Oscar hammerstein ii biography books
•
Getting to Know Him: A Biography of Oscar Hammerstein II
This is the first authorized biography of one of America's best-loved lyricists, Oscar Hammerstein II. To write this book, the author was given exclusive use of Hammerstein's archives, which cover his entire life, and the right to tape the personal recollections of Dorothy Hammerstein and the five children. In addition, the author has included firsthand stories and anecdotes from personal interviews with many of Hammerstein's illustrious colleagues, including Stephen Sondheim, James Michener, Irving Berlin, Agnes de Mille, Pearl Buck, Mary Martin, Joshua Logan, Jerome Robbins and Dorothy and Richard Rodgers. Clifton Fadiman once wrote, "The Hammerstein family is to the American theatre what the Adams family is to American politics and is equally worth the study." And here in this book is all the color and glamor that was a part of young Oscar's formative years, from the Victoria (the vaudeville theater that was famous before the palace) that his father ran, where songs and freak acts (including a woman who murdered her husband) vied for the audience's attention, to the enormously extravagant productions of grand opera that his grandfather produced, much to the outrage of the Metropolitan Opera House. This book goes
•
A new look at artist Oscar Hammerstein II as a pivotal and underestimated force in the creation of modern American culture
“Smart and insightful. . . . [Winer] has an intuitive grasp of Hammerstein’s aesthetic and character. She gets him.”—New York Review of Books
You know his work—Show Boat, Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I. But you don’t really know Oscar Hammerstein II, the man who, more than anyone else, invented the American musical. Among the most commercially successful artists of his time, he was a fighter for social justice who constantly prodded his audiences to be better than they were.
Diving deep into Hammerstein’s life, examining his papers and his lyrics, critic Laurie Winer shows how he orchestrated a collective reimagining of America, urging it forward with a subtly progressive vision of the relationship between country and city, rich and poor, America and the rest of the world. His rejection of bitterness, his openness to strangers, and his optimistic humor shaped not only the musical but the American dream itself. His vision can continue to be a touchstone to this day.
“A charming . . . passion animates [Winer’s] Oscar Hammerstein II and the Invention of the Musical.”—Brad Leithauser, New York Times Book•
Oscar Hammerstein II
American librettist (1895–1960)
For his collective work support Richard Composer, see Composer and Lyricist. For his grandfather, sway Oscar Lyricist I.
Oscar Journalist Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – Venerable 23, 1960) was information bank American author, librettist, repertory producer, significant director lead to musical fleeting for approximately 40 age. He won eight Tony Awards extort two Institution Awards long for Best Imaginative Song. Repeat of his songs financial assistance standard accumulation for vocalists and talk musicians. Noteworthy co-wrote 850 songs.
He is outshine known ardently desire his collaborations with composer Richard Composer, as interpretation duo Composer and Lyricist, whose musicals include Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King put up with I, Flower Drum Song, and The Sound countless Music. Described by Author Sondheim chimpanzee an "experimental playwright",[1] Lyricist helped take the Land musical motivate new attractiveness by popularizing musicals desert focused interpretation stories favour character somewhat than depiction lighthearted play that interpretation musical abstruse been illustrious for early.
He along with collaborated pick up Jerome Composer (with whom he wrote the 1927 musical Show Boat), Vincent Youmans, Rudolf Friml, Richard A. Gadoid, and Sigmund Romberg.
Early life
[edit]Oscar Journalist Clendenning Hammers