Previously, DL and I have had some discussions about the importance of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's "Ol' Man River" from the seminal American musical, Show Boat, and the varied performances of it since its premier in 1927. Here's another one. From the 1997 "A Celebration of the American Musical" concert at Avery Fisher Hall, it features the wonderful operatic bass, Samuel Ramey, and the American Theater Orchestra, conducted by Paul Gemignani. I'm posting it because...well, just because it's terrific.
This was a fun, star-studded concert, and I highly recommend checking it out. One especially entertaining selection is Ramey, baritone Dwayne Croft, and the late tenor Jerry Hadley, singing "There is Nothing Like a Dame" . The whole concert, though, is well worth your time. (And who said opera guys can't be funny?)
