| 1. Love Be My Lover (Playa Sol) (Radio Edit) |
| 2. Love Be My Lover (Playa Sol) (Playa Sol Original Club Mix) |
| 3. Love Be My Lover (Playa Sol) (Euphoric Mix) |
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
A slice of shimmering vocal trance that's just made to shine through the hazy mornings. Massive record from Ibiza and a favorite for Judge Jules in all his sets up and down the UK. 3 versions of 'Love Be My Lover (Playa Sol)', radio edit, Playa Sol Origin
It was worth the wait.
The concept is great. The packaging is great. The recording is great. Disc five is really cool for an ALW aficionado. There are a few real gems on it; my favorites are Petula Clark's "I Could Have Given You More" and "Benedicite."
I've always thought "Gus the Theatre Cat" made a great medley on the piano with "Unexpected Song" and "I DOn't Know How to Love Him," but wished there was an alternate lyric to match the other two songs. Now that I know there *is*, and it's a good lyric, it's a dream come true.
The melody of "Benedicite" is one of my favorites from _Sunset_ (the book mis-identifies it as "SUrrender"; it's actually "The Lady's Paying" and "Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering"). The lyrics are the canticle from Daniel 3, which comes up every odd Sunday in the Divine Office, so it's nice to have cool music to sing it with.
I haven't bought _By Jeeves_ or _THe Beautiful Game_ yet, to it was great to sample them.
There are other parts of the CD taht aren't found in my collection. I like CD 4 "The Hits."
But the selections on CDs 1-3 don't make sense.
First, any self-respecting ALW fan has the Original London Cast of _Phantom_, so six tracks are totally useless. Why not draw from the Canadian cast with Colm Wilkinson? Or pull out some obscure recordings never published.
Why two different tracks with Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything", yet they're hardly any different?
On Disc 5 is "It's Only Your Lover Returning," sung by Julie Covington. It's an early draft of the song (Lloyd Webber and Rice went through several suggested titles) and quite nice. The very thing one expects on a Boxed Set.
So why have the Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me" on disc 1?? The only difference is a few words, but it's otherwise identical. Why not Elaine Paige or Patti Lupone or Madonna?
The _Evita_ section is otherwise the best, choosing a sample from each major recording, though I'd have chosen slightly differently (as above).
There is a great selection of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" from the Sydmonton festival, using the original music that was changed when _Cats_ went to Broadway_. It would have been nice if they'd included more recordings from Sydmonton, like the original lyric of "All I Ask of You" shown on the second DVD to the _Phantom_ movie.
With so many great actress-singers who've played Norma Desmond, why does the collection beat us over the head with Glenn Close?
Paul Miles Kingston must be set for life in royalties, for the number of albums the original recording of "Pie Jesu" has appeared on. "Amigos Para Siempre" is nice, but it reminds me of Shari Lewis's "The Song that Doesn't End," especially when it's been used on so many compilations.
In short, this is a great collection for the obscure material, if you can get it cheap. But for a boxed set, it's a poor sampling, drawn mostly from the most familiar recordings.
Over the years many compilations of his work have emerged. In the late 80-is and early 90-is it was the "Encore" series and lately the one-disc collection called "Gold". The one in question here can be considered one of the best currently on the market. First, it includes a 3-disc selections from all of his shows, minus the latest one, i.e., "The Woman in White", which, considering the triviality of the score, is no great lost. The fourth disc covers some of his most known songs sung by the famous artists. Then, there is the fifth disc with previously unreleased material, most of which are the songs ALW wrote with Tim Rice for various artists during the 70-is. The disks are all neatly packed in a hardcover book that features 67 pages of pictures and text with information about each of ALW's shows. One of the other assets here is the perfect sound quality, since all of the tracks have been digitally remastered.
Here are my basic impressions and comments regarding the material on the discs:
* Disc #1 has the selections from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Song & Dance". The Superstar material mostly comes from the Concept Recording. Although the songs sound beautiful as always, their orchestration is a bit dated now. Only Steve Balsamo's "Gethsemane" from the 1996 revival cast has a modern rock sound. "Evita" comes with the material from all of the major recordings: London, Broadway and the movie productions, as well as the Concept album. No objections here; since this is one of ALW's most satisfying works, every song is just perfect, although Patti LuPone, the Broadway and overall the best Evita, is left with only a couple of lines. With the selections from "Cats", however, I have some doubts. A plus to the choice of the "Jellicle ball" impressive orchestral sequence from the 1998 movie version and "Mister Mistoffelees" from the 1981 London cast. One of the best known ALW's songs, "Memory", also comes from that album. It's a pretty version and Elaine Paige's rendition cannot be matched, but why include this when the definite version, featuring an 80-piece orchestra and Elaine Paige with much better interpretation, can be found in the same movie version. Thusly, one has to buy Elaine Paige's latest 2-disc compilation "Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige" to get that one. And "Gus the theatre cat" is more a recital than a song, so there was not much point in including that. Marti Webb brings her vocal charm to the "Song & Dance" sequence, Sarah Brightman sings "Unexpected song" with her famous soprano, but as much as I like her version, Bernadette Peters, who was in this show on Broadway is strangely left out here.
* Disc # 2 starts with "Starlight Express". This was never one of my favorite ALW's shows; the plot is even lighter than in "Cats" and the 1984 original cast recording is terribly dated. Yet, here we have one terrific duet, "I am starlight" from the original together with three songs from the later revivals and it seems that fresh orchestrations were just the thing Starlight needed. My favorite remains a touchy ballad, "Next time you fall in love". "Requiem" is the most solemn of all ALW's compositions, written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. Placido Domingo's tenor rides together with the chorus all the way through the strong "Hosanna", only to be joined by Sarah Brightman in the final moments of this song. She then gives an echoing deliverance of "Pie Jesu". What can be said of ALW's next show, "The Phantom of the Opera"? A phenomenon in its own right, it's easy to see from the six numbers included here why this is one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time. The cast, the music, the story - everything is perfect. Although "Aspects of love" was never a popular hit, it does have some of the most beautiful love melodies ALW has ever written. "Love changes everything" sung by Michael Ball is probably one of the best tunes ever about love. The rest of the selected material here has a dreamy love flavor and the melodies find their way into your brain in the best Lloyd Webber way.
* ALW's first musical, "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was more successful in its revival form than the original from the 70-is. The three songs included here are sung by the show stars, Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond. Maria Friedman was not a lucky choice to play the narrator, as the track from the 1998 movie version shows. "By Jeeves" was ALW's only big flop when it came to the stage in the 70-is. The 1995 revival sounds much better though, full of funny numbers in the best manner of the musical comedy. "Travel hopefully" remains one of the show's highlights on this compilation. "Sunset Boulevard" comes next. "Sunset" remains for me one of Webber's best scores; lush and beautiful. I listen to the original cast recording with Patti LuPone all the time. However, here most of the songs are performed by Glenn Close. A big mistake. If you've ever listened the American premiere recording with her, you'll know what I am talking about. She may have a strong stage presence, but her vocal abilities are too limited, and her aggressive approach to the role lacks any subtlety. Therefore, the two big numbers from this show, "With one look" and "As if we never said goodbye" are ruined by the fact she can't sing. The same goes for the American Joe Gillis, who was played by Alan Campbell. Luckily, Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson, the original Norma and Joe from the London production, make their brief entrance here with the "Perfect year"; enough to show how better they are. The funny thing is, on the jacket and inside of it, Glenn Close and Alan Campbell are credited as performers in this song as well. If this was a mistake on ALW's part, it was a good one. The next ALW's show, "Whistle down the wind" was never a critic's dear and yet the audiences rushed in to see it in London. The score brings back ALW to his rock and roll roots of the seventies and the story is quite interesting. But the selections here are not the happiest, since the cast recording boasts with much better songs. And finally, "The Beautiful Game". Again, we have one of those ALW's shows that is worth in its individual parts rather than as a whole. "Our kind of love" and "Let us love in peace" are two catchy ballads. The latter is a nice amalgam version not available elsewhere. The two other tracks here I could live without.
* Disc # 4 has the songs from all the above shows performed by different artists. The assembled tracks have their pros and cons. For example, we have some previously unreleased stuff, like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's operettic rendition of "The heart is slow to learn", or a stunning and epic "A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" from "Whistle down the wind", performed by The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then again, what was the point in including almost identical tracks as the ones on the previous disks? So we have Michael Ball again singing "Love changes everything" with only a bit different orchestration; Sarah Brightman comes out again with the same Phantom duets, but only with the different male singers. It would be much more appropriate to include tracks from the Toronto Cast of the Phantom, with Colm Wilkinson. Other pop deliverances (Tina Arena's "Whistle down the wind", Barbra Streisand's "As if we never said goodbye", Boyzone's "No matter what" and many more) were wisely chosen. Patti LuPone is again nowhere to be found and Petula Clark's "With one look" sounds too worn-out.
* The last disc is probably the one that will be of most interest to Lloyd Webber aficionados. It consists of entirely previously unreleased material ALW for the most part wrote for various artists during his early years, with Tim Rice. Some of these tunes, not successful as a singles, were later used in his shows. Thus "Down thru' summer" became "Buenos Aires"in Evita, "Try it and see", an unsuccessful attempt for the Eurovision was used for "King Herod's song" in "Superstar" and so on. Some of these songs are nicely made pop songs: "Make believe love", ALW's first recorded composition, for which he provided the lyrics; "Goodbye Seattle", sung by Paul Raven, who later became Gary Glitter; "Come back Richard, your country needs you", from a never made musical, sung here by Tim Rice, or Latin flavored "Magdalena", with Tony Christie singing. My all time favorite here is a song called "It's easy for you", sung by none other than Elvis Presley himself. Lloyd Webber and Rice sent him a demo recording that he accepted and recorded this live version a couple of weeks before he died. It's amazing to hear how his voice remained in the perfect shape. Also, there is a track of Andrew Lloyd Webber singing "Policle dogs and Jellicle cats" while plying the piano. His voice doesn't sound bad at all.
Taken as a whole, this compilation makes a perfect birthday or Christmas present to any fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, or just anybody interested in some of the best tunes from the modern era of the musical theatre; despite the flaws I mentioned above. To the former, it may just be the final addition for the Andrew Lloyd Webber collection.
Opera") and the longest-running show of all time ("Cats"), the man whose homes are filled with three Grammys, five Oliviers, a Golden Globe, and Oscar and too many other honors and hosannas to mention, the man knighted in 1992 certainly doesn't need an introduction. Now Decca Broadway pays tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with "Now and Forever," a spectacular 5-CD set compiled and produced by Sir Andy himself. It's cheaper than a
ticket to "The Producers" ... and more much exciting. This treasure trove contains highlights from all of Webber's shows, and a bonus disc of tunes sung by Betty Buckley, Barbara
Streisand, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Charlotte Church, Madonna, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, even Elvis! A must for lovers of theatre---and good music.
The cuts from the musicals are great but are likely owned by ALW fans as they are on the original cast albums. And I'm glad that there were tunes included from the composers most recent efforts which have yet to make it beyond London (Whistle Down the Wind, Beautiful Game).
My only complaint is the inclusion of way too many tracks by Sarah Brightman. She must've received a great divorce settlement that included having tunes on any ALW collection until the end of time!! Her interpretations of some of the tunes were limp and uninspired. I would've much rather heard casts from around the world rather than yet another song by this disdainful soprano! How about Colm Wilkinson's version of "Music of the Night" from the original Canadian cast of "Phantom"? Or Michael Crawford's version of "Unexpected Song"? What? No Betty Buckley from "Sunset Blvd."? And of course there are songs you KNOW are going to be on the collection before you even listen to it as they have been on EVERY ALW collection for the past decade or so.
A great collection but too much Sarah Brightman!
Unfortunately, the performance suffers from being sung in English. The singers declaim their parts with such proper British diction that Carmen comes across as a school marm. The spoken dialog is delivered beat for deliberate beat and is dripping with reverb. It makes the plaza, tavern and mountain pass all sound like a sewer pipe.
This is a good first Carmen for someone trying to understand the work. The libretto itself is a good investment for further listening. For an enjoyable performance with an emphasis on character and action, I recommend Regina Resnik on the London Double Decker set.
(8.120529), which dishes up 16 tracks of the ultra-refined son of W. S.Gilbert, giving us six selections from "This Year of Grace," one from "Bittersweet," a medley of treasures from his "Cavalcade," another from his other works, and a few other trifles that are better than most of what is written today.
A slice of shimmering vocal trance that's just made to shine through the hazy mornings. Massive record from Ibiza and a favorite for Judge Jules in all his sets up and down the UK. 3 versions of 'Love Be My Lover (Playa Sol)', radio edit, Playa Sol Origin
Love Be My Lover (Playa Sol),Novacane Vs No One Driving,5"CD Singles
Average customer rating: 
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Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever
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ASIN: B00005R5UJ Release Date: 2001-11-20 |
Tracks:
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Everything's Alright - Yvonne Elliman/Murray Head/Ian Gilllan
- Jesus Christ Superstar: I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) - Steve Balsamo
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Superstar - Murray Head
- Evita: Oh What A Circus/Sing You Fools - Antonio Banderas
- Evita: I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You - Elaine Paige/Joss Ackland
- Evita: Another Suitcase In Another Hall - Barbara Dickson
- Evita: Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
- Evita: High Flying, Adored - Mandy Patinkin/Patti LuPone
- Cats: The Jellicle Ball - Andrew Lloyd Weber
- Cats: Memory - Elaine Paige
- Cats: Gus: The Theatre Cat - Susan Jane Tanner/John Mills
- Cats: Mr Mistoffelees - Paul Nicholas
- Song And Dance: Take That Look Off Your Face - Marti Webb
- Song And Dance: Tell Me On A Sunday - Marti Webb
- Song And Dance: Unexpected Song - Sarah Brightman
- Song And Dance: Nothing Like You've Ever Known - Sarah Brightman
- Song And Dance: Introduction - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Song And Dance: Variations 1 -4 - Andrew Lloyd Webber
Tracks:
- Starlight Express: Starlight Express - El Debarge
- Starlight Express: Crazy - Greg Ellis/Reva Rice/Caron Cardelle/Samantha Lane/Voyd
- Starlight Express: Next Time You Fall In Love - Reva Rice/Greg Ellis
- Starlight Express: I Am The Starlight - Lon Satton/Ray Shell
- Starlight Express: Light At The End Of The Tunnel - The Company
- Requiem: Hosanna - Placido Domingo
- Requiem: Pie jesu - Sarah Brightman/Paul Miles-Kingston
- The Phantom Of The Opera: The Phantom Of The Opera - Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman
- The Phantom Of The Opera: The Music Of The Night - Michael Crawford
- The Phantom Of The Opera: All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Steve Barton
- The Phantom Of The Opera: Entr'acte - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- The Phantom Of The Opera: Masquerade - The Company
- The Phantom Of The Opera: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Sarah Brightman
- Aspects Of Love: Aspects Of Aspects - Orchester Der Vereinigten Buehnen Wien
- Aspects Of Love: Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
- Aspects Of Love: Seeing Is Believing - Michael Ball/Ann Crumb
- Aspects Of Love: The First Man You Remember - Kevin Colson/Diana Morrison
- Aspects Of Love: Anything But Lonely - Sarah Brightman
- Aspects Of Love: Chanson D'Enfance - Sarah Brightman
Tracks:
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will Do - Jason Donovan
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Joseph's Coat - Maria Friedman/Richard Attenborough/Donny Osmond
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Close Every Door - Donny Osmond
- By Jeeves: Travel Hopefully - John Scherer/Martin Jarvis/Don Stephenson
- By Jeeves: When Love Arrives - Steven Pacey/Diana Morrison
- By Jeeves: Half A Moment - Sarah Brightman
- Sunset Boulevard: With One Look - Glenn Close
- Sunset Boulevard: New Ways To Dream - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
- Sunset Boulevard: The Perfect Year - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
- Sunset Boulevard: Sunser Boulevard - Alan Campbell
- Sunset Boulevard: As If We Never Said Goodbye - Glenn Close
- Whistle Down The Wind: Whistle Down The Wind - James Graeme/Lottie Mayor
- Whistle Down The Wind: Cold - Everly Brothers
- Whistle Down The Wind: No Matter What - Children/Adult Chorus
- Whistle Down The Wind: The Nature Of The Beast - Marcus Lovett/Lottie Mayor
- The Beautiful Game: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- The Beautiful Game: The Beautiful Game - The Company
- The Beautiful Game: Our Kind Of Love - Hannah Waddingham
- The Beautiful Game: Dont Like You - Josie Walker/David Shannon
- The Beautiful Game: Let Us Love In Peace - Josie Walker/Omagh Youth Community Choir
Tracks:
- Oh What A Circus - David Essex
- Memory - Betty Buckley
- The Phantom Of The Opera - Sarah Brightman/Steve Harley
- All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Cliff Richard
- Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
- Any Dream Will Do - Donny Osmond
- Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life) - Sarah Brightman/Jose Carreras
- As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand
- The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
- With One Look - Petula Clark
- You Must Love Me - Madonna
- The Heart Is Slow To Learn - Kiri Te Kanawa
- A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste - The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Whistle Down The Wind - Tina Arena
- No Matter What - Boyzone
- The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones
- Try Not To Be Afraid - Boy George
- Pie Jesu - Charlotte Church
Tracks:
- Make Believe Love - Wes Sands
- Down Thru' Summer - Ross Hannaman
- I'll Give All My Love To Southend - Ross Hannaman
- Believe Me I Will - Sacha Distel
- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1969 Radio Luxembourg Commercial) - Joseph Consortium/Pete Murray
- Try It And See - Rita Pavone
- Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You - Time Rice And The Webber Group
- Goodbye Seattle - Paul Raven
- John 19:41 - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra
- What A Line To Go Out On - Yvonne Elliman
- Disillusion Me - Gary Band
- The Ballad Of Robert And Peter - Tim Rice
- Christmas Dream - Maynard Williams
- It's Only Your Lover Returning/All Through My Crazy And Wild Days/Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
- It's Easy For You (1977 Jungle Room Session Version) - Elvis Presley
- Magdalena - Tony Christie
- Buenos Aires - The Roja Rockers
- Pollicle Dogs And Jellicle Cats - Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Mungojerrie And Rumpleteazer (Live At The Sydmonton Festival 1980) - Gemma Craven
- I Could Have Given You More - Petula Clark
- I've Been In Love Too Long - Marti Webb
- Benedicite - The Stephen Hill Singers
Album Description
Disc 1: Selections from Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, and Song and DanceDisc 2: Selections from Starlight Express, Requiem, Phantom of the Opera, and Aspects of Love
Disc 3: Selections from Joseph nad the Amaziong Technicolor Dreamcoat, By Jeeves, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, and The Beautiful Game
CD 4: 1. "Oh What a Circus" --David Essex 2. "Memory" - Betty Buckleey 3. "The Phantom of the Opera" -Sarah Brightman, Steve Harley 4. "All I Ask of You" --Sarah Brightman, Cliff Richard 5. "Love Changes Everything"--Michael Ball 6. "Any Dream Will Do"--Donny Osmond 7. "Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life)"--Sarah Brightman, Jose Caerras 8. "As if We Never Said Goodbye"--Barbra Streisand 9. "The Perfect Year"--Dina Carroll 10. "With One Look" --Petula Clark 11. "You Must Love Me" 12. "The Heart Is Slow To Learn" --Kiri Te Kanawa 13. "Whistle Down the Wind"--Tina Arena 14. "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing To Waste"--The Metal Philharmonic 15. "No Matter What"--Boyzone 16. "The Vaults of Heaven"--Tom Jones and Sounds of Blackness 17. "Try Not To Be Afraid"--Boy George 18. "Pie Jesu"--Charlotte Church
Disc 5: (All tracks available for the first time) 1. "Make Believe Love"--Wes Sands 2. "Down Thru' Summer"--Ross Hannaman 3. "I'll Give All My Love to Southend"--Ross Hannaman 4. "Believe Me I Will"--Sacha Distel 5. "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: 1969 Luxembourg Radio Commercial--The Jospeh Consortium, Pete Murray 6. "Try It and See"--Rita Pavone 7. "Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You"--Tim Rice and the Webber Group 8. "Goodbye Seattle"-- Paul Raven 9. "John 19:41"--The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra 10. "What a Line To Go Out On"--Yvonne Elliman 11. "Disillusion Me" --Gary Bond 12. "The Ballad of Robert and Peter"--Tim Rice 13. "Christmas Dream" --Maynard Williams 14. "It's Only Your Lover Returning/All through My Wild and Crazy Days/Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington 15. "It's Easy for You" (1977 Jungle Room Session version)--Elvis Presley 16. "Magdalena"--Tony Christie 17. "Buenos Aires"--The Rioja Rockers 18. "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats"--Andrew Lloyd Webber original demo 19. "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" (Live at Sydmonton Festival 1980)-Gemma Craven 20. "I Could Have Given You More"--Petula Clark 21. "I've Been in Love Too Long"--Marti Webb 22. "Benedicte"-- Stephen Hill Singers
Customer Reviews:
I waited for this for five years.......2006-06-30
It was worth the wait.
The concept is great. The packaging is great. The recording is great. Disc five is really cool for an ALW aficionado. There are a few real gems on it; my favorites are Petula Clark's "I Could Have Given You More" and "Benedicite."
I've always thought "Gus the Theatre Cat" made a great medley on the piano with "Unexpected Song" and "I DOn't Know How to Love Him," but wished there was an alternate lyric to match the other two songs. Now that I know there *is*, and it's a good lyric, it's a dream come true.
The melody of "Benedicite" is one of my favorites from _Sunset_ (the book mis-identifies it as "SUrrender"; it's actually "The Lady's Paying" and "Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering"). The lyrics are the canticle from Daniel 3, which comes up every odd Sunday in the Divine Office, so it's nice to have cool music to sing it with.
I haven't bought _By Jeeves_ or _THe Beautiful Game_ yet, to it was great to sample them.
There are other parts of the CD taht aren't found in my collection. I like CD 4 "The Hits."
But the selections on CDs 1-3 don't make sense.
First, any self-respecting ALW fan has the Original London Cast of _Phantom_, so six tracks are totally useless. Why not draw from the Canadian cast with Colm Wilkinson? Or pull out some obscure recordings never published.
Why two different tracks with Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything", yet they're hardly any different?
On Disc 5 is "It's Only Your Lover Returning," sung by Julie Covington. It's an early draft of the song (Lloyd Webber and Rice went through several suggested titles) and quite nice. The very thing one expects on a Boxed Set.
So why have the Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me" on disc 1?? The only difference is a few words, but it's otherwise identical. Why not Elaine Paige or Patti Lupone or Madonna?
The _Evita_ section is otherwise the best, choosing a sample from each major recording, though I'd have chosen slightly differently (as above).
There is a great selection of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" from the Sydmonton festival, using the original music that was changed when _Cats_ went to Broadway_. It would have been nice if they'd included more recordings from Sydmonton, like the original lyric of "All I Ask of You" shown on the second DVD to the _Phantom_ movie.
With so many great actress-singers who've played Norma Desmond, why does the collection beat us over the head with Glenn Close?
Paul Miles Kingston must be set for life in royalties, for the number of albums the original recording of "Pie Jesu" has appeared on. "Amigos Para Siempre" is nice, but it reminds me of Shari Lewis's "The Song that Doesn't End," especially when it's been used on so many compilations.
In short, this is a great collection for the obscure material, if you can get it cheap. But for a boxed set, it's a poor sampling, drawn mostly from the most familiar recordings.
Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE! .......2006-01-10
ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS.......2005-03-21
Over the years many compilations of his work have emerged. In the late 80-is and early 90-is it was the "Encore" series and lately the one-disc collection called "Gold". The one in question here can be considered one of the best currently on the market. First, it includes a 3-disc selections from all of his shows, minus the latest one, i.e., "The Woman in White", which, considering the triviality of the score, is no great lost. The fourth disc covers some of his most known songs sung by the famous artists. Then, there is the fifth disc with previously unreleased material, most of which are the songs ALW wrote with Tim Rice for various artists during the 70-is. The disks are all neatly packed in a hardcover book that features 67 pages of pictures and text with information about each of ALW's shows. One of the other assets here is the perfect sound quality, since all of the tracks have been digitally remastered.
Here are my basic impressions and comments regarding the material on the discs:
* Disc #1 has the selections from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Song & Dance". The Superstar material mostly comes from the Concept Recording. Although the songs sound beautiful as always, their orchestration is a bit dated now. Only Steve Balsamo's "Gethsemane" from the 1996 revival cast has a modern rock sound. "Evita" comes with the material from all of the major recordings: London, Broadway and the movie productions, as well as the Concept album. No objections here; since this is one of ALW's most satisfying works, every song is just perfect, although Patti LuPone, the Broadway and overall the best Evita, is left with only a couple of lines. With the selections from "Cats", however, I have some doubts. A plus to the choice of the "Jellicle ball" impressive orchestral sequence from the 1998 movie version and "Mister Mistoffelees" from the 1981 London cast. One of the best known ALW's songs, "Memory", also comes from that album. It's a pretty version and Elaine Paige's rendition cannot be matched, but why include this when the definite version, featuring an 80-piece orchestra and Elaine Paige with much better interpretation, can be found in the same movie version. Thusly, one has to buy Elaine Paige's latest 2-disc compilation "Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige" to get that one. And "Gus the theatre cat" is more a recital than a song, so there was not much point in including that. Marti Webb brings her vocal charm to the "Song & Dance" sequence, Sarah Brightman sings "Unexpected song" with her famous soprano, but as much as I like her version, Bernadette Peters, who was in this show on Broadway is strangely left out here.
* Disc # 2 starts with "Starlight Express". This was never one of my favorite ALW's shows; the plot is even lighter than in "Cats" and the 1984 original cast recording is terribly dated. Yet, here we have one terrific duet, "I am starlight" from the original together with three songs from the later revivals and it seems that fresh orchestrations were just the thing Starlight needed. My favorite remains a touchy ballad, "Next time you fall in love". "Requiem" is the most solemn of all ALW's compositions, written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. Placido Domingo's tenor rides together with the chorus all the way through the strong "Hosanna", only to be joined by Sarah Brightman in the final moments of this song. She then gives an echoing deliverance of "Pie Jesu". What can be said of ALW's next show, "The Phantom of the Opera"? A phenomenon in its own right, it's easy to see from the six numbers included here why this is one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time. The cast, the music, the story - everything is perfect. Although "Aspects of love" was never a popular hit, it does have some of the most beautiful love melodies ALW has ever written. "Love changes everything" sung by Michael Ball is probably one of the best tunes ever about love. The rest of the selected material here has a dreamy love flavor and the melodies find their way into your brain in the best Lloyd Webber way.
* ALW's first musical, "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was more successful in its revival form than the original from the 70-is. The three songs included here are sung by the show stars, Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond. Maria Friedman was not a lucky choice to play the narrator, as the track from the 1998 movie version shows. "By Jeeves" was ALW's only big flop when it came to the stage in the 70-is. The 1995 revival sounds much better though, full of funny numbers in the best manner of the musical comedy. "Travel hopefully" remains one of the show's highlights on this compilation. "Sunset Boulevard" comes next. "Sunset" remains for me one of Webber's best scores; lush and beautiful. I listen to the original cast recording with Patti LuPone all the time. However, here most of the songs are performed by Glenn Close. A big mistake. If you've ever listened the American premiere recording with her, you'll know what I am talking about. She may have a strong stage presence, but her vocal abilities are too limited, and her aggressive approach to the role lacks any subtlety. Therefore, the two big numbers from this show, "With one look" and "As if we never said goodbye" are ruined by the fact she can't sing. The same goes for the American Joe Gillis, who was played by Alan Campbell. Luckily, Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson, the original Norma and Joe from the London production, make their brief entrance here with the "Perfect year"; enough to show how better they are. The funny thing is, on the jacket and inside of it, Glenn Close and Alan Campbell are credited as performers in this song as well. If this was a mistake on ALW's part, it was a good one. The next ALW's show, "Whistle down the wind" was never a critic's dear and yet the audiences rushed in to see it in London. The score brings back ALW to his rock and roll roots of the seventies and the story is quite interesting. But the selections here are not the happiest, since the cast recording boasts with much better songs. And finally, "The Beautiful Game". Again, we have one of those ALW's shows that is worth in its individual parts rather than as a whole. "Our kind of love" and "Let us love in peace" are two catchy ballads. The latter is a nice amalgam version not available elsewhere. The two other tracks here I could live without.
* Disc # 4 has the songs from all the above shows performed by different artists. The assembled tracks have their pros and cons. For example, we have some previously unreleased stuff, like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's operettic rendition of "The heart is slow to learn", or a stunning and epic "A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" from "Whistle down the wind", performed by The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then again, what was the point in including almost identical tracks as the ones on the previous disks? So we have Michael Ball again singing "Love changes everything" with only a bit different orchestration; Sarah Brightman comes out again with the same Phantom duets, but only with the different male singers. It would be much more appropriate to include tracks from the Toronto Cast of the Phantom, with Colm Wilkinson. Other pop deliverances (Tina Arena's "Whistle down the wind", Barbra Streisand's "As if we never said goodbye", Boyzone's "No matter what" and many more) were wisely chosen. Patti LuPone is again nowhere to be found and Petula Clark's "With one look" sounds too worn-out.
* The last disc is probably the one that will be of most interest to Lloyd Webber aficionados. It consists of entirely previously unreleased material ALW for the most part wrote for various artists during his early years, with Tim Rice. Some of these tunes, not successful as a singles, were later used in his shows. Thus "Down thru' summer" became "Buenos Aires"in Evita, "Try it and see", an unsuccessful attempt for the Eurovision was used for "King Herod's song" in "Superstar" and so on. Some of these songs are nicely made pop songs: "Make believe love", ALW's first recorded composition, for which he provided the lyrics; "Goodbye Seattle", sung by Paul Raven, who later became Gary Glitter; "Come back Richard, your country needs you", from a never made musical, sung here by Tim Rice, or Latin flavored "Magdalena", with Tony Christie singing. My all time favorite here is a song called "It's easy for you", sung by none other than Elvis Presley himself. Lloyd Webber and Rice sent him a demo recording that he accepted and recorded this live version a couple of weeks before he died. It's amazing to hear how his voice remained in the perfect shape. Also, there is a track of Andrew Lloyd Webber singing "Policle dogs and Jellicle cats" while plying the piano. His voice doesn't sound bad at all.
Taken as a whole, this compilation makes a perfect birthday or Christmas present to any fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, or just anybody interested in some of the best tunes from the modern era of the musical theatre; despite the flaws I mentioned above. To the former, it may just be the final addition for the Andrew Lloyd Webber collection.
SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!.......2003-01-19
Opera") and the longest-running show of all time ("Cats"), the man whose homes are filled with three Grammys, five Oliviers, a Golden Globe, and Oscar and too many other honors and hosannas to mention, the man knighted in 1992 certainly doesn't need an introduction. Now Decca Broadway pays tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with "Now and Forever," a spectacular 5-CD set compiled and produced by Sir Andy himself. It's cheaper than a
ticket to "The Producers" ... and more much exciting. This treasure trove contains highlights from all of Webber's shows, and a bonus disc of tunes sung by Betty Buckley, Barbara
Streisand, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Charlotte Church, Madonna, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, even Elvis! A must for lovers of theatre---and good music.
A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans.......2002-05-21
The cuts from the musicals are great but are likely owned by ALW fans as they are on the original cast albums. And I'm glad that there were tunes included from the composers most recent efforts which have yet to make it beyond London (Whistle Down the Wind, Beautiful Game).
My only complaint is the inclusion of way too many tracks by Sarah Brightman. She must've received a great divorce settlement that included having tunes on any ALW collection until the end of time!! Her interpretations of some of the tunes were limp and uninspired. I would've much rather heard casts from around the world rather than yet another song by this disdainful soprano! How about Colm Wilkinson's version of "Music of the Night" from the original Canadian cast of "Phantom"? Or Michael Crawford's version of "Unexpected Song"? What? No Betty Buckley from "Sunset Blvd."? And of course there are songs you KNOW are going to be on the collection before you even listen to it as they have been on EVERY ALW collection for the past decade or so.
A great collection but too much Sarah Brightman!
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With a Song in My Heart: The Songs of Rodgers & Hart
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ASIN: B000059N0T Release Date: 2001-03-27 |
Tracks:
- Manhattan - Ben Selvin & His Orchestra
- Mountain Greenery - Frank Crumit
- The Girl Friend - George Olsen & His Music
- The Blue Room - The Revelers
- My Heart Stood Still - Jessie Matthews/Hutch
- Thou Swell - Ben Selvin & His Orchestra
- You Took Advantage Of Me - Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
- With A Song In My Heart - Hutch
- Ten Cents A Dance - Ruth Etting
- Isn't It Romantic - Jeanette MacDonald
- Lover - Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
- You Are Too Beautiful - Frank Sinatra
- Blue Moon - Glen Gray & His Casa Loma Orchestra
- It's Easy To Remember - Bing Crosby
- My Romance - Dinah Shore & Frank Sinatra
- There's A Small Hotel - Hal Kemp & His Orchestra
- Where Or When - Lena Horne
- My Funny Valentine - Mary Martin
- Johnny One Note - Wynn Murray
- The Lady Is A Tramp - Sophie Tucker
- Falling In Love With Love - Allan Jones
- This Can't Be Love - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra/Martha Tilton
- I Didn't Know What Time It Was - Margaret Whiting
- Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered - Doris Day
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Abide With Me
Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Gibbons, Orlando
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ASIN: B000024236 Release Date: 1996-06-10 |
Tracks:
- Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- All Glory, Laud and Honour - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Day of Resurrection - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- O God, Our Help in Ages Past - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Praise to the Holiest in the Height - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Praise to the Lord - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Church's One Foundation - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Crown Him With Many Crowns - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Now Thank We All Our God - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Abide with Me - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- O Praise Ye the Lord - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
- Drop, Drop, Slow Tears - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
- Glory Be to Jesus - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
- There Is a Green Hill Far Away - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
- According to Thy Gracious Word - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
- Holy Father, Cheer Our Way - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
- Glory to Thee, My God, This Night - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
- Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
- Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
- On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Tracks:
- Onward, Christian Soldiers - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
- Lord's My Shepherd - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
- Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
- All People That on Earth Do Dwell - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
- Forty Days and Forty Nights - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
- O Sacred Head, Now Wounded - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
- Christ the Lord Is Risen Today - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
- Head That Once Was Crown'd With Thorns - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
- Rock of Ages - Choir of King's College, Maurice Vinden
- Eternal Father, Strong to Save - Choir of King's College, Maurice Vinden
- All Things Bright and Beautiful - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
- Be Thou My Vision - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
- Be Still, My Soul - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
- King of Love My Shepherd Is - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
- Let Us With a Gladsome Mind - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
- For All the Saints - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
- O Worship the King - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
- Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - Choir of King's College, George Guest
- Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - Choir of King's College, George Guest
- Spirit of Mercy, Truth, And Love - Choir of King's College, George Guest
- Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us - Choir of King's College, George Guest
- Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise - Choir of King's College, George Guest
- Jesu, Lover of My Soul - Choir of King's College, George Guest
- Jerusalem - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Choir of King's College, ,
Album Details
Compiled Here Are Fifty of the Most Beloved Hymns Performed by Three of England's Most Distinguished Choirs. Every Selection Here is Sung in an Appropriately Dignified Manner and If You're Up for Over Two Hours of Consistently Well-rendered Quintessentially English Treatments of These Vernacular Favorites it Simply Doesn't Get Any Better Than This.Customer Reviews:
Inspirational!.......2004-10-08
hymns we sang in church.......2003-02-16
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Songs to Shakespeare
John Addison , John Addison II , William Aikin , Thomas Arne , Sir Henry Rowley Bishop , Benjamin Britten , Geoffrey Bush , John Clifton , Henry Balfour Gardiner , Franz Joseph Haydn , Mervyn Horder , Herbert Howells , John Ireland , William Linley , John Major , Sir Charles H.H. Parry , Roger Quilter , John Christopher Smith , Charles Villiers Stanford , Michael Tippett , Ralph Vaughan Williams , Graham Johnson , and Anthony Rolfe Johnson Manufacturer: Hyperion ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Arne
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ASIN: B000002ZP7 Release Date: 1993-11-19 |
Tracks:
- You Spotted Snakes
- No More Dams I'll Make For Fish
- On A Day, Alack The Day
- She Never Told Her Love
- O Mistress Mine
- Lawn, As White As Driven Snow
- If Love Make Me Forsworn
- O Happy Fair!
- If Music Be the Food Of Love
- Farewell, Thou Art Too Dear For My Posessing
- When In Disgrace With Fortune And Men's Eyes
- Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day?
- The Rain It Raineth Every Day
- Orpheus With His Lute
- Come Away Death
- Fear No More The Heat o' The Sun
- Take, O Take Those Lips Away
- It Was A Lover And His Lass
- Winter
- When Daffodils Begin To Peer
- Under The Greenwood Tree
- Songs For Ariel - I. Come Unto These Yellow Sands
- Songs For Ariel - II. Full Fathom Five
- Songs For Ariel - III. Where The Bee Sucks
- Who Is Silvia?
- Francie
- Sigh No More Ladies
Customer Reviews:
One of my Favorite CDs.......2004-02-19
Melodious Shakespeare.......2001-01-24
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The Secular Songs of Henry Purcell, Vol. 2
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Purcell, Henry
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ASIN: B000002ZUD Release Date: 1994-06-14 |
Tracks:
- I Love And I Must ('Bell Barr'), Z382
- When Her Languishing Eyes Said 'Love'! Z432
- Not All My Torments Can Your Pity Move, Z400
- Ah! Cruel Nymph, Z352
- Sylvia, Now Your Scorn Give Over, Z420
- Since One Poor View Has Drawn My Heart, Z416
- I Resolve Against Cringing And Whining, Z386
- Gentle Shepherds, You That Know The Charms, Z464
- If Grief Has Any Pow'r To Kill, Z378
- She That Would Gain A Faithful Lover, Z414
- Fly Swift, Ye Hours, Z369
- Hears Not My Phillis How The Birds (The Knotting Song, Z371
- Phillis, Talk No More Of Passion, Z409
- Celia's Fond, Too Long I've Lov'd Her, Z364
- In Vain We Dissemble, Z385
- When My Aemelia Smiles, Z434
- Farewell, Ye Rocks, Z463
- What A Sad Fate Is Mine, Z428A
- I Take No Pleasure In The Sun's Bright Beams, Z388
- Love's Pow'r In My Heart Shall Find No Compliance, Z395
- How Delightful's The Life Of An Innocent Swain, Z373
- She, Who My Poor Heart Possesses, Z415
- Love Arms Himself In Celia's Eyes Z392
- When First My Shepherdess And I, Z431
- Through Mournful Shades, Z424
- If Music Be The Food Of Love (Second Version), Z379B
- Scarce Had The Rising Sun Appear'd, Z469
- Who But A Slave Can Well Express, Z440
- High On A Throne Of Glitt'ring Ore, Z465
- Incassum Lesbia, Incassum Rogas (The Queen's Epicedium), Z383
Amazon.com essential recording
Purcell fans will delight in this collection of 30 of his 85 secular songs. Barbara Bonney, singing with ease and controlled fervor, steals the recording with her endearing sound and impeccable musicianship. Soprano Susan Gritton brings a more dramatic perspective, singing with zest and a little edge that almost, but never quite, grates. Sometimes, however, she vibrates mildly out of control. Tenors Charles Daniels and Roger Covey-Crump sing with grace, joviality, and tenderness, but both are a little shallow throughout the bottom. Countertenor James Bowman occasionally stumbles with intonation, but always lands standing upright. This buffet of various voices captivates the listener's attention span, totally avoiding potential monotony. --Barbara Eisner BayerCustomer Reviews:
Purcell stole my heart.......2001-02-08
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Carmen (Sung in English)
Bizet , Bardon , Gavin , Plazas , Magee , and Parry Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B00007JGRN Release Date: 2003-03-11 |
Tracks:
- Prelude
- In The Plaza
- Just Look At That Delicious Morsel
- Here Come Our New Soldier Boys
- Jose! There Was A Girl Here Looking For You Just Now
- Off With You Old Soldier Boys
- Corporal! Sir!
- We Have Heard The Bell Summon Us To Meet Here
- Ah, Just Look!
- But Why Hasn't She Come, Our Carmencita?
- Love's A Bird Wild As Any Rebel
- Carmen! We Will Follow You High And Low!
- The Cheek Of It!
- Give Me News Of My Mother!
- Your Dear Mother And I Were Leaving Church This Morning
- I See My Mother's Face!
- Wait A Moment - I'm Going To Read The Letter
- Come And Help
- So, Corporal: Tell Me What Happened
- Well, Carmencita: What Do You Have To Say For Yourself?
- Where Are You Taking Me?
- There's An Old Bar In The City
- Careful - It's Lieutenant!
- Entr'acte
- From Far Away Mysterious Sounds
- Bravo, Bravo! More! Keep Dancing!
- Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
- Who's That? It's Escamillo, The Bullfighter From Granada
- Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
- You're Most Kind
- We'll Come With You, Senor Torero
- Toreador, Be Ready!
- At Last! We Got Rid Of Them As Quickly As We Could
- There's A Little Job That We're Starting!
- Being In Love Is Not A Reason
Tracks:
- To Bid You Welcome To Our Bar
- La La La La La La La La...
- Back To Camp!... Go At Once!
- That Flow'r You Threw To Me I Treasured
- No, It's Not Love At All!
- Hello! Carmen!
- Lieutenant Fair, It's True
- The Sky Above The Open Road
- Entr'acte
- Keep Going, Dear Old Friend, Kep Going!
- Right! Let's Stop For A While
- Shuffle! Cut Them!
- In Vain You Would Avoid The Bitter Things They're Saying
- You're Back!
- As For That Man, It Should Be Easy!
- Is This The Place?
- I Say That There's Nothing To Fear
- It's Him! I'm Sure It's Him Over There!
- Escamillo Is My Name, And I Come From Granada
- She Had A Lover Here
- Hola! Hola! Jose!
- You Should Take Care, Carmen
- Alas! Jose, Your Mother Is Ill
- Entr'acte
- A Few Cuartos! A Few Cuartos!
- Here They Come! Here They Come!
- If You Love Me, Carmen
- It's You! It's Me!
- Viva! Viva! What A Corrida!
Customer Reviews:
English is an asset and a drawback.......2004-07-20
Unfortunately, the performance suffers from being sung in English. The singers declaim their parts with such proper British diction that Carmen comes across as a school marm. The spoken dialog is delivered beat for deliberate beat and is dripping with reverb. It makes the plaza, tavern and mountain pass all sound like a sewer pipe.
This is a good first Carmen for someone trying to understand the work. The libretto itself is a good investment for further listening. For an enjoyable performance with an emphasis on character and action, I recommend Regina Resnik on the London Double Decker set.
You Will Love Opera After Hearing Carmen In English.......2004-02-09
The real strength of this version is the dynamic drama. With the advantage of being sung in English, we get better insight on characters' emotions and motives, and we understand the drama a lot better. Carmen is all about great drama. Bizet drew the plot from the French writer Prosper Merimee's dark short story. Carmen is the ultimate femme fatale- a devil-may-care, sexy Gypsy living in Spain, seduces the conservatively raised soldier Don Jose, stealing him away from his fiancee, the passive Micaela, living a life of underground smuggling and rowdy taverns. "Habanera" and "The Gypsy Song and Dance" are very expressive of Carmen's extraordinarily liberal lifestyle. Don Jose, however, has fallen deeply in love- as he shows us in his song/aria "The Flower Song". But Carmen soon becomes tired of his constancy. Don Jose wants a committed, monogamous relationship with Carmen. But Carmen will not submit to love, since she is first and foremost a carnal creature. Eventually, she falls for the handsome Toreador Escamillo. Don Jose, consumed by jealousy, stabs Carmen at a bullfight after Carmen declares her love for Escamillo and rejects Don Jose's love. Don Jose's crazed, obscessive personality shines through in the English version as well. This tragedy has been done in English before so don't think this is the first time. Back in the 50's, there was a film, starring black actors "Carmen Jones" which was treated the same way as this opera- more like an English Broadway musical and with the dubbed singing voice of Marilyn Horne as Carmen. All in all, this recording is excellent.
A wholly credible "Carmen" -- finally!.......2003-09-17
I love Carmen!.......2003-08-15
And what of this recording? Carmen sits well in English, so it is good to hear in translation, although some of the detais in the text jar. Escamillo refers to Jose as "my dear", which sounds rather peculiar, and the guide's line to Micaela: "it's not exactly inviting, is it?" sounds distinctly Middle England rather than Rural Spain. Some of the performers, not least Carmen herself, make the words work, although there are long tracts, especially with the chorus, where the language is distinctly indistinct.
The soloists are, by and large, strong. Patricia Bardon's deep, Handel-friendly voice adapts well to Carmen and she colours the music with phenomenal detail, sounding sexy and provocative from the start with an edge of pride and anger that emerges as the show goes on. She is out of her depth above the stave, though, and some extra top notes in the second act don't show her off to her best advantage. I have previously said that Julian Gavin is poorly served by recordings, though here he sounds much more even and gives a thrilling and musical performance (but his wooden spoken lines let him down). Mary Plazas is a lovely Micaela, rich-voiced and sincere (and word-perfect), but Garry Magee sounds miscast as Escamillo, lacking the ballast at the bottom of the voice to do justice to this tricky role.
The supporting cast is good (Mary Hegarty seems to do nothing but Frasquita these days!) but the really treasurable thing is the conducting. Stepping out of Italian Ottocento, David Parry turns his hand to this French Comedie with an appropriate lightness of touch. His pacing and handling of the set pieces is exemplary and the enrtractes go with a real swing.
A pleasure, then, for the Carmen naive or a novelty for the Carmen-acquainted. I nearly wrote Carmen-weary - but I don't think it's possible.
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Faust (Sung in English)
Gounod , Clarke , Miles , Plazas , Magee , and Parry Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B00006NSEC Release Date: 2002-11-26 |
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Dido and Aeneas / de Los Angeles, Glossop, Harper, ECO, Barbirolli
Henry Purcell , Sir John Barbirolli , John McCarthy , Victoria de Los Angeles , Peter Glossop , English Chamber Orchestra , Heather Harper , Patricia Johnson , Raymond Leppard , Ambrosian Singers , Sibyl Michelow , and Elizabeth Robson Manufacturer: EMI Records [All429] ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Purcell, Henry
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ASIN: B00002585D Release Date: 2000-10-24 |
Tracks:
- Ov - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
- Act One, Scene One: Shake The Cloud From Off Your Brow - Heather Harper
- Act One, Scene One: Banish Sorrow, Banish Care - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act One, Scene One: Ah! Belinda, I Am Prest With Torment - Victoria De Los Angeles
- Act One, Scene One: Grief Increases By Concealing - Heather Harper/Victoria De Los Angeles
- Act One, Scene One: When Monarchs Unite - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act One, Scene One: Whence Could So Much Virute Spring? - Victoria De Los Angeles
- Act One, Scene One: Fear No Danger To Ensure - Heather Harper/Elizabeth Robson/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act One, Scene One: See, Your Royal Guest Appears - Heather Harper/Peter Glossop/Victoria De Los Angeles
- Act One, Scene One: Cupid Only Throws The Dart - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act One, Scene One: If Not For Mine, For Empire's Sake - Peter Glossop
- Act One, Scene One: Pursue Thy Conquest, Love - Heather Harper
- Act One, Scene One: To The Hills And The Vales - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act One, Scene One: The Triumphing Dance - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
- Act One, Scene Two: Wayward Sisters - Patricia Johnson/Clare Walmesley
- Act One, Scene Two: Harms's Our Delight And Mischief All Our Skill - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act One, Scene Two: The Queen Of Carthage, Whom We Hate - Patricia Johnson/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act One, Scene Two: Ruin'd Ere The Set Of Sun? - Clare Walmesley/Sybil Michelow/Patricia Johnson/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act One, Scene Two: But, Ere We This Perform - Clare Walmesley/Sybil Michelow
- Act One, Scene Two: In Our Deep Vaulted Cell - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act One, Scene Two: Echo Dance Of Furies - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
- Act Two: Ritornelle - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
- Act Two: Thanks To These Lonesome Vales - Heather Harper/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act Two: Oft She Visits This Lov'd Mountain - Elizabeth Robson
- Act Two: Behold, Upon My Bending Spear - Peter Glossop/Victoria De Los Angeles
- Act Two: Haste, Haste To Town - Heather Harper/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act Two: Stay, Prince! And Hear Great Jove's Command - Sybil Michelow/Peter Glossop
- Act Three: Come Away, Fellow Sailors - Robert Tear/Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act Three: Sailors' Dance - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
- Act Three: See The Flags And Streamers Curling - Patricia Johnson/Clare Walmesley/Sybil Michelow
- Act Three: Our Next Motion Must Be To Storm Her Lover - Patricia Johnson
- Act Three: Destruction's Our Delight - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act Three: Witches' Dance - ECO/Sir John Barbirolli
- Act Three: Your Counsel All Is Urg'd In Vain - Victoria De Los Angeles/Heather Harper/Peter Glossop
- Act Three: Great Minds Against Themselves Conspire - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
- Act Three: Thy Hand, Belinda - Victoria De Los Angeles
- Act Three: When I Am Laid In Earth - Victoria De Los Angeles
- Act Three: With Drooping Wings - Ambrosian Singers/John McCarthy
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Sylvia McNair - The Echoing Air ~ The Music of Henry Purcell / AAM, Hogwood
Henry Purcell , The Academy of Ancient Music , Sylvia McNair , Christopher Hogwood , Laurence Dreyfus , and Paul O'Dette Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Purcell, Henry
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ASIN: B0000041BF Release Date: 1995-03-14 |
Tracks:
- Part I: Staircase: Overture
- Part I: If Music Be The Food Of Love
- Part I: Cebell
- Part I: To Arms, To Arms, Heroic Prince
- Part I: To Arms
- Part I: Tell Me, Some Pitying Angel
- Part I: Slow Air
- Part II: We Come To Sing
- Part II: Oh! Lead Me To Some Peaceful Gloom
- Part II: O Solitude
- Part II: Hark! Hark! The Echoing Air
- Part II: Trumpet Tune
- Part III: Sweeter Than Roses
- Part III: Fairest Isle
- Part III: She That Would Gain A Faithful Lover
- Part III: Cupid, The Slyest Rogue Alive
- Part III: I Attempt From Love's Sickness To Fly
- Part III: Jig
- Part IV: Music For A While
- Part IV: The Fatal Hour Comes On Apace
- Part IV: Hear, Mighty Love
- Part IV: Plainte: O, Let Me Weep
- Part IV: Chacony In G Minor
Amazon.com
The stars of this recording are Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music, entertaining us with rarely-heard instrumental pieces receiving their first modern performances with the endearing poignancy inherent in Purcell's music. McNair's gracile voice and accurate, easy-going coloratura capture the lyricism of Purcell's songs, but none of the subtext's vibrant passion. Emotional variety and vocal color are lacking when she repeatedly calls for Gabriel in "Tell Me, Some Pitying Angel." Still, McNair's light and pure soprano is enjoyable in small doses. When three or four plaintiff songs are programmed back to back, however, the monotony presents a fabulous opportunity to lull insomniacs back to sleep. --Barbara Eisner BayerCustomer Reviews:
Wonderful Surprise.......2006-01-01
One of my favorite CDs.......2003-01-12
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A Room With a View: Complete Recordings, Vol.1
Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000054BF6 Release Date: 2001-04-17 |
Tracks:
- This Year Of Grace: Dance, Little Lady
- This Year Of Grace: A Room With A View
- This Year Of Grace: Mary Make-Believe
- This Year Of Grace: Try To Learn To Love
- This Year Of Grace: Lorelei
- A Dream Of Youth (The Dream Is Over)
- Bitter Sweet: Zigeuner
- This Year Of Grace: World Weary
- Private Lives, Act 1, Love Scene: Someday I'll Find You
- Private Lives, Act 2, Scene: I Never Realised/If You Were The Only Girl In The World
- Half-Caste Woman
- Any Little Fish
- Cavalcade: Lover Of My Dreams (Mirabelle Valse)
- Cavalcade Vocal Medley: Soldiers Of The Queen/Goodbye Dolly Gray/Lover Of My Dreams/I Do Like To...
- Cavalcade, Epilogue: Toast To England
- Noel Coward Medley: Parisian Pierrot/Poor Little Rich Girl/A Room With A View/Dance Little Lady...
Customer Reviews:
The style is the man--and the song.......2001-05-02
Add to all this two classical scenes with Coward and co-star Gertrude Lawrence from his "Private Lives," incredibly valuable for those local drama groups who butcher this work in that this CD can teach them the tone and rhythms that are essential in making this classic succeed.
The subtitle of this set is "The Complete Recordings, Volume 1: 1928-1932." So we can look forward to future offerings featuring this fascinating composer-lyricist-performer. Thank you, Naxos, yet again.
Album Review:
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- Members of the Oceanclub
- Midnight Grooves: Delicious Bar Music
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- Mmale and Ffemale
- Mykonos 05: Mixed By Jamie Lewis & Rene S [Import]
Album Review
Beethoven: Piano Concertos No. 5 "Emperor"; Mozart: Fantasia, K. 397; Schumann: Arabesque, Op. 18
Bouliane: La Musique Du Réalisme Magique Vol. II
Black Rain [Soundtrack] [Import]
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