Best Recoridng of Evita and Jekyll & Hyde!??

[philly03]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:05pm

This are two complete random, practically unrelated shows, but I've seen posts about all the different Les Miserables ones, just curious on everyone elses opinions.

Out of the 5 for Evita, which is your favourite?
-1976 Studio Cast Recording (with Julie Covington)
-1977 Original London Cast Recording (with Elaine Paige)
-1978 Original Broadway Cast Recording (with Patti LuPone)
-1996 Film Soundtrack (with Madonna and Antonio Banderas)
-2006 London Revival Cast (with Elena Roger & feat. Philip Quast)

Out of the 4 for Jekyll & Hyde?
-1990 Original Concept Album (Colm Wilkinson + Linda Eder)
-1994 Complete Work Concept Album (Linda Eder + Anthony Warlow)
-1997 Original Broadway Cast (Robert Cuccioli, Linda Eder, & Christiane Noll)
-2006 Ressurection/Concert Cast (Rob Evans)


And why was that your favourite?
Updated On: 10/18/07 at 09:05 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:09pm

Evita: 1978 OBCR. Patti LuPone is the only things that makes things show tolerable to me. And Madonna's voice sounds like was born from a synthsizer.


J&H: 1997 OBCR: Maybe I'm just a sucker for OBCRs, but this is also my favorite recording of this show, although the 1990 concept album comes in a close second. I loooove Colm WIlkinson.

[jake6970]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:11pm

I like the orchestrations and supporting cast of the London Evita, but I HATE the Eva.

[philly03]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:13pm

Evita:

I love the Original Broadway Cast, and I'm trying to get the one with Elaine Paige. I honeslty didn't like the 2006 Revival Cast...I didn't think the updates were that great and Elena's accent is too much sometimes, even if it is authentic (haha).

Jekyll:
I've actually only listened to the Original Broadway Cast which is amazing. I heard that the 2006 Resurection Cast wasn't too great, except for Rob Evans who was the understudy in the OBC.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:19pm

-1978 Original Broadway Cast Recording (with Patti LuPone)

-1994 Complete Work Concept Album (Linda Eder + Anthony Warlow)

Though, honestly, I listen to Jekyll on my mp3 player with most of the 1994 complete work, but with some OBC tracks thrown in to replace some of the gross orchestrations from the complete work CD. Most notably "Dangerous Game".

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:28pm

I agree with Cats.

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:43pm

For Evita, a lot of it, for me at least, has to do with the cast a lot more than the recording itself. Personally, my least favorite is the OLCR, since I think Elaine Paige's voice is totally wrong for the part. It is definitely brash, but I think for the bigger songs, that brashness oversteps its boundaries. I cannot stand her "Buenos Aires." The Concept Cast with Julie Covington is pretty good; Julie is phenomenal in my opinion. (Her parts in "A New Argentina" are so fierce, though the song as a whole is far less impressive than on subsequent recordings.) My only complaint is that the orchestrations are pretty much inferior to all the other albums. It's interesting to hear the earlier arrangements but like, the wailing guitars in the Requiem? I don't think so...
I would cross out the movie soundtrack too, just because Madonna's vocal portrayal standing alone is so weak, and for me Antonio Banderas is just awkward. :-S
That leaves the London Revival and the Original Broadway. My final vote goes to the OBCR. Patti is fantastic, even if the recording doesn't truly reflect her "screaming" portrayal according to many; of course that is a good thing! I also like the rest of the cast, and I believe that the orchestrations are best here, even though I still love the "Buenos Aires" on the 2006 London Revival CR, with the added percussion and its lack of the middle dialogue, making it a straight instrumental section. All in all, Broadway's my favorite.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:50pm

For Jekyl & Hyde, hands down the 1994 Comple Work Concept CD. They butchered it when it went to broadway. And luckily, I got to see the show before it got to New York with the complete score. And it was wonderful.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:52pm

Ah, if only we had a Hasselhoff recording of J/H.

Hee Hee

[sparrman]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:04pm

Interesting that Colm Wilkinson is on the original recordings of both these shows.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:06pm

Evita - 78 with Patti

Jekyll and Hyde - 94 with Anthony Warlow (you will not be dissappointed!!!)

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:08pm

While "Evita" with Patti is basically essential listening, the concept recording with Julie Covington is defintely worth hearing once at least. I find her so exciting, personally.

[theactorsociety]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 10:26pm

I'm the odd man out who goes for Madonna, probably because it was my first wiff of Evita, and the Ressurection cast rocks my world. Their performances on the CD are Crazy!!!

[grnsmwhr]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 11:34pm

I have the movie version of Evita myself as I saw the movie first. I have the 1997 Jekyll and Hyde-will have to check out 1994.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 11:45pm

Evita and Jekyll and Hyde, oh my!

Um...Evita wise, I actually made a comp between Covington, LuPone and Madonna...

Jekyll & Hyde is HANDS DOWN the 1994 album.

[musical_devotee]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 1:14am

EVITA

I have a hard time deciding between the 1976 Studio Cast Recording (with Julie Covington) and 1978 Original Broadway Cast Recording (with Patti LuPone. The Studio Cast recording is the most complete of all and I love those bits that were omitted later (like Eva's sonnet and the second verse in Lament). Julie Covington is a great vocalist; however she hardly acts the role. When she finished Lament it sounded as if she was thinking 'What am I supposed to do now, like, die?' I also like the orchestrations played by the London Philharmonics.

Patti remains definite Eva for me: exquisite voice and great acting. However, I never did like Mandy Patinkin's Che; his voice is just not my cup of tea. But the recording stands out for Patti alone.

As for Elaine Paige, despite the fact I love her very much, I also tend to agree that recording is not among best things she has done. Her voice just sounds too thin. I think she was much better in Cats, Chess, and Sunset Boulevard. Not to mention the fact that recording has the most minimalistic orchestrations.

I saw the 2006 revival in London and Elena Roger is indeed a welcome refreshment, even though she struggled a bit with the high notes. But the biggest drawback of the recording, like the original London one, is the fact it's only highlights. The new orchestrations with Latino flavor sound great.

I have never been much of a Madonna fan, yet I really liked the movie. She didn't have Patti's pipes of course, but the movie got a fine adaptation from stage to screen and the right mood and pretty good casting, unlike The Phantom of the Opera. Plus the epic orchestrations are wonderful.

JEKYLL AND HYDE

I have the 1994 Concept album and the 1997 Broadway one and vote for the former all the way. The cast is so much better on that one, as are the orchestrations. Not to mention the fact that some great songs were completely cut from the Broadway version. For me it's a fine proof how to butcher a decent musical.

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 4:10am

AH. I'm OBSESSED with the new London Cast Recording of Evita, though I do wish it was the complete score. Elena Roger is breathtaking and the orchestrations are beautiful. I think its super fantastic.

I also agree that the '94 complete recording of Jekyll is the best, mostly because its well, complete, and because of the fantastic voice of Anthony Warlow. Though the Broadway recording is better for some of the ensemble numbers and Eder's solos.