The City
On our recent trip to New York we had wonderful meals (Il Tinello on 54th), stayed at the Peninsula, saw The King’s Speech (superb), and spent time with the family and our super-bright, adorable grandchildren (a lot of me in them, easy to see). A typical long New York weekend.
We also stopped in at the Café Carlyle, where we’ve seen great talent, to catch the penultimate show by Paulo Szot, the wonderful singer who played the planter in the hugely successful revival of South Pacific. He won a Tony for the role.
We usually sit at the stage, a few feet from the performer, but Mr. Szot is a tall man with a big baritone, so we chose to sit in a corner banquet. (The maître d’ is always accommodating, and quite gracious in responding to good cheer.)
After dinner, at show time, the lights dim and Mr. Szot enters from the rear of the cozy room (90 people virtually on top of each other, the waiters do a ballet to get food and drink to the tables) singing as he proceeds, “Some Enchanted Evening,” which mesmerized the place. He is a large, impressive presence, with a great voice and wondrous range.
Launching into his second selection, my wife leaned over and said, “I’m in love,” clearly not indicating I was involved. I leaned back and said, “I just discovered I’m gay.” (Please don’t write letters, try to lighten up.) We were both charmed.
As the show draws to a close he wisely saves “This Nearly Was Mine” for the last piece (before his single encore with “If Ever I Should Leave You). One of the most magnificent songs in the Great American Songbook (Rodgers and Hammerstein), it brought the musical to a lengthy standstill during an ovation with Mr. Szot alone on stage. He sang it equally magnificently in this small room, and it was one of the greatest live performances I’ve ever experienced in my life.
This is what New York is about. (People in Rhode Island say, “We’re going to the city, meaning Providence. I have to teach them that The City means New York.) The room was packed with sophisticated people and tough critics, and we were blown away by an awesome talent.
That’s not a bad way to spend four days, requiring only two, three-hour train trips. Batteries recharged. Who cares about snow! Life is grand!
© Alan Weiss 2011. All rights reserved.
Frank Martin
Good morning Alan!
I believe “If Ever I would Leave You” is from Camelot, right? Wasn’t that Lerner and Loewe? Anyway, loved your story about Mr Szot – and have been to Il Tinello many times – fabulous Italian. We just don’t get there often enough. We love Otto too for quick pizza and a great Italian wine selection!
I read everything you write, and get many benefits from it all. Thank you! Still waiting to find some Jean Marc vodka!
Frank
Alan Weiss
I was referring to “This Nearly Was Mine.” The other was a parenthetical comment, I don’t think you read it correctly.
Any good liquor store can order Jean Marc for you. You won’t find it in many restaurants because it’s expensive and not enough customers are big spenders!
Frank Martin
You’re right, I didn’t. I’m actually not familiar with “This Nearly Was Mine” – going to look it up.
I live in the ABC Dictatorship known as Virginia, and Jean Marc is NOT one of those vodkas approved for sale in the state. I’m going to have to look next time I’m in the DC area. Thanks!
Alan Weiss
You live in a state where certain liquor isn’t allowed??? Where are you, Atlantic City in the 30s? I was asked one time to attend a wine tasting party of Virginia wine. I said I’d come only if I could bring my own California wine.