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Final Years

Donald Macleod explains how, with his greatest success behind him, Cole Porter's subsequent triumphs were clouded by personal tragedies.

He was one of the most famous Broadway composers of his time, and many of his songs still live on in our consciousness today, this week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Cole Porter.

With the huge success of Kiss Me Kate, Cole Porter's backers would happily support any new venture that took his fancy. He embarked on a new whow, Out of This World, which included the serene song, Use Your Imagination. The reviewers hated it but the audience on the second night whistled their enthusiasm for over fifteen minutes.

Further triumphs came with Can-Can, second only in popularity to Kiss me Kate. It included songs which are still popular today: It's All Right With Me, and I Love Paris. By this time however, Porter's wife, Linda, was very ill and she soon died. The loss of his mother, and now his wife, was a tremendous blow.

Cole Porter's final work was something of a departure for him, a TV production of Aladdin. It was a total flop. The personal losses he had suffered were followed by the the amputation of his leg; he stopped composing altogether and started to decline. He died in 1964, aged 73.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 29 Dec 2017 12:00

Music Played

  • Cole Porter

    Overture, from Out of this world

    Orchestra: Coffee Club Orchestra. Conductor: Rob Fisher.
    • DRG : 94764-.
    • DRG.
    • 1.
  • Cole Porter

    Use Your Imagination, from Out of this world

    Orchestra: Coffee Club Orchestra. Conductor: Rob Fisher. Singer: Marin Mazzie.
    • DRG : 94764-.
    • DRG.
    • 4.
  • Cole Porter

    I Am Loved, from Out of this world

    Orchestra: Coffee Club Orchestra. Conductor: Rob Fisher. Singer: Marin Mazzie.
    • DRG : 94764-.
    • DRG.
    • 16.
  • Frank Sinatra

    It's Alright With Me

    • CAPITOL : cdp 7-91248 2.
    • CAPITOL.
    • 2.
  • Frank Sinatra

    I love Paris

    • CAPITOL : cdp 7-91248 2.
    • CAPITOL.
    • 11.
  • Cole Porter

    Stereophonic Sound, from Silk Stockings

    Music Arranger: André Previn. Singer: Fred Astaire. Singer: Janis Paige. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Sony: 88697638652.
    • Sony.
    • 6.
  • Celeste Holm & Frank Sinatra

    Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

    • River Productions : RRCD423.
    • River Productions.
    • 17.
  • Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly

    True Love

    • River Productions: RRCD423.
    • River Productions.
    • 19.
  • Cole Porter

    Ca C'est L'Amour, from Les Girls

    Singer: Thora Mathiason. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra & Chorus. Conductor: Adolph Deutsch.
    • Naxos: 8120888.
    • Naxos.
    • 19.
  • Cole Porter

    All Of You, from Silk Stockings

    Music Arranger: Conrad Salinger. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Singer: Fred Astaire.
    • Sony: 88697638652.
    • 1.
  • Cole Porter

    All of You, from Silk Stockings

    Singer: Fred Astaire.
    • Sony: 88697638652.
    • Sony.
    • 11.
  • Cole Porter

    Aladdin, from Aladdin

    Performer: Anna Maria Alberghetti. Conductor: Robert Russell Bennett. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra & Chorus.
    • Naxos: 8120888.
    • Naxos.
    • 6.
  • Cole Porter

    Wouldn't It Be Fun, from Aladdin

    Singer: George Hall. Choir: Studio Choir. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Robert Russell Bennett.
    • Naxos: 8120888.
    • Naxos.
    • 7.
  • Cole Porter

    All Through The Night, from Anything Goes

    Performer: Mary Stockley. Performer: John Barrowman. Performer: Tom Espiner. Performer: Corey Skaggs. Performer: Tam Mutu. Performer: Richard Henders. Performer: National Olivier Theatre Orchestra. Conductor: Gareth Valentine.
    • First Night Records: CASTCD90.
    • First Night Records.
    • 22.
  • Cole Porter

    Finale: I Get A Kick Out Of You, from Anything Goes

    Singer: Company of the National Olivier Theatre. Orchestra: National Olivier Theatre Orchestra. Conductor: Gareth Valentine.
    • First Night Records: CASTCD90.
    • First Night Records.
    • 22.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 1 Aug 2014 12:00
  • Fri 1 Aug 2014 18:30
  • Fri 29 Dec 2017 12:00

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