CHESS 2025 Broadway Cast Recording Thread — Page 4

Live is usually a better experience, but I am absolutely loving the CLARITY and vibes of this cast recording. I saw the show in the middle of previews so they were probably still working on the sound mixing because I understood ZERO of the group number lyrics. Lea, of course, was crystal clear, but seemed like her mike was toned down. Or maybe the orchestra and the ensemble were that loud.

Anyway, super happy with this album and I give it an A+++. Seeing the show again on the 29th and hoping the sound mixing is much better.

scripps said: "Agree 100% with malcs98. I saw Chess in previews and was impressed by Tveit but knew in time adjustmentswould be made and he'd finesse this score to his strengths, and that was definitely the case when I made a return visit in February. Honestly, I was damn impressed—I've been hard on Tveit in the past—and wish that voiceon that nightwaswhat I was hearing on this new recording.

And I am shocked people are willingly listening to "He is a Man, He is a Child." I blocked that on Spotify as soon as this album dropped ;)"

you weren't an ABBA child of the 70s were you? I'm happily listening to it for the Frida vibes.

Personally, I think Tveit absolutely shines on this album. I've been "meh" on him for a long time, but his performance in Chess is by far and away my favorite in the production, and I think he sounds actually pretty brilliant here. His "Pity the Child" is definitely the weakest vocal moment for him, but I think it's still quite thrilling and especially so when you see him act the hell out of it in the theater. A random moment that stood out to me for him was "The Interview" -- he spits out those high notes so effortlessly and the grit makes it fascinating to listen to. It's overall a really great album, I think, and will be a goto for me for a while.

Been listening to this a fair bit. Are my ears playing tricks, or is there some noticeable auto-tune on Christopher's voice in Anthem at the 2:47 mark? Seemed really odd to me, and now I can't unhear it.

I'm sure it's just me, but is any one else shocked by how much Michele sounds like Idina. She launched into "Press Conference" and I thought I was accidentally playing the 2008 concert...

LYLS3637 said: "I'm sure it's just me, but is any one else shocked by how much Michele sounds like Idina. She launched into "Press Conference" and I thought I was accidentally playingthe 2008 concert..."

No, ma'am. Most of Idina's songs were my least favorite (can't listen to her Nobody's Side an IKSW). Second least favorite was Miss Elaine's 😬🫢)

Lot666 said: "It irks methat the "Anthem" file on YouTube starts awkwardly in mid-note. Can anyone tell me whetherthe files on other platforms dothis as well?"



For me the YouTube file starts correctly. Very precisely at the beginning though. There was a time when every track on an album had 2 seconds of silence before the music..

Maybe check if your browser/player does some buffering before it starts playing? Do the other tracks work?

Lot666 said: "Mary_Poppins said: "Lot666 said: "It irks methat the "Anthem" file on YouTube starts awkwardly in mid-note. Can anyone tell me whetherthe files on other platforms dothis as well?"

For me the YouTube file starts correctly. Very precisely at the beginning though. There was a time when every track on an album had 2 seconds of silence before the music..

Maybe check if your browser/player does some buffering before it starts playing? Do the other tracks work?"

I appreciate the reply, but it's not a buffering issue. The YouTube file always starts abruptly in the middle of the orchestra note that immediately precedes the first lyric("No man..."). All of the other tracks in the album are fine."

Sorry, sounded to me like you meant just half of the very first note of the instrumental intro is cut off.

But I now may have found the solution.

Are you listening to this one? That has the exact problem you described.:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMJvNrp9bEg&list=RDyMJvNrp9bEg&start_radio=1

Try either this

Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus & Tim Rice - CHESS the Musical (2025 Broadway Cast Recording) (Full Album) - YouTube

or this

CHESS the Musical (2025 Broadway Cast Recording) - YouTube

Mary_Poppins said: "Try either this

Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus & Tim Rice - CHESS the Musical (2025 Broadway Cast Recording) (Full Album) - YouTube

or this

CHESS the Musical (2025 Broadway Cast Recording) - YouTube"

Thanks, I'll check these later today!

UPDATE: Thanks for your help with this, Mary_Poppins - fixed!

Updated On: 4/15/26 at 07:53 AM

schubox said: "Been listening to this a fair bit. Are my ears playing tricks, or is there some noticeable auto-tune on Christopher's voice in Anthem at the 2:47 mark? Seemed really odd to me, and now I can't unhear it."



I still haven't listened to the whole recording, even after seeing the show. I went to the song and time you posted and yes, there is something noticeable but I don't think it is auto-tune. I think it is just a voice inflection. But to someone listening closely as you evidently do, and so do I, I can see how you can't unhear it!

TaffyDavenport said: "uncageg said: "schubox said: "Been listening to this a fair bit. Are my ears playing tricks, or is there some noticeable auto-tune on Christopher's voice in Anthem at the 2:47 mark? Seemed really odd to me, and now I can't unhear it."



I still haven't listened to the whole recording, even after seeing the show. I went to the song and time you posted and yes, there is something noticeable but I don't think it is auto-tune. I think it is just a voice inflection. But to someone listening closely as you evidently do, and so do I, I can see how you can't unhearit!"

It's an intentional vocal technique that's meant to be heard.Tommy Körberg and David Carroll both do it on their recordings, but on the word "around," not "land's." I don't know the technical term for it, but I'm sure that someone else here does."

He must have only done it for the recording then, cause I saw it again back in June and was listening very closely for it and the same sound did not appear. And I've seen some bootlegs and it's not there earlier. It really sounds like an autotune/computery voice to me