CHESS 2025 Broadway Cast Recording Thread- Page 4

[Ball of Buttah]

Posted: 4/10/26 at 6:44pm

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]

Posted: 4/10/26 at 6:54pm

Agree 100% with malcs98. I saw Chess in previews and was impressed by Tveit but knew in time adjustments would 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 voice on that night was what 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 ;)

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 4/10/26 at 7:09pm

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.

[binau]

Posted: 4/11/26 at 3:09am

I can hear that Aaron doesn’t quite have the rock edge to his voice that someone like Adam Pascal would bring to this role, but I still find the texture of his vocals and timbre to be extremely unique and pleasant singing this score. 

[FightTheDragons]

Posted: 4/11/26 at 3:30am

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.

[bryan2]

Posted: 4/11/26 at 9:50am

Sadly Aaron is the weakest link in this chain. His solo are weak and his vocals range doesnt really cut it singing these type of songs. He is a great singer but rock-ish type of songs are not in his wheelhouse at all. One Night in ,,.is slow and dull and his Pity the child doesnt really reach the depth that others (castoff especially) have. The rest of the cast is special. Lea is perfect here (In an a huge Judy Kuhn fan so I have to black out her voice in my head lol) and Hannah is great, Christopher is fantastic as good as David Carroll was he meets the extremely high bar that was set!

Love this new recording 

[schubox]

Posted: 4/12/26 at 8:20pm

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.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 4/12/26 at 11:02pm

This is a very well produced recording. It sounds beautiful. I much prefer the voices of Adam Pascal and Josh Groban. The juxtaposition of Pascal's rough punk-rock fueled voice with Groban's operatic voice adds something special to the score for me. With that being said, I would love to see and hear much more of Nicholas Christopher. He is truly a talent to be reckoned with.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 4/14/26 at 12:04pm

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...

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/14/26 at 12:09pm

This recording is so vibrant!  In comparison, the Ragtime recording is kind of muted (IMO).  Don't know how else to explain it.

[Ball of Buttah]

Posted: 4/14/26 at 1:56pm

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]

Posted: 4/14/26 at 3:08pm

It irks me that the "Anthem" file on YouTube starts awkwardly in mid-note. Can anyone tell me whether the files on other platforms do this as well?

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 4/14/26 at 4:00pm

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]

Posted: 4/14/26 at 5:01pm

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. 

 

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 4/15/26 at 2:38am

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

 

[jazzicat]

Posted: 4/15/26 at 4:23am

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 ;)"

The song is annoying, but we love Hannah Cruz and when she is doing with the role! 

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/15/26 at 7:53am

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