With Complete Kander
⊆ April 3rd, 2008 by Richard Seff | ˜
Our two-part series on John Kander and Fred Ebb
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Richard Seff remembers Broadway greats Kander and Ebb
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Interviewed by Joel Markowitz
He knew them as well, perhaps, as anyone. One day, Fred Ebb and writing partner Paul Klein turned up to audition for 23 year old Broadway actor-turned agent Richard Seff. Not long after, a lifetime friendship was sparked when Richard met young John Kander. Richard was there when the partnership was struck, represented their first musicals, and recounts it all in an exclusive look-back on the young men who went on to write Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Cabaret, Curtains, and many others.
Click here to listen
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Our Exclusive Interview with John Kander
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Interviewed by Richard Seff
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Recorded by Joel Markowitz
“Sondheim, Herman, Fred and I - we’re the last generation of musical theatre writers who were allowed to fail.” This candid composer remembers his hits and flops, and the songs that are closest to his heart.
But mostly, it’s the quiet things: coming upon an orchestra in a Venice piazza playing his music; getting ready to see The Happy Time revived in an intimate setting at Signature Theatre, “Gower Champion fell in love with projections, and the actors got lost.” Or realizing, after he created it, that ‘I Miss the Music’, which he wrote for Curtains, is really about his 42 year partnership with Fred Ebb, who died in 2004.
These days , John finds himself “being Fred Ebb”, as he says goodbye and returns to his workroom to write the final music and words for The Visit, which stars Chita Rivera and caps off Signature’s Kander and Ebb Festival.
Listen to this remarkable conversation here.
Jason Danieley sings ‘I Miss the Music ‘. See it here.
Richard Seff on Kander and Ebb: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (774) John Kander: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2083)
April 4th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
After hearing the John Kander interview, I can see that sometimes the biggies are indeed the nice ones. But make sure to listen to the end, where the choice bits appear: namely, that songs discarded at the last minute in the tryouts are not always treasures. Who’d a thunk it?
April 6th, 2008 at 10:35 am
The two of them sound like the old chums they must be. A most delightful, informal, informative interview which deals equally well with personal and professional aspects of John Kander. This one should be kept for posterity. I’d love to have heard a similar one on George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Frank Loesser, etc. Very well done!
April 9th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Love these interviews and learning that Kander is an opera lover which makes sense. What a great combination an opera lover with a collaborator with an ear for the vernacular.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
These are two great interviews. Enjoy hearing that Kander is an opera lover and that his lyricist had an ear for the common vernacular.
April 13th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Another awesome interview! This site beats listening to Performance Today every time. Keep up the incredible work.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:54 am
“The biggies are indeed the nice ones”.
With this I must concur; when I heard that ‘Curtains’ was closing I set up an online petition to have it recorded on DVD, and sent a letter to Mr. Kander via the Hirschfeld Theatre, on the off chance that someone might pass it on to him. Some weeks later I got a letter addressed from his West side townhouse, thanking me for praise and efforts, but telling me that chances weren’t good for a DVD. It was such a thrill and an honour to recieve a personal letter from such a legend. A very humble, affable legend.