The Impossible Dream… is over

The Impossible Dream… is over

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norman lebrecht

March 17, 2014

Mitch Leigh, who wrote the song for Man of La Mancha (along with the rest of the score, is no more). Mitch was 86.

The song has been covered by every balladeer from Jacques Brel to Placido Domingo.

the impossible dream

Comments

  • Jeffrey E. Salzberg says:
    March 17, 2014 at 11:02 am

    The greatest musical ever…something hard to explain to contemporary fans of the Flavor of the Month.

    Reply
  • NYMike says:
    March 17, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    Mitch was also a well-known jingle writer who ran a company known as MusicMakers. One other B’way show he composed was “Cry For Us All,” written in odd meters like ⅞ . It had a short run.

    Reply
  • Joanna Debenham says:
    March 17, 2014 at 4:35 pm

    I’ve taught this song. I always felt it was the impossible piano-part. I particularly liked it as for most bass-baritones it lay well, encouraged them to sing through the notes, and yet maintain good diction.

    Reply
  • Diego Theumann says:
    March 17, 2014 at 6:27 pm

    Dear Norman,

    how can you have forgotten the great Richard Kiley who was – if I am not mistaken – the first to sing the Don Quixote role in that musical?!!! Here you have it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXDG3LYh4p0

    Reply
  • Jeremy Elliott says:
    March 17, 2014 at 6:43 pm

    Great musical of course.

    Mitch Leigh was also a partner in Smithers and Leigh, a grand multi story record shop on Oxford Street/Marble Arch. His partner was Stanley Symonds and I remember the store was opened by Roger Daltry. Great classical department.

    Shame it all closed after a year………………….

    Reply
    • Heather says:
      March 27, 2015 at 1:23 pm

      I worked at Smithers and Leigh for the entire time it was open. We started in a basement in Wigmore Street and I have to say it was the best year of my life. I was on a working holiday in London from Adelaide, South Australia. Great memories.

      Reply
    • Chris Marshall says:
      December 11, 2021 at 5:21 pm

      Hey there, I worked there too (for 3 months), as was fired apparently, I think it was the start of getting rid of the staff as it all went wrong from the start? But many people went on to good musical things, (Dave Lee AKA Joey Negro). I worked in the dance music dept, (Chris Marshall

      Reply
    • Chris Marshall says:
      December 11, 2021 at 5:48 pm

      I still have my letter of employment acceptance with ‘Music Makers’ on it and signed by Stanley Symmonds, he also interviewed me for the job, think I was 16 or 17 & so excited to get the job

      Reply
  • Jeremy Elliott says:
    March 17, 2014 at 7:05 pm

    Mitch Leigh was also a partner in Smithers and Laigh, 80’s music superstore on Oxford Street.

    Shame it closed after a year’s trading

    Reply
  • Martin says:
    February 9, 2019 at 9:21 pm

    Just played the Stones ‘Dirty Work’ album while indulging in a vinyl night – probably only the second time I’ve played it! It still has the original red shrink wrap cover with the Smithers and Leigh price sticker (£5.49). I’d completely forgotten about the shop but the name brought back vague memories so googled it and from it’s location I knew I must have bought it while working in Baker Street. I subsequently recalled the shop opening and just as quickly closing. A great shame – it was a bold and ambitious venture and a pleasure to be in. Maybe if I’d bought a few more albums there…

    Reply

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