The Song of Norway Theme sung by Frank Porretta (1970)

This is the hauntingly beautiful theme to the Song of Norway sung by international opera singer Frank Porretta, who portrayed Edvard Grieg's closest friend Richard Nordraak in the film, with the breathtaking beauty of Norway as the backdrop.
This wonderful 1970 musical told the story of the musical career of Norway's most famous composer, Edvard Grieg (portrayed by Toralv Maurstad).

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Song
• Norway
• Theme
• Frank
• Porretta
• 1970
• Edvard
• Grieg
• Richard
• Nordraak
• Opera
• Musical
• Composer
• Toraly
• Maurstad

[CARSONART]

I suppose if there are gay overtones in this scene its in the way Porretta is singing to Grieg, almost in a loving romantic way. Who cares. The film is so unfairly maligned. Sure it has some silly choreography. Alot of film musicals do. The solo numbers, like this one working better than the ones that involve dancers. Dramatically the film is very moving. It's one of only 16 films shot in SUPER PANAVISION 70mm. Christina Schollin is beautiful and touching.  Deserves to be restored

[LoreneFaith]

@CARSONART I do not see "gay" overtones at all. This man is singing about something he loves. They both were in love with the same woman in the movie, not with each other.

[judysnote]

I did not know about renting movies, thank you for the heads up. I have been researching Frank Porretta online and am so glad I did. He turned out to be a delightfully fun father of five musical children. Sadly, his beautiful opera singing wife suffered many years of illness before passing away. He is most respected among the opera set in New York, well worth one's time reading about him.

[LoreneFaith]

@judysnote Thank you for the interesting history on Frank Porretta Judy. I did not receive a message from you yet about the dvd. Let me know if you would like me to send you one. I will need your mailing address. Don't leave it in the comments though. Send me a message.

[Classicsatdusk]

This is the scene where people talked about having "gay overtones". What a shame this film was dismissed as being a bad musical. It's not. The cinematography and music are magnificent. To see the film within context, the effect is quite moving.

[LoreneFaith]

@Classicsatdusk I totally agree. It is a beautiful movie and not at all a "bad" musical. What is gay about it? The friendship between two men? Men need friends just as women do.

[dancervideosplus]

Fortunately, I saw this movie on the big screen when it first released. Florence Henderson never looked so beautiful, even rivaled the mountain peaks. I got the original vinyl album still, wonderful cover art to a yet wonderful track full of memorable songs. I currently have the movie recorded on VHS, one of my last surviving collectibles I recorded some time ago.

[judysnote]

This is the most magnificent musical ever written, allowing us see the backdrop for a composers work. Every musical phrase expresses the inner most feelings of the human heart and stirs the human soul to reach for it's highest and greatest potential with and without the lyrics. Why doesn't someone put this musical on DVD for us. Every day I am hopeful I will find it.

[MrSkylark1]

A Lyric Tenor who would be cautioned to avoid Dramatic Roles since a wobble is

already evident. Just listen to Joseph Schmidt