Victor Baravalle
Encyclopedia
Victor Baravalle was an Italian
born composer
and conductor
. He conducted the orchestra for the Broadway
premiere production of Show Boat
in 1927, as well as for the original stage productions of nine other Jerome Kern
shows, among them The Cat and the Fiddle
, Music in the Air
, and Roberta
. He also conducted the orchestra for the sound prologue in the 1929 part-talkie film of "Show Boat"
, and for the entire 1936 film version of the show
. Among the other stage musicals that he conducted was the first American production of White Horse Inn.
He was the musical director for three of the Fred Astaire
-Ginger Rogers
films, A Damsel in Distress in 1937, Carefree
in 1938 (which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Musical Scoring, although it was Irving Berlin
who wrote the actual songs in the film) and 1939's The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
, which is the last film Astaire and Rogers made together at RKO.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
born composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He conducted the orchestra for the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
premiere production of Show Boat
Show Boat
Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally produced in New York in 1927 and in London in 1928, and was based on the 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. The plot chronicles the lives of those living and working...
in 1927, as well as for the original stage productions of nine other Jerome Kern
Jerome Kern
Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
shows, among them The Cat and the Fiddle
The Cat and the Fiddle (musical)
The Cat and the Fiddle is a musical with music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics and book by Otto Harbach.-Productions:The original Broadway production opened at the Globe Theatre on October 15, 1931, moved to the George M. Cohan Theater on May 24, 1932, and ran for a total of 395 performances. The show...
, Music in the Air
Music in the Air
Music in the Air is a musical written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern . It introduced songs such as "The Song Is You", "In Egern on the Tegern See" and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star"...
, and Roberta
Roberta
Roberta is a musical from 1933 with music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics and book by Otto Harbach. The musical is based on the novel Gowns by Roberta by Alice Duer Miller...
. He also conducted the orchestra for the sound prologue in the 1929 part-talkie film of "Show Boat"
Show Boat (1929 film)
Show Boat is a film based on the novel by Edna Ferber. This version was released by Universal in two editions, one a silent film for movie theatres still not equipped for sound, and one a part-talkie with a sound prologue...
, and for the entire 1936 film version of the show
Show Boat (1936 film)
Show Boat is a 1936 film based on the musical play by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II , which the team adapted from the novel by Edna Ferber....
. Among the other stage musicals that he conducted was the first American production of White Horse Inn.
He was the musical director for three of the Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
-Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century....
films, A Damsel in Distress in 1937, Carefree
Carefree (film)
Carefree is a 1938 musical film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. With a plot similar to screwball comedies of the period, Carefree is the shortest of the Astaire-Rogers films, featuring only four musical numbers...
in 1938 (which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Musical Scoring, although it was Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
who wrote the actual songs in the film) and 1939's The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle is an American biographical musical comedy, released in 1939 and directed by H.C. Potter. The film stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edna May Oliver, and Walter Brennan....
, which is the last film Astaire and Rogers made together at RKO.