Broadway musical & Opera

[Acekicken]

What's the difference between a Broadway musical and an opera?

Actually Broadway musicals and operas are very similar. In fact, many consider the Broadway musical as America's version of or contribution to opera.


Purists say the difference between Broadway and opera is that Broadway contains spoken dialogue and opera is completely sung through.
However, there are many operas that have spoken dialogue (Mozart's The Magic Flute for example) and there are musicals that are completely sung through (Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera for example.)

Now what primarily remains the biggest distinction between Broadway and opera is that in a Broadway musical all the singers are electronically amplified with microphones, while opera singers are not amplified. And to many, the magic of opera is just that, hearing such glorious sounds and volume being produced solely by a human being.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`


This question is something I have been curious about.
Sebastian is an Amazing pro former (Singer & Actor)

[Acekicken]

acekicken said:

What's the difference between a Broadway musical and an opera?

Actually Broadway musicals and operas are very similar. In fact, many consider the Broadway musical as America's version of or contribution to opera.


Purists say the difference between Broadway and opera is that Broadway contains spoken dialogue and opera is completely sung through.
However, there are many operas that have spoken dialogue (Mozart's The Magic Flute for example) and there are musicals that are completely sung through (Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera for example.)

Now what primarily remains the biggest distinction between Broadway and opera is that in a Broadway musical all the singers are electronically amplified with microphones, while opera singers are not amplified. And to many, the magic of opera is just that, hearing such glorious sounds and volume being produced solely by a human being.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`


This question is something I have been curious about.
Sebastian is an Amazing pro former (Singer & Actor)

I'm wondering about the training Sebastian did to pre pair
for these roles. I know Robert Philips did a lot of work for
these shows & worked with Baz. I'm wondering what other preparations Sebastian took.

[Acekicken]

Jesus Christ Superstar
From Skid Row to the side of God
by Kristina Meek

Long hair flowing behind him, he stands before masses of intent listeners sharing his gifts, while his father smiles down on him from heaven.

It’s not Jesus. It’s the reformed hair-metal dude who plays him.

“Those are some big sandals to fill,” laughs Sebastian Bach—better known to some as the wild-tressed former frontman for Skid Row—as he prepares for a national tour of the rock musical, Jesus Christ Superstar.

“Everybody has their own specific idea in their head of who Jesus was,” Bach proposes. Though certain feathered-hair girls in the ’80s once bowed to him as a god of glam rock, Bach is struggling with the psychological make-up of Our Father who art on stage.

“I just try to play him as… a man who went through an incredible thing,” he says. “Jesus at that time didn’t know he was Jesus.”

The musical, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, bears its 1970s influence like stigmata, using a rock star parallel to portray the nitty-gritty emotions of Jesus’ last days. It makes the original water-walker as much of a “regular guy” as possible. Since Superstar’s rockin’ style gives it the feel of a concert, Bach really hasn’t strayed too far from his original calling.

It isn’t Bach’s first acting gig. He first starred on Broadway as the tormented doctor and his alter ego in Jekyll and Hyde, a show known for its groupie following. After receiving a prospective call from J&H producers, Bach went to see the show.

“I just held my head in my hands,” he says. “I didn’t know if I had the talent and the stamina to pull it off.”

As it turns out, his vocal power and imposing 6-foot-5-inch stage presence served him well in Jeckyll and Hyde. Next, he went deeper into cult territory as Riff in The Rocky Horror Show.

“I never envisioned myself as a Broadway leading man,” Bach explains. “Broadway came to me every single time.” He says he could really sink his teeth into the parts in Dracula or the Phantom of the Opera if they were offered, though he’s not actively pursuing a career in theater.

Even now, as Bach takes a week off between the La Mirada previews for JC Superstar and the start of the tour, his mind is on rock ’n’ roll. As he chats, he is in his car headed to meet Slash, Duff, Izzy and Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses for a jam session.

For those scratching their heads, wondering, “Whatever happened to Skid Row, anyway?” the answer is—nothing. Bach left in 1995 to pursue a solo career and the band is still out there, at least according to their website. Interestingly, Bach now finds himself playing Jesus in many of the same venues that hosted Skid Row’s Slave to the Grind tour.

“This is the biggest show you’ve ever seen me in—bigger than any Skid Row tour,” he says. “It’s great to return to these venues and present my fans with this.”

While enjoying his incidental acting career, Bach also cranked out an album, titled Bring ’em Bach Alive, released last year. A forthcoming DVD, Forever Wild, will combine the best of both worlds, featuring concert footage as well as a look at Jekyll and Hyde.

Bach says one of the highlights of working on JC Superstar is co-starring with 58-year-old Carl Anderson, who originated the role of Judas. “I hope I have that much energy when I’m 35!” Bach exclaims. “He is an example that you can sing forever.”

While one might not equate Anderson’s age with “forever,” it’s the same age at which Bach’s father, artist David Bierk, recently passed away. The coincidence isn’t lost on the singer.

“It’s like I lose one guy and I get this other one. I’m learning a lot from [Anderson]. Judas is my angel,” he says, adding that he dedicates his performance in JC Superstar to his late father.

“[My father] taught me that art is the most beautiful thing you can do with your life. He showed me the talent that I was given by God should be used.” Spirituality was, in fact, a resounding aspect in the rocker’s upbringing. As a youth-not-yet-gone-wild, Bach sang in child choirs.

“It’s hard for me to believe that everything on this earth is an accident,” he proclaims. “Music and God have always been strongly affiliated for me.”

That spiritual sensibility is what led Bach to dedicate his performance to Bierk. In addition to the life lessons, there is the parallel of Jesus reaching out to his own father for support as he struggled to understand his place in the cosmos.

“At the end [of JC Superstar], I’m on the cross and I’m singing to my father, and you know, emotionally, I don’t have to reach too far.”

[bazgirl]

Thanks for the article. I thought I read everything, but I have never seen that one.

[MaM]

well i know he did alot of rehearsing before each broadway show opened. i think he was learning his lines for J&H 2000 while still on tour with sebastian bach and friends. then went straight to rehearsing when the tour was over. i think he only had a month to rehearse before the show opened. he looked like a stick figure when those five months with j&h ended. it takes alot of work and preparation.

the way you see him on supergroup preparing for for singing is the same thing he did for broadway. running, etcc..etc..etcc.


michele

[Acekicken]

mam said:

well i know he did alot of rehearsing before each broadway show opened. i think he was learning his lines for J&H 2000 while still on tour with sebastian bach and friends. then went straight to rehearsing when the tour was over. i think he only had a month to rehearse before the show opened. he looked like a stick figure when those five months with j&h ended. it takes alot of work and preparation.

the way you see him on supergroup preparing for for singing is the same thing he did for broadway. running, etcc..etc..etcc.


michele

Thats cool. IM wondering if he used a Vocal coach?
Guitarist like Randy Roads,Steve Via & others have taken classical; training lessons for there instrument.

Anyone know if Substation has taken Vocal lessons in preparation for Broadway shows?

I know Robert Phillips helped train him
for the acting, directing him IM wondering if the same was done
for the Vocal direction?



Sebastian always' sound Amazing, I think it's Killer hearing
Artist seeking out other to help bring them to the next Extreme.

I do this for Fights.

[MaM]

i remember him mentioning in interviews that he's used a vocal coach by the name of don lawrence for many years. he also mentioned doing italian opera scales to warm up also.


michele

[Acekicken]

mam said:

i remember him mentioning in interviews that he's used a vocal coach by the name of don lawrence for many years. he also mentioned doing italian opera scales to warm up also.


michele

Cool IM aware of the Scales & warm ups I was wondering about the Coach. Thanks now I will reserch the name given.