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Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific

4 Extra Debut. Exploring the impact of Rogers and Hammerstein鈥檚 song about finding love, from their 1949 musical, South Pacific. From 2021.

Ezio Pinza was the first person to sing Some Enchanted Evening when South Pacific opened on Broadway in 1949.

His granddaughter, Sarah Goodyear, recounts his extraordinary life story: from international opera singer, to political prisoner, then a star of musical theatre.

Perhaps best known for its 1958 film version, South Pacific famously starred Rossano Brazzi as Emile de Becque. However his singing voice was provided by opera star, Giorgio Tozzi. His son, Eric Tozzi, recalls hearing his father practise Some Enchanted Evening in their California beach-side home.

Canan Maxton runs the charity, Talent Unlimited, which supports student musicians. Some Enchanted Evening was the signature tune to her own love story, which inspired her to launch that organisation.

Alan Titchmarsh is best known as a TV gardener, but he has a surprisingly good voice. Some Enchanted Evening is a childhood favourite which reminds him of his parents, but he couldn't have foreseen the day when he would sing it live at the London Palladium for an ITV audience (credit to ITV All Star Musicals, produced by Multistory Media for the extract used).

Daniel Evans is the Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre. He staged a well-reviewed production of South Pacific, one which explores the racist theme Rodgers and Hammerstein originally sought to address in their Broadway production. He explains the role Some Enchanted Evening plays in the storyline of the show.

Julian Ovenden played Emile de Becque in the Chichester production. He describes what it's like to perform this very famous and much anticipated song.

Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.

大象传媒 Audio Producer: Karen Gregor

First broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in November 2021.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sat 13 Apr 2024 00:00

Broadcasts

  • Sat 20 Nov 2021 10:30
  • Sat 15 Apr 2023 11:00
  • Fri 12 Apr 2024 10:00
  • Fri 12 Apr 2024 16:00
  • Sat 13 Apr 2024 00:00

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