Search - Jerry Hadley, Paul Gemignani, American Theatre Orchestra :: In the Real World

Song Cycle

Nancy Preston | 03/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There was only one review when I bought this CD, and the complaint of the reviewer was that the songs were too sad, and this was why he killed himself. This CD came out in 1994! If the reviewer had bothered to read Jerry Hadley's blurb, he seemed very proud of this CD and referred to it as a song cycle, mentioning among others, Frank Sinatra's Only the Lonely and Schubert and Schumann. What about the people who sing Die Schone Mullerin. Are they depressed? This is a beautiful CD. Orchestra music is not my favorite as a whole, but this orchestra does a wonderful job, and Jerry Hadley does an incredible job on each and every song. I particularly like "I Don't Remember Christmas" possibly because I have never heard it before, and it is so expressive. Breaking up and unhappy love affairs are the mainstays of songwriting. Why is "Blues" such a popular genre otherwise. Although to be truthful, you really have to listen to the words to see if a song is sad, as Jerry Hadley's voice just sounds beautiful, not necessarily sad. We have really lost a great singer, and I am sorry. I am also sorry that his CDs have not been reissued. I cannot afford the huge prices that the sellers are putting on these CDs. Probably others disagree with me, but it seems a little like raising the price of bread or rice when there is a shortage, and peopel go hungry. Of course, people are not always hungry for music, but some of us are. Sorry, about that bit of complaining. Do not let it put you off of this CD. I bought it because it was the only one I could afford, and it turned out to be one of the best CDs I have bought in ages!"

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 02/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"FOR HADLEY THIS RECORDING= HIS BEST PERFORMANCE AND BEST SONG COLLECTION IN THIS GENRE!

Jerry Hadley(June,1952-July,2007) before his untimely death (an apparent self-inflicted wound via air-rifle) was one of the foremost lyric tenors of his generation, capable of mastering operatic roles by composers as diverse as Mozart, Puccini, Janacek, Stravinsky and Bernstein. But his versatility also led him to the world of operetta and Broadway classics such as 'Show Boat', 'Kismet' and 'Man of La Mancha'. And his crossover work brought him into the world of former Beatle, Paul McCartney, whose 'Liverpool Oratorio' featured Hadley at its premiere.



Unfortunately for me, I did not really know of his singing skills until he performed in Handel's "Messiah", the Dublin 1992 performance with Marriner. I say unfortunate, because his interpretation of Handel was not to my liking at all; it was far too romantic and very operatic, which was particularly obvious in 'Every Valley shall be exalted'; but to each his own. So I sort of wiped him out of future listening possiblities. But I had a tenor voice student who would not cease 'bugging' me and continually presenting me with Hadley recordings, and I began to realize that this was really a great singer!



A prolific recording artist with a vast repertoire, his dramatic ability served him well in his many and varied roles; my personal preference is with his 20th century roles such as in Stravinsky's 'The Rake's Progress, Weill's 'Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny' and Bernstein's 'Candide'.



Concerning his demise, one critic states of this : "Hadley was a talented once-successful artist whose career had collapsed and who was on the verge of bankruptcy.....The world is a hard place, and the opera business is, or can be, one of its toughest neighborhoods. I don't think we would have to look very far to see many scenarios like this, but let's not!



Recorded in July of 1993 with Paul Gemignami and the American Theatre Orchestra, it is surely one of the best recordings of this type that has ever been done by Hadley. The songs were very well chosen with only the best of songwriters contributing, a quality album to be sure. There are many moods herein, (not depressing at all) and Hadley is in top vocal form. I liked them all, but especially 'My Foolish Heart', 'Lush Life', 'Here's that Rainy day', 'In a Sentimental Mood'.



Hadley wrote in the accompanying brochure (text not included) "Come with us now on a journey through the complexities of love in the 'Real World': moments of bliss and opportunites missed, glorious imperfections abd agonizing reflection. As the songwriter wrote, there are "no simple answers" but I hope that as you join us on our journey, you will at least begin to reflect upon the questions we must all ask in order to love each other better"."