Sheldon Harnick - Fiorello! (1959 Original Broadway Cast)

The team of composer Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick came up with only six shows--but what shows! In addition to the phenomenally successful Fiddler on the Roof, aficionados usually gush about 1963's She Loves Me and 1959's Fiorello!. The latter turned a not particularly appetizing topic--the years leading to Fiorello LaGuardia's election as mayor of New York--into a great musical. (It even won the Pulitzer Prize for drama, only the third musical to do so.) Harnick and Bock's versatility was in evidence as they wrote numbers in every Broadway style: novelty, ballad (about sweatshops), duet (the absurdly catchy and funny "Marie's Law"), and, of course, a rousing number that doesn't really fit anywhere but is so good that it simply must be included (Eileen Rodgers's "Gentleman Jimmy"). This may be one of the wittiest, most melodic shows you've never heard. --Elisabeth Vincentelli Amazon.com

Totally Enjoyable

I first came across this wonderful play after having found a 33 1/3
record of it which I purchased at a garage sale. The record was in
very poor shape with many scratches & crayon markings all across it.
Never the less being a native New Yorker I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor
of the New York political satire. I found it so familiar and pleasurable
that I searched all over for a good copy of this recording. It wasn't until
recently that I was able to get the CD through Amazon. I am looking forward
to a local college group performing Fiorello here in Missouri. It's not
Broadway, but they'll do a great job! November 6, 2007

My favorite sing-a-long cd

I love this play so much. It depresses me that it was never made into a movie - I'd trade a million Pippins, Carousels, and Godspells for just one Fiorello.

The music is as good as - if not better than - that of all our favorite big Broadway shows. I think the subject matter is what has prevented this show from becoming an American favorite like The Sound of Music, West Side Story, or The Music Man. I wish people would give it a chance because the words and lyrics are just outstanding. October 5, 2007

Fiorello

Great music. Only; I wish I had a DVD of the show..... March 8, 2007

A sleeper of the first order

Fiorello is a very dark comedy about the corrupt back-room politics, croneyism, and skulduggery surrounding Fiorello laGuardia's political career. Oh, and there's a romance thrown in. "Politics and Poker" in particular has a timely poignancy in light of the runup to the 2008 elections with Clinton, Obama, and -um - whoever the heck else is on the Democrat wanna-be list. I have to think there are some pretty stark parallels here. But then, that's what this timeless, delightful sleeper of an operetta is all about. March 6, 2007

A new York-centric non-hit

This never rose to the level of a 'hit'. At this time (2006) it is dated
technically and artisticly. It didn't win in '59, there is little hope that it will be remembered fondly in '06.
In the end I bought it for archival purposes only and I'm being kind. November 14, 2006

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