The meaning of the word "musical". A musical is what?

A musical is one of the genres of musical and theatrical art. It is a mixture of music, songs, dances and drama.

Musical as a musical genre

The genre originated on the basis of operettas, vaudeville, burlesque and comic opera. For a long time he was not recognized as a separate kind of theatrical art. A musical is a commercial genre, as it is spectacular, bright, complex in the production plan, with expensive costumes and special effects.

What is different, for example, from an opera musical? Opera presents higher requirements to the vocal performance of the artists. But in the musical, artists need not only to sing, but also to dance. In opera singing actors do not dance. In addition, the musical uses various vocal and dance genres - pop, folk, jazz, rock and so on. The manner of singing differs from opera.

History of origin

The musical originated in America and was a synthesis of the show in the variety show, French romantic ballet, dramatic interludes, comedy, melodrama and so on. September 1866 is the time of the genesis of the genre. The very first musical production was the "Black Staff". Initially, this kind of theatrical art was considered a musical comedy, because it was entertainment, where content was not given much importance. Today, most musicals have a dramatic plot and a literary basis.

Broadway

Talented people (producers, composers) contributed to the development in America in the 20-30s of the 20th century such a genre as a musical. These are people like R. Friml, J. Gershwin, R. Rogers, O. Hammerstein, L. Bernstein and others. Many of them were emigrants who left Russia during the Revolution. During this period, the American musical underwent big changes - the libretto became more complicated, the music acquired a jazz color, the vocal skill of the actors increased.

The most famous Broadway productions of the time:

• "I sing about you" by J. Gershwin;
• Oklahoma by R. Rogers and O. Hammestine;
• "Sounds of Music" by R. Rogers and O. Hammerstein;
• "West Side Story" by L. Bernstein;
• B. Brecht's Three-Piece Opera;
• "My Fair Lady" by F. Lowe.

The most famous theaters in the world where musicals are staged are the Broadway ones. Broadway is a street in New York, which houses about 40 theaters (the number is constantly changing). Broadway shows are the most famous and successful in the world.

What are the Broadway theaters? They are different from what Europe is used to. These are commercial theaters, they do not have permanent actors and directors, they are just buildings with a hall. The premises are leased to an entrepreneur, who organizes the production. Actors are chosen for each particular performance by casting. Performances are daily and as long as they are successful and bring profit. When success and earnings decrease, the project is closed and the troupe is dismissed.

Some musicals live on Broadway for several decades.

European Musicals

The first musicals appeared in Europe in the mid-50s of the 20th century. It all started with the production of "Kiss me, Kate!" By K. Porter. Although at that time for the European public musicals were not yet a genre that would be able to compete in popularity with the opera and the operetta. He gained great popularity later.

The first musical in Europe ahead of the popular opera and operetta musical is "My Fair Lady" by F. Lowe and A. J. Lerner. In the early 70's the number of musical productions increased, and now it is the most popular genre in Europe. European productions differ significantly from American ones - music, content, manner of performance and the process of preparing the performance.

Since the 70s, the era of EL Webber, whose creations have been on the stage for several decades, are the most cash and long-playing in the world.

Since the late 80s of the 20th century, French and Austrian musicals began to appear and gain popularity on the stage.

The most famous musicals in the world today

• Musical "The Phantom of the Opera" by E. L. Webber;
• "Cats" by EL Webber;
• "Jesus Christ is the superstar" by EL Webber;
• "Outcast" K.M. Shonberg, A.Bublil;
• "My Fair Lady" by F. Lowe and A. Lerner;
• "Sounds of Music" R. Rogers and O. Hammerstein;
• "Cabaret" J. Kantser, F. Ebb, J. Masteroff;
• Notre-Dame de Paris by R. Cocciante and L. Plamondon;
• "Mamma Miya" B. Anderson and B. Ulveus;
• "Rebecca" M. Kunze and S. Levy.

Telemedicines

Very popular now among the youth is a TV movie "The High School Musical". It is a trilogy, the first part of which was published in 2006 in America. In Russia, the "Classical Musical" came in 2008. The plot is based on a story about young people who dream about the scene. The "High School Musical" begins with the main characters getting to know each other at a party. Then it turns out that they are in the same school and dream to take part in a school musical performance. In 2007, there was a "Classical Musical-2" - the continuation of the first part. Here at the heart of the plot lie interesting vacations of all the same friends. And a year later came the "Classical Musical-3". In the third part of the story unfolds around the school graduation. The television movie "The Classical Musical" includes 9 musical numbers. In our country, in this picture, not only dialogues were duplicated, as is usually done, but the songs were sung by our artists in Russian. "High School Musical" is the record holder of the Guinness Book. He became the very first television movie, all the musical compositions of which were simultaneously in the top hundred most popular.

New musicals are popular in our country. Television every year creates such spectators for its spectators as a present. Musicals New Year's are divided into 2 kinds. For some, songs by modern composers and poets were specially created. New Year musicals of the second type are those that use old, but still not losing popularity musical compositions. They change the text for the selected story.

Musicals New Year, created by contemporary authors:

• "Cinderella";
• "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka";
• "Sorochinskaya Fair";
• "For two hares."

All roles are performed by Russian and Ukrainian famous singers and actors.

Musicals are New Year's, in which old songs are used:

• "Frosty";
• "Old songs about the main thing";
• "Golden Key".

Telemusical "Old songs about the main thing" includes a cycle of 4 films. The main channels that the New Year musicals create are "First" and "Russia".