Odyssey OperaFeb 19, 2025

“#OdysseyOpera’s programming regularly touches home… The company’s October 2024 presentation of the other two Gershwin political satires — Of Thee I Sing and Let ‘em Eat Cake — could hardly have come at a better moment. Similarly, Odyssey’s 2023 production of Tobias Picker’s Awakenings hauntingly brought to life questions of medicine, science, and ethics.” • https://artsfuse.org/305462/arts-commentary-art-music-and-the-new-age-of-anxiety/

#OOGershwin #OOAwakenings

Arts Commentary: Art, Music, and the New Age of Anxiety - The Arts Fuse

However late the hour and however long the road ahead, the cause of standing for justice, knowledge, and freedom isn’t yet doomed. Along the way, let the arts comfort, inspire, instruct, and help lead. That’s what they’re here for.

The Arts Fuse
Odyssey OperaOct 30, 2024

Steven Ledbetter reviews Of Thee I Sing & Let ‘Em Eat Cake, writing, “#OdysseyOpera-goers know that Gil Rose finds terrific singers… Over the years he has developed a virtual company of fine singers. Such is the case with the Gershwin… The chorus, prepared by Andrew Clark, sang with delightful patriotic fervor… Gil Rose led a tight & well-paced take on two fine scores which we don’t get to hear often enough… raise a cheer for what was possible here”. • https://www.classical-scene.com/2024/10/23/double-bill/

#OOGershwin

Gil Rose Leads Gershwin Double Bill - The Boston Musical Intelligencer

Odyssey Opera brought  Of Thee I Sing and Let ‘Em Eat Cake to Jordan Hall in a very satisfying concert production on October 12th.

The Boston Musical Intelligencer
Odyssey OperaOct 29, 2024

Jonathan Blumhofer reviews our “timely and delightful” Gershwin double bill at Boston Classical review, remarking, “Saturday’s performance leaned into the considerable musical & comedic strengths of both shows… the night’s big takeaways were the sophistication of Gershwin’s musical language & the sheer delight all hands onstage and in the seats got out of a couple of ninety-plus-year-old musicals… Odyssey Opera Chorus sang with crisp energy & pure tone” • https://bostonclassicalreview.com/2024/10/a-double-shot-of-gershwin-political-musicals-proves-timely-and-delightful/

#OOGershwin

Boston Classical Review » Blog Archive » A double-shot of Gershwin political musicals proves timely and delightful 

Show threadOdyssey OperaOct 9, 2024

Seats are limited • https://bmop.ticketleap.com/gerswhin-double-bill/dates/Oct-12-2024_at_0730PM

#OOGershwin

Gershwin Double Bill

“Of Thee I Sing” – a fictional lampoon through a 1930’s presidential campaign by way of a beauty pageant, a marriage, and some corn muffins – and  its sequel, “Let ‘Em Eat Cake” – a dystopian ultimatum plot hatched by a sore-loser president after failing re-election to either overturn the recent depression-era election or overturn the government – bring us an opportunity to revel in a timely critique of America's presidential tradition with a healthy dose of humor along the way. The two, two-act musicals from the early 1930’s are both the yield of creative collaboration between George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind (collaborative writers) and the Gershwin brothers (George and Ira as composer and librettist respectively). Though less familiar today, this set of short compositions fit firmly into an early 20th century American tradition of “Book Musicals”. Both were premiered independantly on Broadway but met with contrasting receptions. “Of Thee I Sing” was a hit, going on to multiple Broadway revivals and receiving the Pulitzer Prize for Drama; “Let ‘Em Eat Cake” perhaps cut too deep with its satirical edge to obtain such a high public profile. While neither of the pieces are frequently performed today, some songs may be familiar (especially “Who Cares?” and “Love is Sweeping the Country”). Odyssey Opera with Boston Modern Orchestra Project present a special opportunity to participate in the full sequel set, just in time for a very real election… This performance runs approximately 150 mins.

Ticketleap
Odyssey OperaOct 9, 2024

“Amid a tumultuous political climate, a presidential candidate tries to win over voters with sloganeering and pageantry. Then, after losing his reelection bid, he tries to stage a coup, retake the Oval Office, and paint the White House blue… No, you’re not reading the opinion page. Those are very condensed summaries of the plots of ‘Of Thee I Sing’ and its sequel ‘Let ‘Em Eat Cake,’ 1930s musical satires with score and lyrics by George & Ira Gershwin” • https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/08/arts/gershwin-boston-modern-orchestra-project/

#OOGershwin

Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Odyssey Opera present Gershwin

Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Odyssey Opera present "Of Thee I Sing" and "Let ‘Em Eat Cake," two 1930s satires on American politics with music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin.

The Boston Globe
Odyssey OperaOct 5, 2024

Voyagers! Our longtime collaborators at @bmop are celebrating the launch of #OdysseyOpera’s 2024-2025 season by gifting *you* a promo code for next week’s Gershwin double bill.

Use BMOP20off to save 20% on ticket purchases. Be sure to tag and thank #BMOPmusic for their thoughtful gesture. 🎶

Ticketing for October 12 • http://bit.ly/OOGershwinTix

#OOGershwin

Gershwin Double Bill

“Of Thee I Sing” – a fictional lampoon through a 1930’s presidential campaign by way of a beauty pageant, a marriage, and some corn muffins – and  its sequel, “Let ‘Em Eat Cake” – a dystopian ultimatum plot hatched by a sore-loser president after failing re-election to either overturn the recent depression-era election or overturn the government – bring us an opportunity to revel in a timely critique of America's presidential tradition with a healthy dose of humor along the way. The two, two-act musicals from the early 1930’s are both the yield of creative collaboration between George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind (collaborative writers) and the Gershwin brothers (George and Ira as composer and librettist respectively). Though less familiar today, this set of short compositions fit firmly into an early 20th century American tradition of “Book Musicals”. Both were premiered independantly on Broadway but met with contrasting receptions. “Of Thee I Sing” was a hit, going on to multiple Broadway revivals and receiving the Pulitzer Prize for Drama; “Let ‘Em Eat Cake” perhaps cut too deep with its satirical edge to obtain such a high public profile. While neither of the pieces are frequently performed today, some songs may be familiar (especially “Who Cares?” and “Love is Sweeping the Country”). Odyssey Opera with Boston Modern Orchestra Project present a special opportunity to participate in the full sequel set, just in time for a very real election… This performance runs approximately 150 mins.

Ticketleap
Odyssey OperaOct 4, 2024

On the most recent ep of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, Maestro Gil Rose discusses #OdysseyOpera’s upcoming collab with @bmop on the George & Ira Gershwin double bill, Of Thee I Sing and Let ‘Em Eat Cake • https://youtu.be/FxoJLLMOVUw?si=-Vkyn_BKT3YmigPr

#OOGershwin

Grammy Winning Conductor Gil Rose Talks Gershwins, Recording Classical, & Art on The Roundtable!

YouTube
Odyssey OperaOct 2, 2024

Voyagers, some #funfacts about Let ‘Em Eat Cake:

✅ the musical sequel to Of Thee I Sing
✅ opened at the Imperial Theatre Oct. 21, 1933
✅ played only 90 shows
✅ was one of only two productions at the Imperial that year
✅ was preceded by an Of Thee I Sing return engagement

Join us Oct. 12 for the rare opportunity to enjoy this satirical sequel set by George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind, and George & Ira Gershwin. Tickets from $35. Students $10 • https://odysseyopera.org/of-thee-i-sing-let-em-eat-cake/

#OdysseyOpera #OOGershwin

Of Thee I Sing & Let ‘Em Eat Cake – Odyssey Opera

Odyssey OperaSep 30, 2024

Voyagers, a few #funfacts about Of Thee I Sing:

✅ opened at New York City’s Music Box Theatre Dec, 26, 1931
✅ played 441 performances
✅ the first musical to receive Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1932)
✅ a 32-show return engagement at the Imperial Theatre in 1933

Join us Oct 12 for the most successful of the three political satires written by George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind, and George & Ira Gershwin. Tix from $35 • https://odysseyopera.org/of-thee-i-sing-let-em-eat-cake/

#OdysseyOpera #OOGershwin

Of Thee I Sing & Let ‘Em Eat Cake – Odyssey Opera

Odyssey OperaSep 21, 2024

“Our most consistently exciting opera company…[returns] this fall with a one-night-only concert version of two extraordinary Broadway musicals—political satires, no less—with songs by George and Ira Gershwin… neither one is performed very often and I wouldn’t miss this rare opportunity to hear them. Especially both in the same evening. Especially in an election year.” • https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/09/13/arts/events-boston-fall-fun-activities/

Tickets from $35. Students $10 • https://odysseyopera.org/of-thee-i-sing-let-em-eat-cake/

#OOGershwin #OdysseyOpera

Events Boston: 90 fun activities in Boston and beyond this fall

From theater and dance performances to comedy shows and concerts, see what’s on the calendar around the Hub this fall.

The Boston Globe