In 1967, Previn became music director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. In 1968, Previn began his tenure as principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), serving in that post until 1979. During his LSO tenure, he and the LSO appeared on television in the programme André Previn's Music Night. From 1976-1984, Previn was music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO), and in turn had another television series with the PSO titled Previn and the Pittsburgh. He was also principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1984, he was named music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, officially taking over the position in 1985. While Previn's tenure with the orchestra was musically satisfactory, other conductors including Kurt Sanderling, Simon Rattle, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, did a better job at the box office. Previn clashed frequently with Ernest Fleischmann (the orchestra's Executive VP and General Manager), most notably when Fleischmann had failed to consult him before deciding to name Salonen as Principal Guest Conductor of the orchestra, complete with a tour of Japan. Because of Previn's objections, Salonen's title and Japanese tour were withdrawn; however, shortly thereafter in April 1989, Previn resigned as Music Director.[2] Four months later, Salonen was named Music Director Designate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, officially taking the post of Music Director in October 1992.
Previn's many recordings include the three complete ballets of Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, and the complete symphonies of Ralph Vaughan Williams, all with the LSO. With the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he made other recordings of music by Sergei Prokofiev (most notably, the Symphonies 1 and 5, the score to Alexander Nevsky, and the Symphony-Concerto for Cello & Orchestra with Heinrich Schiff as soloist), symphonies and other pieces by Antonín Dvořák, and works by contemporary composers including William Kraft, John Harbison, and Harold Shapero.
Previn has composed film scores and other musical works including a cello concerto and a guitar concerto. He has also adapted and conducted the music for several films—some of them stage-to-film adaptations, such as My Fair Lady, Kismet, Porgy and Bess, and Paint Your Wagon, but several were written especially for film, including the Academy Award-winning Gigi. Several of the film scores were collaborations with his second wife, Dory Previn.
In the mid-to-late 1950s, and more recently, he toured and recorded as a jazz pianist. In the 1950s, mainly recording for Contemporary Records, he worked with Shelly Manne, Leroy Vinnegar, Benny Carter, and others. An album he recorded with Manne and Vinnegar of songs from My Fair Lady was a best-seller (see My Fair Lady (album)). Andre Previn made two albums with Dinah Shore as arranger, conductor, and accompanist in 1960 and made several appearances on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show in the early 1960s. He collaborated with Julie Andrews on a collection of Christmas carols in 1966, focusing on rarely heard carols. This popular album has been reissued many times over the years, and is now available on CD.
In later years, he has concentrated on composing classical music. He collaborated with Tom Stoppard on Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, a play with substantial musical content, which was first performed in London in 1977 with Previn conducting the LSO. His first opera, A Streetcar Named Desire, premiered at the San Francisco Opera in 1998. His numerous other classical works include vocal, chamber, and orchestral music. Occasionally he has made recordings of jazz music on the Telarc label.
In the United Kingdom, where he was knighted in 1996, Previn first became well-known as a result of his television appearances with the LSO. He is now particularly remembered for his performance as "Mr Andrew Preview" (or "Privet") on the Morecambe and Wise comedy show in 1971, which involved his conducting a spoof performance of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto, with Eric Morecambe as soloist. Because of other commitments, the only time available for Previn to learn his part was during a transatlantic flight, but the talent he showed for comedy won high praise from his co-performers. At a concert in Britain afterwards, Previn had to stop the playing of the concerto to allow the audience time to stop giggling as they remembered the sketch. It is still voted one of the funniest comedy moments of all time.
My Melancholy Baby
Andre Previn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cuddle up and don't be blue
All your fears are foolish fancy, maybe
You know dear that I'm in love with you!
Every cloud must have a silver lining
Wait until the sun shines through
Smile my honey dear, while I kiss away each tear
Every cloud must have a silver lining
Wait until the sun shines through
Smile my honey dear, while I kiss away each tear
Or else I shall be melancholy too!
In Andre Previn's song "My Melancholy Baby," the singer is addressing someone they care for who is feeling down. They refer to them as "my melancholy baby" and urge them to "cuddle up and don't be blue." The singer reassures their loved one that their fears are likely unfounded and that they are in love with them. They offer words of encouragement, saying "every cloud must have a silver lining" and that the sun will eventually shine through. The singer concludes by urging their loved one to smile, promising to kiss away their tears and avoid becoming melancholy themselves.
The overall message of the song is one of love and support, showing that even in the face of sadness and uncertainty, the singer is there to offer comfort and reassurance. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but they convey a strong emotional message. This may explain why the song has remained popular over the years, covered by many different artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Come to me my melancholy baby,
I am asking you, my beloved, to come to me even if you are feeling sad or down.
Cuddle up and don't be blue
Let us embrace each other tenderly and try not to feel sad.
All your fears are foolish fancy, maybe
Perhaps the worries and anxieties you have are baseless and illogical.
You know dear that I'm in love with you!
You are aware that I have deep and heartfelt affection for you.
Every cloud must have a silver lining
Every difficult situation has a positive aspect, even if it is not immediately apparent.
Wait until the sun shines through
Be patient and things will eventually get better.
Smile my honey dear, while I kiss away each tear
I want to comfort you and make you happy, so let me dry your tears and make you smile.
Or else I shall be melancholy too!
If you continue to be sad, it will also make me unhappy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: MARC SHAIMAN, ERNIE BURNETT, GEORGE NORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind