weed Garden – Iron & Wine

Best Regional Roots Music Album

No 'Ane'i – Kalani Pe'a

Kreole Rock and Soul – Sean Ardoin

Spyboy – Cha Wa

Aloha from Na Hoa – Na Hoa

Mewasinsational: Cree Round Dance Songs – Young Spirit

Reggae

Best Reggae Album

44/876 – Sting & Shaggy

As the World Turns – Black Uhuru

Reggae Forever – Etana

Rebellion Rises – Ziggy Marley

A Matter of Time – Protoje

World Music

Best World Music Album

Freedom – Soweto Gospel Choir

Deran – Bombino

Fenfo – Fatoumata Diawara

Black Times – Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

Yiddish Glory: The Lost Songs of World War II, various artists

Children's

Best Children's Album

All the Sounds – Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats

Building Blocks – Tim Kubart

Falu's Bazaar – Falu

Giants of Science – The Pop Ups

The Nation of Imagine – Frank & Deane

Spoken Word

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)

Faith: A Journey for All – Jimmy Carter

Accessory to War – Courtney B. Vance

Calypso – David Sedaris

Creative Quest – Questlove

The Last Black Unicorn – Tiffany Haddish

Comedy

Best Comedy Album

Equanimity & The Bird Revelation – Dave Chappelle

Annihilation – Patton Oswalt

Noble Ape – Jim Gaffigan

Standup for Drummers – Fred Armisen

Tamborine – Chris Rock

Musical Theater

Best Musical Theater Album

The Band's Visit – Etai Benson, Adam Kantor, Katrina Lenk & Ari'el Stachel, principal soloists; Dean Sharenow & David Yazbek, producers; David Yazbek, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)

Carousel – Renée Fleming, Alexander Gemignani, Joshua Henry, Lindsay Mendez & Jessie Mueller, principal soloists; Steven Epstein, producer (Richard Rodgers, composer; Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist) (2018 Broadway Cast)

Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert – Sara Bareilles, Alice Cooper, Ben Daniels, Brandon Victor Dixon, Erik Grönwall, Jin Ha, John Legend, Norm Lewis & Jason Tam, principal soloists; Harvey Mason Jr., producer (Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer; Tim Rice, lyricist) (Original Television Cast)

My Fair Lady – Lauren Ambrose, Norbert Leo Butz & Harry Hadden-Paton, principal soloists; Andre Bishop, Van Dean, Hattie K. Jutagir, David Lai, Adam Siegel & Ted Sperling, producers (Frederick Loewe, composer; Alan Jay Lerner, lyricist) (2018 Broadway Cast)

Once on This Island – Phillip Boykin, Merle Dandridge, Quentin Earl Darrington, Hailey Kilgore, Kenita R. Miller, Alex Newell, Isaac Powell & Lea Salonga, principal soloists; Lynn Ahrens, Hunter Arnold, Ken Davenport, Stephen Flaherty & Elliot Scheiner, producers (Stephen Flaherty, composer; Lynn Ahrens, lyricist) (New Broadway Cast)

Music for Visual Media

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

The Greatest Showman – Hugh Jackman (& Various Artists)

Call Me by Your Name – (Various Artists)

Deadpool 2 – (Various Artists)

Lady Bird – (Various Artists)

Stranger Things – (Various Artists)

Alex Lacamoire, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul & Greg Wells, compilation producers

Luca Guadagnino, compilation producer; Robin Urdang, music supervisor

David Leitch & Ryan Reynolds, compilation producers; John Houlihan, music supervisor

Timothy J. Smith, compilation producer; Michael Hill & Brian Ross, music supervisors

Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Timothy J. Smith, compilation producer; Nora Felder, music supervisor

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Black Panther – Ludwig Göransson, composer

Blade Runner 2049 – Benjamin Wallfisch & Hans Zimmer, composers

Coco – Michael Giacchino, composer

The Shape of Water – Alexandre Desplat, composer

Star Wars: The Last Jedi – John Williams, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media

"Shallow" (from A Star Is Born)

"All the Stars" (from Black Panther)

"Mystery of Love" (from Call Me by Your Name)

"Remember Me" (from Coco)

"This Is Me" (from The Greatest Showman)

Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)

Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Alexander William Shuckburgh, Mark Anthony Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)

Sufjan Stevens, songwriter (Sufjan Stevens)

Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Miguel featuring Natalia Lafourcade)

Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble)

Composing

Best Instrumental Composition

"Blut Und Boden (Blood and Soil)"

"Chrysalis"

"Infinity War"

"Mine Mission"

"The Shape of Water"

Terence Blanchard, composer (Terence Blanchard)

Jeremy Kittel, composer (Kittel & Co.)

Alan Silvestri, composer (Alan Silvestri)

John Powell & John Williams, composers (John Powell & John Williams)

Alexandre Desplat, composer (Alexandre Desplat)

Arranging

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

"Stars and Stripes Forever"

"Batman Theme (TV)"

"Change the World"

"Madrid Finale"

"The Shape of Water"

John Daversa, arranger (John Daversa Big Band featuring DACA Artists)

Randy Waldman & Justin Wilson, arrangers (Randy Waldman featuring Wynton Marsalis)

Mark Kibble, arranger (Take 6)

John Powell, arranger (John Powell)

Alexandre Desplat, arranger (Alexandre Desplat)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

"Spiderman Theme"

"It Was a Very Good Year"

"Jolene"

"Mona Lisa"

"Niña"

Mark Kibble, Randy Waldman & Justin Wilson, arrangers (Randy Waldman featuring Take 6 & Chris Potter)

Matt Rollings & Kristin Wilkinson, arrangers (Willie Nelson)

Dan Pugach & Nicole Zuraitis, arrangers (Dan Pugach)

Vince Mendoza, arranger (Gregory Porter)

Gonzalo Grau, arranger (Magos Herrera & Brooklyn Rider)

Packaging

Best Recording Package

Masseduction

Be the Cowboy

Love Yourself: Tear

The Offering

Well Kept Thing

Willo Perron, art director (St. Vincent)

Mary Banas, art director (Mitski)

HuskyFox, art director (BTS)

Qing-Yang Xiao, art director (The Chairman)

Adam Moore, art director (Foxhole)

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic

Appetite For Destruction (Locked N' Loaded Box)

I'll Be Your Girl

Pacific Northwest '73–'74: The Complete Recordings

Too Many Bad Habits

Meghan Foley, Annie Stoll & Al Yankovic, art directors ("Weird Al" Yankovic)

Arian Buhler, Charles Dooher, Jeff Fura, Scott Sandler & Matt Taylor, art directors (Guns N' Roses)

Carson Ellis, Jeri Heiden & Glen Nakasako, art directors (The Decemberists)

Lisa Glines, Doran Tyson & Roy Henry Vickers, art directors (Grateful Dead)

Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Johnny Nicholas)

Notes

Best Album Notes

Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris

Alpine Dreaming: The Helvetia Records Story, 1920-1924

4 Banjo Songs, 1891-1897: Foundational Recordings of America's Iconic Instrument

The 1960 Time Sessions

The Product of Our Souls: The Sound and Sway of James Reese Europe's Society Orchestra

Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13/1979-1981 (Deluxe Edition)

David Evans, album notes writer (Various artists)

James P. Leary, album notes writer (Various artists)

Richard Martin & Ted Olson, album notes writer (Charles A. Asbury)

Ben Ratliff, album notes writer (Sonny Clark Trio)

David Gilbert, album notes writer (Various artists)

Amanda Petrusich, album notes writer (Bob Dylan)

Historical

Best Historical Album

Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris

Any Other Way

At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight...

Battleground Korea: Songs and Sounds of America's Forgotten War

A Rhapsody in Blue: The Extraordinary Life of Oscar Levant

William Ferris, April Ledbetter & Steven Lance Ledbetter, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various artists)

Rob Bowman, Douglas McGowan, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton, mastering engineer (Jackie Shane)

Martin Hawkins, compilation producer; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer (Various artists)

Hugo Keesing, compilation producer; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer (Various artists)

Robert Russ, compilation producer; Andreas K. Meyer & Rebekah Wineman, mastering engineers (Oscar Levant)

Production, Non-Classical

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Colors

All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn't Do

Earthtones

Head Over Heels

Voicenotes

Julian Burg, Serban Ghenea, David "Elevator" Greenbaum, John Hanes, Beck Hansen, Greg Kurstin, Florian Lagatta, Cole M.G.N., Alex Pasco, Jesse Shatkin, Darrell Thorp & Cassidy Turbin, engineers; Chris Bellman, Tom Coyne, Emily Lazar & Randy Merrill, mastering engineers (Beck)

Ryan Freeland & Kenneth Pattengale, engineers; Kim Rosen, mastering engineer (The Milk Carton Kids)

Robbie Lackritz, engineer; Philip Shaw Bova, mastering engineer (Bahamas)

Nathaniel Alford, Jason Evigan, Chris Galland, Tom Gardner, Patrick "P-Thugg" Gemayel, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Tony Hoffer, Derek Keota, Ian Kirkpatrick, David Macklovitch, Amber Mark, Manny Marroquin, Vaughn Oliver, Chris "TEK" O'Ryan, Morgan Taylor Reid & Gian Stone, engineers; Chris Gehringer & Michelle Mancini, mastering engineers (Chromeo)

Manny Marroquin & Charlie Puth, engineers; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer (Charlie Puth)

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Pharrell Williams

Boi-1da

Larry Klein

Linda Perry

Kanye West

"Apeshit" (The Carters)

Man of the Woods (Justin Timberlake)

No One Ever Really Dies (N.E.R.D)

"Stir Fry" (Migos)

Sweetener (Ariana Grande)

"Be Careful" (Cardi B)

"Diplomatic Immunity" (Drake)

"Friends" (The Carters)

"God's Plan" (Drake)

"Heard About Us" (The Carters)

"Lucky You" (Eminem featuring Joyner Lucas)

"Mob Ties" (Drake)

"No Limit" (G-Eazy featuring ASAP Rocky & Cardi B)

"All These Things" (Thomas Dybdahl)

Anthem (Madeleine Peyroux)

The Book of Longing (Luciana Souza)

"Can I Have It All" (Thomas Dybdahl)

Junk (Hailey Tuck)

"Look At What We've Done" (Thomas Dybdahl)

Meaning to Tell Ya (Molly Johnson)

"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" (Willa Amai)

Served Like a Girl (Various artists)

28 Days in the Valley (Dorothy)

Daytona (Pusha T)

Kids See Ghosts (Kids See Ghosts)

K.T.S.E. (Teyana Taylor)

Nasir (Nas)

Ye (Kanye West)

Best Remixed Recording

"Walking Away" (Mura Masa Remix)

"Audio" (CID Remix)

"How Long" (EDX's Dubai Skyline Remix)

"Only Road" (Cosmic Gate Remix)

"Stargazing" (Kaskade Remix)

Alex Crossan, remixer (Haim)

CID, remixer (LSD)

Maurizio Colella, remixer (Charlie Puth)

Stefan Bossems & Claus Terhoeven, remixers (Gabriel & Dresden featuring Sub Teal)

Kaskade, remixer (Kygo featuring Justin Jesso)

Production, Immersive Audio

Best Immersive Audio Album

Eye in the Sky: 35th Anniversary Edition

Folketoner

Seven Words from the Cross

Sommerro: Ujamaa & The Iceberg

Symbol

Alan Parsons, surround mix engineer; Dave Donnelly, PJ Olsson & Alan Parsons, surround mastering engineers; Alan Parsons, surround producer (The Alan Parsons Project)

Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Anne Karin Sundal-Ask & Det Norske Jentekor)

Daniel Shores, surround mix engineer; Daniel Shores, surround mastering engineer; Dan Merceruio, surround producer (Matthew Guard & Skylark)

Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Ingar Heine Bergby, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Choir)

Prashant Mistry & Ronald Prent, surround mix engineers; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Prashant Mistry & Ronald Prent, surround producers (Engine-Earz Experiment)

Production, Classical

Best Engineered Album, Classical

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 11

Bates: The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1

John Williams at the Movies

Liquid Melancholy: Clarinet Music of James M. Stephenson

Visions and Variations

Shawn Murphy & Nick Squire, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer (Andris Nelsons & Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Mark Donahue & Dirk Sobotka, engineers; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Michael Christie, Garrett Sorenson, Wei Wu, Sasha Cooke, Edwards Parks, Jessica E. Jones & Santa Fe Opera Orchestra)

Mark Donahue, engineer; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)

Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers; Keith O. Johnson, mastering engineer (Jerry Junkin & Dallas Winds)

Bill Maylone & Mary Mazurek, engineers; Bill Maylone, mastering engineer (John Bruce Yeh)

Tom Caulfield, engineer; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer (A Far Cry)

Producer of the Year, Classical

Blanton Alspaugh

David Frost

Elizabeth Ostrow

Judith Sherman

Dirk Sobotka

Arnesen: Infinity - Choral Works (Joel Rinsema & Kantorei)

Aspects of America (Carlos Kalmar & Oregon Symphony)

Chesnokov: Teach Me Thy Statutes (Vladimir Gorbik & PaTRAM Institute Male Choir)

Gordon, R.: The House Without a Christmas Tree (Bradley Moore, Elisabeth Leone, Maximillian Macias, Megan Mikailovna Samarin, Patricia Schuman, Lauren Snouffer, Heidi Stober, Daniel Belcher, Houston Gran Opera Juvenile Chorus & Houston Grand OperaOrchestra)

Haydn: The Creation (Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Betsy Cook Weber, Houston Symphony & Houston Symphony Chorus)

Heggie: Great Scott (Patrick Summers, Manuel Palazzo, Mark Hancock, Michael Mayes, Rodell Rosel, Kevin Burdette, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Nathan Gunn, Frederica von Stade, Ailyn Pérez, Joyce DiDonato, Dallas Opera Chorus & Orchestra)

Music of Fauré, Buide & Zemlinsky (Trio Séléné)

Paterson: Three Way - A Trio of One-Act Operas (Dean Williamson, Daniele Pastin, Courtney Ruckman, Eliza Bonet, Melisa Bonetti, Jordan Rutter, Samuel Levine, Wes Mason, Matthew Treviño & Nashville Opera Orchestra)

Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto; Oboe Concerto; Serenade to Music; Flos Campi (Peter Oundjian & Toronto Symphony Orchestra)

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Volume 7 (Jonathan Biss)

Mirror in Mirror (Anne Akiko Meyers, Kristjan Järvi & Philharmonia Orchestra)

Mozart: Idomeneo (James Levine, Alan Opie, Matthew Polenzani, Alice Coote, Nadine Sierra, Elza van den Heever, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus)

Presentiment (Orion Weiss)

Strauss, R.: Der Rosenkavalier (Sebastian Weigle, Renée Fleming, Elīna Garanča, Erin Morley, Günther Groissböck, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus)

Bates: The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (Michael Christie, Garrett Sorenson, Wei Wu, Sasha Cooke, Edwards Parks, Jessica E. Jones & Santa Fe Opera Orchestra)

The Road Home (Joshua Habermann & Santa Fe Desert Chorale)

Beethoven Unbound (Llŷr Williams)

Black Manhattan Volume 3 (Rick Benjamin & Paragon Ragtime Orchestra)

Bolcom: Piano Music (Various Artists)

Del Tredici: March to Tonality (Mark Peskanov & Various Artists)

Love Comes in at the Eye (Timothy Jones, Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio, Jeffrey Sykes, Anthony Ross, Carol Cook, Beth Rapier & Stephanie Jutt)

Meltzer: Variations on a Summer Day & Piano Quartet (Abigail Fischer, Jayce Ogren & Sequitur)

Mendelssohn: Complete Works for Cello and Piano (Marcy Rosen & Lydia Artymiw)

New Music for Violin and Piano (Julie Rosenfeld & Peter Miyamoto)

Reich: Pulse/Quartet (Colin Currie Group & International Contemporary Ensemble)

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1 (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)

Lippencott: Frontier Symphony (Jeff Lippencott & Ligonier Festival Orchestra)

Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (Thierry Fischer, Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Utah Symphony)

Music of the Americas (Andrés Orozco-Estrada & Houston Symphony)

Classical

Best Orchestral Performance

Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 11

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1

Nielsen: Symphony No. 3 & Symphony No. 4

Ruggles, Stucky & Harbison: Orchestral Works

Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4

Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Manfred Honeck, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)

Thomas Dausgaard, conductor (Seattle Symphony)

David Alan Miller, conductor (National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic)

Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)

Best Opera Recording

Bates: The (R)evolution Of Steve Jobs

Adams: Doctor Atomic

Lully: Alceste

Strauss, R.: Der Rosenkavalier

Verdi: Rigoletto

Michael Christie, conductor; Sasha Cooke, Jessica E. Jones, Edward Parks, Garrett Sorenson & Wei Wu; Elizabeth Ostrow, producer (The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra)

John Adams, conductor; Aubrey Allicock, Julia Bullock, Gerald Finley & Brindley Sherratt; Friedemann Engelbrecht, producer (The BBC Symphony Orchestra; BBC Singers)

Christophe Rousset, conductor; Edwin Crossley-Mercer, Emiliano Gonzalez Toro & Judith Van Wanroij; Maximilien Ciup, producer (Les Talens Lyriques; Choeur De Chambre De Namur)

Sebastian Weigle, conductor; Renée Fleming, Elīna Garanča, Günther Groissböck & Erin Morley; David Frost, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)

Constantine Orbelian, conductor; Francesco Demuro, Dmitri Hvorostovsky & Nadine Sierra; Vilius Keras & Aleksandra Keriene, producers (Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra; Men Of The Kaunas State Choir)

Best Choral Performance

McLoskey: Zealot Canticles

Chesnokov: Teach Me Thy Statutes

Kastalsky: Memory Eternal

Rachmaninov: The Bells

Seven Words From The Cross

Donald Nally, conductor (Doris Hall-Gulati, Rebecca Harris, Arlen Hlusko, Lorenzo Raval & Mandy Wolman; The Crossing)

Vladimir Gorbik, conductor (Mikhail Davydov & Vladimir Krasov; PaTRAM Institute Male Choir)

Steven Fox, conductor (The Clarion Choir)

Mariss Jansons, conductor; Peter Dijkstra, chorus master (Oleg Dolgov, Alexey Markov & Tatiana Pavlovskaya; Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks; Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks)

Matthew Guard, conductor (Skylark)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

Anderson, Laurie: Landfall – Laurie Anderson & Kronos Quartet

Beethoven, Shostakovich & Bach – The Danish String Quartet

Blueprinting – Aizuri Quartet

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring Concerto for Two Pianos – Leif Ove Andsnes & Marc-André Hamelin

Visions And Variations – A Far Cry

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Kernis: Violin Concerto – James Ehnes

Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 2 – Yuja Wang

Biber: The Mystery Sonatas – Christina Day Martinson

Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46; Violin Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 26

Glass: Three Pieces In The Shape of A Square

Ludovic Morlot, conductor (Seattle Symphony)

Simon Rattle, conductor (Berliner Philharmoniker)

Martin Pearlman, conductor (Boston Baroque)

Joshua Bell (The Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields)

Craig Morris

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

Songs of Orpheus: Monteverdi, Caccini, d'India & Landi – Karim Sulayman

ARC – Anthony Roth Costanzo

The Handel Album – Philippe Jaroussky

Mirages – Sabine Devieilhe

Schubert: Winterreise – Randall Scarlata

Jeannette Sorrell, conductor; Apollo's Fire, ensembles

Jonathan Cohen, conductor (Les Violons Du Roy)

Artaserse, ensemble

François-Xavier Roth, conductor (Alexandre Tharaud; Marianne Crebassa & Jodie Devos; Les Siècles)

Gilbert Kalish, accompanist

Best Classical Compendium

Fuchs: Piano Concerto 'Spiritualist'; Poems Of Life; Glacier; Rush

Gold

The John Adams Edition

John Williams at the Movies

Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto; Oboe Concerto; Serenade To Music; Flos Campi

JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Tim Handley, producer

The King's Singers; Nigel Short, producer

Simon Rattle, conductor; Christoph Franke, producer

Jerry Junkin, conductor; Donald J. McKinney, producer

Peter Oundjian, conductor; Blanton Alspaugh, producer

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

Kernis: Violin Concerto

Bates: The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs

Du Yun: Air Glow

Heggie: Great Scott

Mazzoli: Vespers for Violin

Aaron Jay Kernis, composer (James Ehnes, Ludovic Morlot & Seattle Symphony)

Mason Bates, composer; Mark Campbell, librettist (Michael Christie, Garrett Sorenson, Wei Wu, Sasha Cooke, Edward Parks, Jessica E. Jones & Santa Fe Opera Orchestra)

Du Yun, composer (International Contemporary Ensemble)

Jake Heggie, composer; Terrence McNally, librettist (Patrick Summers, Manuel Palazzo, Mark Hancock, Michael Mayes, Rodell Rosel, Kevin Burdette, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Nathan Gunn, Frederica von Stade, Ailyn Pérez, Joyce DiDonato, Dallas Opera Chorus & Orchestra)

Missy Mazzoli, composer (Olivia De Prato)

Music Video/Film

Best Music Video

"This Is America" – Childish Gambino

"Apeshit" – The Carters

"I'm Not Racist" – Joyner Lucas

"Pynk" – Janelle Monáe

"Mumbo Jumbo" – Tierra Whack

Hiro Murai, video directors; Ibra Ake, Jason Cole & Fam Rothstein, video producers

Ricky Saiz, video director; Mélodie Buchris, Natan Schottenfels & Erinn Williams, video producers

Joyner Lucas & Ben Proulx, video directors; Joyner Lucas, video producer

Emma Westenburg, video director; Justin Benoliel & Whitney Jackson, video producers

Marco Prestini, video director; Sara Nassim, video producer

Best Music Film

Quincy – Quincy Jones

Life in 12 Bars – Eric Clapton

Whitney – (Whitney Houston)

Itzhak – Itzhak Perlman

The King – (Elvis Presley)

Alan Hicks & Rashida Jones, video directors; Paula DuPré Pesmen, video producer

Lili Fini Zanuck, video director; John Battsek, Scooter Weintraub, Larry Yelen & Lili Fini Zanuck, video producers

Kevin Macdonald, video director; Jonathan Chinn, Simon Chinn & Lisa Erspamer, video producers

Alison Chernick, video director; Alison Chernick, video producer

Eugene Jarecki, video director; Christopher Frierson, Georgina Hill, David Kuhn & Christopher St. John, video producers

[stuff-and-shenanigans]

Backstage at The Band's Visit is cozy, just like, well, a second home! John Cariani is honestly just the best mentor and friend I could wish for. I got to hang in his dressing room and talk to some of the cast, and got this great photo on stage with him and Sharone Sayegh! 🙂 The show is as lovely as ever a week into previews - they are definitely making some changes in the pacing - and the cast is still extraordinary! (Kevin Kline was backstage tonight too, but I didn't see him.) I can fully admit - this show is not for everyone. It's a gorgeous slow burn of an evening at the theatre, more of a character study with music than a big Broadway musical. It's a delicate piece about the power of music connecting cultures and forging friendships. Yes, there are some comedy bits that are laugh out loud funny - the sequence of Ari'el Stachel as Haled and Etai Benson as Papi at the roller disco kills me everytime, not just because of how funny its is but how relatable it is (Papi is awful at talking to girls he has crushes on, and Haled is his jazzy wingman.) But there are soul-destroyingly gorgeous moments too - when Katrina Lenk's Dina sings "Omar Sharif" and reminisces about her favorite old movies and songs, I get goosebumps on goosebumps. Tony Shalhoub is wonderfully nuanced as Tewfiq, the band's leader; he gets better every time I see the show. The score continues to blow me away - there has never been a score on Broadway like this one. David Yazbek has written something miraculous. The book by Itamar Moses is lovely, too. David Cromer's directing is a master class in working with silences. There are still so many shows coming to Broadway this season. I am excited for so many of them (Spongebob my dudes!!!) But none of them are The Band's Visit. In a sea of big loud extravaganzas (many of which I love,) it's refreshing to have a show like this make it to the main stem. I love this damn show. I don't know if you will, but I hope you give it a shot.

[broadwayrealtalk-blog]

This Week on Broadway ~ 5/20-5/26

As promised, here is my feedback on the latest Broadway.com show, summarizing the news from the past week!

The Band’s Visit is coming to Broadway this fall and I am ALL about it. I was fortunate enough to see it during its (now award-winning!) off-Broadway run at the Linda Gross Theatre this past season, and was intrigued. It’s far from a perfect show, and it definitely needed some work to be of Broadway caliber, but I have no doubt they’ve made those changes in the time since. The story itself is very unique and focuses on a part of the world that doesn’t get much attention in the Broadway community, which is really exciting. Not to mention Katrina Lenk is a gorgeous singer and human being. Here’s hoping she makes the transfer to Broadway along with the show. The Band’s Visit will be at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre with previews beginning on October 7th of this year.

You’ve probably heard that a second Mamma Mia! movie is on its way. Substance-wise, the first one was far from a great movie, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t spend many a Saturday night with my gals reenacting the scene with Sophie and Sky on the beach singing “Lay All Your Love on Me.” The chorus of chiseled men with flippers coming out of the ocean is #iconic. So even though it’ll likely be a cinematic disgrace, I may or may not be watching the first one as I wait in anticipation.

Encores! at New York City Center is presenting a new concert next year, called “Hey, Look Me Over!” Encores! is known for putting up musicals with very little rehearsal time for a few performances. They’ve done a lot of amazing shows, but this new concert is going to be a collection of songs from musicals Encores! has yet to produce. I think this is a brilliant idea, and I’m pretty bummed I’ll be missing it. Catch it February 7-11, 2018, at New York City Center.

John Cameron Mitchell is working on a new autobiographical musical TV show, titled Homunculus. JCM plans to star in the series, which currently does not have a set timeline. I’m thrilled about this. Hedwig is a fantastic piece of theatre, and I imagine JCM is aware of how high he’s already set the bar for himself. I only hope it gets picked up by a network like HBO, where he won’t have to censor himself. If we’re being honest though, it’s probably more likely to show up on Fox or something of that nature.

Possibly the most exciting news (imho) is that Santino Fontana is slated to take on the leading role of Michael Dorsey in the upcoming June development reading for the musical adaptation of Tootsie. I have mixed feelings about all of the musicals being adapted from pre-existing movies (I’d like to see more original content), but Tootsie is a comedic classic and with Santino on board, I can’t imagine it being anything short of fantastic. If you can’t tell, I really love Santino. Not to mention, I found out the book is being written by David Yazbek...yup, that’s right -- The Band’s Visit!

As of last night, Brendon Urie has officially stepped into the high heels of Charlie Price, leading man of Kinky Boots. Like many other musical theatre fans, it rubs me slightly the wrong way when a Hollywood person just steps into a leading role on Broadway. I could go on for pages about why that’s frustrating, but I won’t, because if you’re reading this you probably get it. I try to keep an open mind, though, when somebody new joins the theatre community. I got off on the wrong foot with my opinions of Brendon Urie immediately while watching an interview in which he called the musical he’s doing a “play,” and then called a cast recording a “soundtrack.” They may be small things, but it just shows the distance between theatre-bred actors and Hollywood. I decided to give him another chance, however, and watch the newly released video of him singing Charlie’s heartbreaking number, “Soul of a Man.” I should preface this by saying I LOVE role-originator Stark Sands, and have watched the video of him doing this song a million times. What’s so wonderful about his performance (besides his inhumanly perfect vocals) is the fact that even when he’s in the studio with no obligation to “act,” he still puts on the full performance as he records because every time he sings the song he wants the full emotional experience for the listener. When I watched Brendon Urie perform, on the stage of the show, knowing he was being recorded, it seemed like a concert to me. He sounded fantastic as I presumed he would, but I felt nothing watching it. It was just a boring ballad. That’s what separates mediocre theatre from great theatre -- performers who are so emotionally invested in what they’re doing, you can’t help but be on the journey with them. I hope Brendon finds that deeper connection to the music soon, because his voice suits the material so well. Catch Urie in Kinky Boots at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre through August 6th.

Kevin Spacey is hosting the Tonys, and I’m excited. I wasn’t sure how to feel at first, but now I’m just pumped. Nothing real to report there, just had to say it. The Tonys will air live Sunday, June 11th, on CBS 8pm-11pm EST.

Finally, the promo for Falsettos on “Live at Lincoln Center” for PBS was released and it is everything I wished that it would be. I know the cast album like the back of my hand, and listening to those songs as images and clips from the performance rolled by made me so emotional. I can’t wait to see the full thing! 

“There's no people like show people, they smile when they are low!” -Annie Get Your Gun, “There’s No Business Like Show Business”