Porteriana: "KISS ME, KATE"

Speranza

Wunderbar

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While Kern, Hammerstein, Rodgers, and others had been working towards integrated musical theatre since the mid-twenties, Porter never tried for anything more than the best songs he could write at the time -- many of them rather good -- in whatever framework his librettists happened upon.

Following a long creative slump, Porter and the Spewacks suddenly and unexpectedly came up with one of the very finest musical comedies in Broadway history.

The contemporary backstage setting gave the composer an opportunity to have swinging musical fun, with "Too darn hot".

The Shakespearean face-musical excerpts gave the adept lyricist a free dramatic reign to rhyme.

And the anachronistic combinations of style -- "Bianca" -- were delightfully perfect.

Porter also included one of his highly effective, carefully constructed ballads, "So in love".

KISS ME, KATE was the best, most successful, and most personally gratifying show of Porter's career.