Singing Guide: Evening Primrose
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
One of Stephen Sondheim's earliest works, Evening Primrose is a made-for-television musical. With music and lyrics by Sondheim, the musical explores the theme of isolation and the desire to escape reality. Actor Anthony Perkins was cast as the lead, Charles Snell, and portrayed his character's unsettling journey beautifully. Perkins' highly resonant baritone voice, combined with his graceful and expressive acting skills, captivated audiences and made him perfectly suited to the character of Charles.
If you want to sing like Perkins, start by taking the Singing Carrots vocal range test to determine your vocal type. As a baritone with a rich lower range, Perkins' unique vocal quality can be honed with proper training. Once you've established your range, start developing your technique, paying special attention to breath support and resonance.
In the musical, Perkins sings the hauntingly beautiful "I Remember" and "Take Me to the World." These songs showcase his incredible voice and emotional depth. To develop your own emotive singing style, study the lyrics and melody of these songs closely and try to convey the same feelings that Perkins does.
Using Singing Carrots' pitch accuracy test and pitch monitor will help you ensure you're hitting notes correctly and staying on pitch. Additionally, Singing Carrots' pitch training tools are perfect for developing pitch accuracy and agility.
To perfect your singing technique, read Singing Carrots' articles on breathing, voice registers, and open mouth and throat technique. Pay specific attention to the article on vocal registers, where you'll learn how to navigate the vocal break and create a seamless transition between registers. The article on breath support will also help you develop the powerful and controlled sound necessary to sing Perkins' songs.
For additional singing exercises, use Singing Carrots' video tutorials on different techniques such as growling, twang, vibrato, nasality, chest voice, and posturing. These will help you develop control and precision in your singing, as well as show you how to perform with emotion.
By following these tips and incorporating the Singing Carrots resources, you can learn to sing like Anthony Perkins in Evening Primrose.