I've been playing through the score of EVITA. They're doing it at the local outdoor theeder this summer, and auditions begin tomorrow night. One person sent me the original god-awful sheet music (vocal selections version) of her song, and I needed some relief and a refresher so I pulled out the original handwritten PC and have just been noodling my way through the whole thing.
And I must say, what a pleasure to see and hear the chords, rhythms, dissonances, etc., as I thrilled to them in 1979 or 1980 or whenever I first started listening to it. The reason I have to say that is that he (they? Sir Andrew? someone else?) changed and dumbed some of it down in recent years. I was shocked at several moments in it when I saw a local production about ten years ago, and I guess this other typeset copy of the score I'm also looking at is that version. It's awful. For one thing, it's not a good piano reduction. But never mind that. I just don't understand why someone like Lloyd Webber who's written some pretty unique stuff would go for such changes.
Edit: Their other show this summer is THE LITTLE MERMAID. Oy!
