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Richard Rodgers

Born: 28th June 1902, New York

Died: 30th December 1979, New York, U.S.A

Nationality: American

Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer, known largely for his work in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most significant American composers of the 20th century, and his compositions had a significant influence on popular music.

He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricist Lorenz Hart, with whom he wrote many musicals throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including Pal Joey, A Connecticut Yankee, On Your Toes and Babes in Arms; and Oscar Hammerstein II, with whom he wrote musicals through the 1940s and 1950s, such as Oklahoma!, Flower Drum Song, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. His collaborations with Hammerstein, in particular, are celebrated for bringing the Broadway musical to a new maturity by telling stories that were focused around characters and drama rather than the light-hearted entertainment that the genre was known for beforehand.

Further Reading: Rodgers, R

Recording of the Week, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel from John Wilson and Sinfonia of London

Myriad details abound in this luxury recording of the duo's second hit musical, given in all its uncut glory with Don Walker's original orchestrations and a powerhouse central performance from Nathaniel Hackmann as the volatile carnival-barker Billy Bigelow.

Recording of the Week, John Wilson conducts Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!

A true labour of love for the conductor, John Wilson and Sinfonia of London's latest project presents the premiere complete recording of the first collaboration between the legendary partnership of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.

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