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Porter Self-Proclaimed the Witty and Risqué Work His “Best Score”
New York, NY — The only concert cast recording of Cole Porter's overlooked treasure, "Nymph Errant," will be released on all major streaming services on July 12 via StarVista Music. The long out-of-print album was originally recorded live at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on May 21, 1989, and released in 1990 and is the sole complete recording of "Nymph Errant." The album features original cast member Elisabeth Welch delivering “Solomon” and a lineup of iconic performers including Kaye Ballard, Fiona Fullerton, Patricia Hodge, Larry Kert, Lisa Kirk, Maureen McGovern, Virginia McKenna, Andrea McArdle, Patrice Munsel and Alexis Smith. Stream “Nymph Errant” HERE.
Based on James Laver's critically acclaimed and commercially successful 1932 novel, "Nymph Errant" is a witty and slightly racy musical that follows the adventures of a young lady embarking on a series of romantic escapades. Despite its initial controversy, the work remains a brilliant showcase of Porter’s unmatched talent.
Miles Kreuger, founder of the Institute of the American Musical and a renowned figure in theater, praised the work, stating, “…although Porter told this writer and others that he felt Nymph Errant was his best score and Romney Brent’s book the best that he ever set to music…there is no doubt that up to 1933, Porter had not written a show with as cohesive a style or as consistent a comic attitude. The blending of his score and Brent’s dialogue is flawless…” “Brent’s cunning wit and Porter’s prove a perfect match for each other,” he added, “and each song is preceded by musical underscoring the ease the transition from dialogue into song, along the lines of the technique used by Jerome Kern in Show Boat and other works.”
Seven time Grammy Award® and Tony nominee Robert Sher (“Follies,” “Gypsy,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” “Fela!,” “Sugar Babies”) produced the original recording and was instrumental in bringing it to digital streaming platforms today. “It’s a theater-goer’s dream to discover a long-lost work by someone as brilliant as Cole Porter,” says Sher. “I was thrilled to be a part of the team that brought his ‘Nymph Errant’ to audiences on CD in 1990 and am equally excited that this hidden treasure in Porter’s musical canon will reach even more people now.”
"Nymph Errant" premiered at the Opera House in Manchester, England in September 1933, with The Manchester Guardian declaring, “Mr. Cole Porter’s songs are certainly among the cleverest elements of the piece, he is one of the few lyricists who really makes one want to hear the words.” American audiences were given a special glimpse of the show during a broadcast of a rehearsal from His Majesty’s Theatre in London before it opened at the Adelphi Theatre in October 1933. It closed after just 154 performances in February 1934 and has since remained largely overlooked.
About StarVista Music:
StarVista Music offers artists and brands worldwide digital audio and video marketing, sales, and distribution, generating incremental income for artists and brand holders as well as driving global demand for artist repertoire via traditional promotion and aggressive social media development. With years of experience in distributing entertainment-based content and in live entertainment via sister company StarVista LIVE, StarVista Music is a trusted and effective marketing partner bringing world-class resources such as multi-channel marketing, publicity, in-house creative expertise, and long-standing industry relationships and marketing partnerships developed throughout our history.
