Antonio Banderas

[Nancy Girl]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 6:18pm

I just heard he is going to be on the new Michael Ball cd. Who the heck is Michael Ball?

[Cadriel]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 6:23pm

Michael Ball is the original London Marius in Les Misérables. He's featured on the Original London Cast Recording, the Complete Symphonic Recording, and the Tenth Anniversary Concert Recording. He stars notably on the Aspects of Love Original London Cast Recording. He does a lot of concerts in the UK, and solo CDs and such. I liked him in the Andrew Lloyd Webber: A Celebration concert DVD. Haven't seen any of his work live.

-Wayne

[DofB5]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 6:31pm

Ahhh Nancy Girl, Michael Ball is a British singer/actor who was the original Marius in Les Miserables and more recently, Caractacus in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang among other roles.

IMHO, He has a simply to die for voice. I would highly recommend you giving him a listen so you can decide for yourself if you like him or not. I honestly don’t think you will be disappointed.

Cheers!

D

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 6:33pm

While his voice is to die for, his vibrato could kill you. Anyways, I also suggest you give him a listen, I like him (with the exception of his vibrato). He does a really nice job of vocally acting out the material he is singing, which I really like. He's pretty darn good.

[sharon1]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 7:21pm

ick up one of his cd's. Centre Stage would be a good beginning. He has an awesome voice. Brings a real passion to each song

[dotmarie]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 7:26pm

I like him, he's great. What a voice. Love him as Marius. I should really try and get one of his CDs.

[DofB5]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 7:38pm

One? I believe you will find his CD's are like potato chips–you can’t stop at just one. LOL!

D

[dotmarie]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 7:41pm

LOL, maybe I shouldn't get one then. I'm broke and can't afford anything, but what else is new.

But then...I don't even like potato chips. Does that change anything? LOL

[jo]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 7:47pm

Check out the thread on CHITTY'S MICHAEL BALL new CD -

He's a British musical theatre performer ( Les Miserables, Phantom, Aspects of Love, Passion and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and concert performer who has a great voice. He reprised the lead role in Aspects of Love on Broadway in the early 90's.....I would suggest two of his musicals albums ( The Musicals and Centre Stage - Amazon), his Royal Albert Hall concert DVD, as well as the Les Mis 10th Anniversary Concert DVD and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Celebration DVD, if you want to discover this Brit talent.

He shared a dressing room with Antonio when they did the CELEBRATION event together and had recently presented a second BBC Radio Broadway series which included NINE... The story goes that the duet with Antonio was supposed to have originally been recorded on the night of the recent blackout.

Jo

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 8:16pm

Michael Ball's new CD is previewed right here on Broadwayworld.com in "upcoming cds." There are links to Amazon UK and Dess Circle for purchasing the CD as well as to Mr. Ball's web site.

[DofB5]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 8:26pm

Thanks for keeping us up to date and informed, Chris!

Here's a question for you--I think that record companies do track the areas where a CD/DVD are sold, right? So in the long run, if I order direct from England, am I cutting my nose off to spite my face so to speak? What I mean is by giving England credit for buying Mr. B's CD does it makes it look like he has less fans here in the states? Or do they track where the sales point of origin is?

D Updated On: 10/14/03 at 08:26 PM

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 10:19pm

Hey Dof,

I can only make a guess, but I would think that it depends upon the retailer. Amazon UK, for example, is a huge retailer and I am sure that its computer data-gathering capabilities are stunningly sophisticated. I would bet that they could take any CD, DVD, or book and break down the origin-of-purchase locations, including foreign purchases, in great detail. Even a smaller retailer like Dress Circle probably can gather such statitics at will. Now, does that make American retailers realize that an artist is popular in the States and that they might benefit from carrying his products? That's the depends. With a company like Amazon, quite possibly. Since Amazon.com (USA) is privy to the sales data from Amazon.co.uk, they are likely to notice such trends and act accordingly. With a smaller retailer like Dress Circle that has no US counterpart, probably not.

HOWEVER.....Probably the best way to beef up a USA retailer's confidence in an artist, as you suggest, is to buy from that retailer. Remember that you can always go to your local record store and ask them to order it rather than ordering it yourself from one of the UK retailers. (Less convenient though that would be.)

Now, I must say that this has all been a huge pile of conjecture and may be entirely wrong and possibly even mentally damaging to those who read it!

Posted: 10/14/03 at 10:39pm

His live cd versoin with Prepare Ye and Gethsemanie is one of the best versions of that song.

and I absolutely love love love his Vaults of Heaven from the LLoyd Webber DVD

[kec]

Posted: 10/15/03 at 1:30am

I agree Jon, that performance, which can be found on Michael Royal Albert Hall DVD (The Best of Michael Ball in Concert) was just stunning. The expressions on his face during Gethsemane made me think as though he were actually in the Garden at that time.

Nancy, if you can get your hands on the video or DVD of the Andrew LLoyd Webber birthday Celebration, you can see Michae do four of ALW's songs -- Gethsemane, Vaults of Heaven, All I Ask of You (duet with Sarah Brightman) and his signature song, Love Changes Everything. As you probably know, Antonio is also on this video, performing songs from Evita and one song from Phantom of the Opera.

I can only reiterate what Jo, DofB5 and the others have said. He is an extremely gifted performer with a wonderful voice. I recently heard a "preview" of the duet with Antonio, thanks to a BBC2 radio interview Michael did, and the song is wonderful. I hadn't heard of him either before I saw him in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and am very glad I went to see that show.

Updated On: 10/15/03 at 01:30 AM

[Lori]

Posted: 10/15/03 at 11:25am

I've had the opportunity to hear the BBC2 preview of the duet as well. I agree with KEC, it's fantastic. Michael and Antonio have great chemistry and they are obviously having fun with "Me and My Shadow"

You should take the advice of others here Nancy Girl and pick up some of Michael's recordings or Video performances. I discovered him just last year on the Les Mis TAC video. Not only does he have an amazing voice, he's an incredibly engaging live performer.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 10/15/03 at 11:29am

Actually, I think the 'musical theater' style of doing 'Gethsemane' (i.e. Michael Ball/Crawford) is horrid. It's a rock song and if you can't sing the rock part, don't sing the song. People complain about rock singers butchering show tunes, how about theater singers butchering rock tunes!

[DofB5]

Posted: 10/15/03 at 7:01pm

I'm afraid I have to respectfully disagree with you, John. I don’t think the song is “ruined” by either Mr. B or Mr. C. But of course, that’s IMHO. I’m in awe when I hear Mr. C. hold that one note for almost forever.

I’m also not saying anything new when I say I feel that there are certain “Power words/phrases” that I think everyone misses out on. I’ve gone thru this before so I won’t repeat the whole thing.

I’ll just use one example:

Can you tell me NOW, that I would not be killed in vain. “NOW” should be sung with thunder.

D

[kec]

Posted: 10/16/03 at 3:47am

I also have to disagree with you John. I have never seen the song sung with as much emotion as Michael Ball does in his Royal Albert Hall concert dvd. His passion as he goes through the doubts that his death would do any good, culminating in that one climatic note, is simply awesome.

Basically it's all a matter of interpretation, and to me both Michael B and Michael C do a fine job in their interpretations.

[Inspires!]

Posted: 10/16/03 at 6:30am

Michael's voice is superb, but his latest album to be released featuring Antonio Banderas on the last track 'Me And My Shadow' duet is nothing short of absurd!
Antonio sounds like he did in 'Evita' proving that he is unable to hold notes in the correct way.
This was a terrible move on Mr Ball's album 'A Love Story' and ends a beautiful heart felt piece of work into a comical ending! Yes, all relationships when they finalise have different outcomes, but this is simply dire!
Next time Michael, elect your musical duet with more caution, because you and your voice can request the pick of the crop! Updated On: 10/16/03 at 06:30 AM

Posted: 10/17/03 at 6:39am

I have to respectfully disagree with you Inspires.I have also heard the track played on radio last weekend and it came across as a fun,big old finale number to end the Cd with.I assume from your post you have already heard the whole Cd,I haven't yet(only clips and certain tracks already played on radio).Will have to wait for release day on Monday but I imagine from the material listed that it will be an emotion packed Cd.I think it is good idea to give the Cd a structured storyline (telling the story of a love affair from begining to end and then eventually getting back out there again -hence the Me and My Shadow track-).I'm not saying Antonio Banderas has the best or strongest voice in the world but you can hear the fun that was had during the recording of it and imo after all those emotional tracks,it is right that the cd ends in such a upbeat manner.


Updated On: 10/17/03 at 06:39 AM

[Poodle]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 7:56am

If you're a fan who loves whatever Michael Ball does regardless, then you're going to applaud this cd. I would say it falls far short of his best. The Banderas track is little more than a joke. The rest of the material - we've heard it all by bigger stars before. I have heard the full cd, although brief soundclips are also online giving a taste of songs. The material offers nothing new or exciting. I think most people will find this cd very dull. Michael Ball is an excellent live performer but his cds lack his on stage sparkle. You have to be heavily into vibrato and preferably a "loyal at all costs" fan to love this latest cd.

Posted: 10/17/03 at 9:04am

No Cd is ever going to appeal to everyone.
I thought the 'Me and my shadow'track worked well and believe me if I hadn't,I wouldn't be afraid to say so.
The musical arrangment and production sounds great to.

[Poodle]

Posted: 10/17/03 at 1:09pm

Sorry Ria, my post above was intended generally. I wasn't getting at you there. :)

[kec]

Posted: 10/18/03 at 8:00am

Regarding the fact that the songs on this cd were originally done by others -- not a problem as far as I'm concerned. They will be new to me, as I have never heard of most of these songs -- Time in a Bottle, a big favorite of mine, being the exception. I have very much enjoyed Michael's rendtions of other favorite songs, so am especially looking forward to this song.

Sorry, but to assume that others will find it boring is just a bit presumptious.

[DofB5]

Posted: 10/18/03 at 9:18am

The fact that some of the songs were done before means nothing to me as well.

To be 100% honest, there are songs on CD's by every one of the Michaels that I don't care for as much as others. I don't know about you but it's rare to get a CD that EVERY song touches me or catches my ear and I want to hear it over and over.

The ones that do get put into MP3 formst and are on my computer or I make my own CD of favorites, the rest stay on the CD safe in case I change my mind at some future time. And that can happen too. Sometimes a song strikes me wrong the first time around and later (for what ever reason) it hits me that "Hey, I LIKE that" and the CD lives again.

I'm still torn about ordering this newest one from England or trying to wait and see it I can get it local. I want the record company to know that there ARE fans here in Florida/the US and I want us (the US fans) to get credit for buying his music so he'll come over here!

D