I lived in Manahttan during the fifties, saw Alfred Drake and Doretta Morrow and Richard Kiley. Winchell reviewed "Praise Allah. Kismet is a hit" Nick Kenney introduced me to Winchell and Winchell said to see Kismet on a Saturday if I wanted to be sure to see Drake because Drake always did his best then. Dazzling! A knock-out.
I haven't heard this song for decades. For some reason I thought about it today and found it here. After all this time it still makes me shiver. One of the most beautiful songs ever.
Doretta Morrow is one of my all time favorite singers, thanks to my mother who was continually listening to Kismet and many other records.
When I was first searching for Doretta here on YT, there was barely a trace of her so I'm very happy to finally see more--and especially to read all the nice comments by other fans of hers.
My father saw this show on Broadway in it's original run. I grew up listening to the soundtrack. This is some of the most beautiful music performed on Broadway
I remember walking into Marx's Radio & Appliance Store in Millburn, N.J., in 1954 and the music from Kismet was playing on the stores music system. Drake was singing with Arabs chanting in the background Amazing. Orchestrations and vocal artistry were like none ever before. I saw the show in the spring of '54 for $6.50 in the orchestra section. Henry Calvin was the Wazir. He went on to TV fame as Sgt. Garcia in Zorro!! What a great guy and such a big voice. "...Beloved" was a knock out.
I've been listening to this song for over 50 years. And, sung in the full quartet version, by great singers, there is no more beautiful song in all of musical theatre from RENT all the way back to THE BLACK CROOK.
@Blueboyo1 I agree with you here. I grew up listening to this as a little girl. This is my favorite piece from Musical theatre. Morrow's voice floats in her solo. She has such a rich soprano voice. The arrangement with the quartet where they cresendo up to her solo is just grand.
Don't lose the fact s about the incredible voice of Dorothy Morrow: She created the roles of Marsinah in Kismet, and the role of Tuptim in The King and I.. both on Broadway. She also starred on the London stage, as well as co-starred with Mario Lanza. Tragically, she also died at a young age (1927-1968) of cancer in London. Her coloratura and lyricism were superb!
This is crazy. Alfred Drake is one of the greatest stars of American musical theater - but none of his performances are posted on youtube. Is there anyone out there with video? Please - anyone with video of Alfred Drake - make it available to the rest of us.
This is a quartet, yet you mention only two singers. Why don't you tell us who the other singers are? I believe they are Richard Kiley and Joan Diener, but am not sure.
@stevevandien Yes, you are right. In fact, there is another baritone called Henry Calvin. So, members of the quartet should be Drake / Morrow / Kiley / Calvin.
@patrickdcyau Thanks very much for the information. But are you sure there isn't another soprano in there besides Morrow? Not saying there is; just curious:). Henry Calvin, by the way, was more or less a member of Walt Disney's repertory company in the late 1950s and early 60s. He played Sgt. Garcia in the "Zorro" series and had prominent roles in "Toby Tyler" and "Babes in Toyland." I remember Calving singing in several "Zorro" episodes -- he had a big, booming baritone:) --
@PecsMaster I loved this performance, it's the best recorded, but technically It's a soprano, two baritones, and one Bass-baritone. Kiley had to leave this production because it was not good on his voice.
@stevevandien Yeah, Diener's character Lalume does not appear in this scene. It puts together a dialogue between Marsinah (Morrow) and Hajj (Drake) with another between the Caliph (Kiley) and the Wazir (Calvin).
I lived in Manahttan during the fifties, saw Alfred Drake and Doretta Morrow and Richard Kiley. Winchell reviewed "Praise Allah. Kismet is a hit" Nick Kenney introduced me to Winchell and Winchell said to see Kismet on a Saturday if I wanted to be sure to see Drake because Drake always did his best then. Dazzling! A knock-out.
stageplays1 1 day ago
This puts me back to the mid 1950s. I loved it then ... and it sounds just as beautiful today. Wonderful.
Jarrahnut 3 months ago 3
I haven't heard this song for decades. For some reason I thought about it today and found it here. After all this time it still makes me shiver. One of the most beautiful songs ever.
53Artemis 3 months ago
Doretta Morrow is one of my all time favorite singers, thanks to my mother who was continually listening to Kismet and many other records.
When I was first searching for Doretta here on YT, there was barely a trace of her so I'm very happy to finally see more--and especially to read all the nice comments by other fans of hers.
jeffrey322 3 months ago
Thank you, Alexander Borodin, for this glorious tune, the most beautiful sound I ever heard when it came from the voice of Doretta Morrow.
Julian Tepper
Placitas, NM/Bethesda, MD
juliantepper 4 months ago
A truly delightful performance!
haylei225 5 months ago
Did I miss something? Con't. What prompted you to do this particular cut? Besides it's beauty!
thewinstongray 5 months ago
Did I miss something?
thewinstongray 5 months ago
Extraordinary beautiful.
UncleCharlieOakley 7 months ago
My father saw this show on Broadway in it's original run. I grew up listening to the soundtrack. This is some of the most beautiful music performed on Broadway
cyberlucy 8 months ago
Morrow is glorious here. Not sure how I feel about Kiley as the Caliph -- I definitely prefer a real tenor in the role.
90lysander 9 months ago
I remember walking into Marx's Radio & Appliance Store in Millburn, N.J., in 1954 and the music from Kismet was playing on the stores music system. Drake was singing with Arabs chanting in the background Amazing. Orchestrations and vocal artistry were like none ever before. I saw the show in the spring of '54 for $6.50 in the orchestra section. Henry Calvin was the Wazir. He went on to TV fame as Sgt. Garcia in Zorro!! What a great guy and such a big voice. "...Beloved" was a knock out.
US51351142 9 months ago
I've been listening to this song for over 50 years. And, sung in the full quartet version, by great singers, there is no more beautiful song in all of musical theatre from RENT all the way back to THE BLACK CROOK.
Blueboyo1 10 months ago 7
@Blueboyo1 I agree with you here. I grew up listening to this as a little girl. This is my favorite piece from Musical theatre. Morrow's voice floats in her solo. She has such a rich soprano voice. The arrangement with the quartet where they cresendo up to her solo is just grand.
majorbarbara1 2 months ago
Don't lose the fact s about the incredible voice of Dorothy Morrow: She created the roles of Marsinah in Kismet, and the role of Tuptim in The King and I.. both on Broadway. She also starred on the London stage, as well as co-starred with Mario Lanza. Tragically, she also died at a young age (1927-1968) of cancer in London. Her coloratura and lyricism were superb!
GrandmotherMimi 10 months ago
this is incredible , how lovely , thank you
bearcub410 11 months ago
<-- :)
kismet960 1 year ago
This is crazy. Alfred Drake is one of the greatest stars of American musical theater - but none of his performances are posted on youtube. Is there anyone out there with video? Please - anyone with video of Alfred Drake - make it available to the rest of us.
tallyho96 1 year ago
Doretta Morrow died too young.
Demille40 1 year ago
This is a quartet, yet you mention only two singers. Why don't you tell us who the other singers are? I believe they are Richard Kiley and Joan Diener, but am not sure.
stevevandien 1 year ago
@stevevandien Yes, you are right. In fact, there is another baritone called Henry Calvin. So, members of the quartet should be Drake / Morrow / Kiley / Calvin.
patrickdcyau 1 year ago
@patrickdcyau Thanks very much for the information. But are you sure there isn't another soprano in there besides Morrow? Not saying there is; just curious:). Henry Calvin, by the way, was more or less a member of Walt Disney's repertory company in the late 1950s and early 60s. He played Sgt. Garcia in the "Zorro" series and had prominent roles in "Toby Tyler" and "Babes in Toyland." I remember Calving singing in several "Zorro" episodes -- he had a big, booming baritone:) --
stevevandien 1 year ago
@stevevandien According to the booklet of the CD, the four singers were Drake / Morrow / Kiley / Calvin.
patrickdcyau 1 year ago
@patrickdcyau Well, that takes care of that:). Many thanks and best wishes --
stevevandien 1 year ago
I have sung the role of the Calif many times - it is a quartet for soprano, tenor and two baritones.
PecsMaster 1 year ago
@PecsMaster I loved this performance, it's the best recorded, but technically It's a soprano, two baritones, and one Bass-baritone. Kiley had to leave this production because it was not good on his voice.
pluper222 1 year ago
@stevevandien Yeah, Diener's character Lalume does not appear in this scene. It puts together a dialogue between Marsinah (Morrow) and Hajj (Drake) with another between the Caliph (Kiley) and the Wazir (Calvin).
90lysander 1 year ago
@stevevandien That is correct. I still have my father's copy of this album.
jane18291 1 month ago