Bernstein & Berlin Next in Line for Concert Series???

Daniel Evans and Maria Friedman – along with Graham Bickley, Mary Carewe and Simon Green – reunited last night at Cadogan Hall in Sloane Square for the concert venue’s second annual musical theatre season (See News, 1 Jul 2008). Last year, the five performed in the inaugural offering, Simply Sondheim, and this time they’re celebrating Cole Porter in a concert presentation of the 1991 West End revue A Swell Party.

Speaking to Whatsonstage.com, Cadogan Hall artistic director Ian Maclay said that next year’s season is likely to focus on either Leonard Bernstein or Irving Berlin. For the first, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra may be invited to bring the existing show, Bernstein on Broadway in. If the second, Cadogan Hall would put together its own collection of Berlin songs.

The worry with Bernstein on Broadway is that it may be too large for Cadogan Hall. While considered an artistic success in launching the series and attracting musical fans to Sloane Square, last year’s large-scale Simply Sondheim was a financial failure. With a large orchestra and chorus supporting the principals, the five-performance run cost £150,000 to stage and, after selling to 75 percent capacity, lost around £50,000.

Maclay said they expected to break even this year with A Swell Party, which has nearly sold out.