Posted: 7/8/20 at 11:02pm
Two years removed from the 2018 revival, I decided to give this album another listen today and I'm enjoying it a bit more than I did initially. The cut songs still baffle me, but what is here is lovely and the performances in particular feel different to me now than they did two years ago. Has anyone else given this album another listen recently?
Posted: 7/8/20 at 11:26pm
I've listened to this for Renee Fleming many times in the last couple of years. It's one of my favorite scores, but I don't love Jessie as Julie Jordan, especially when I am so accustomed to the Kelli O' Hara Lincoln Center concert (on dvd and I think PBS is re-airing it soon...) Joshua Henry sounds incredible as does Alexander Gemignani. Lindsay Mendez gave a brilliant performance when I saw it the couple times live, but I don't love her strict-soprano in general(But I do love her voice in general I should say.) All in all, it's a solid recording of a wonderful score.
Updated On: 7/8/20 at 11:26 PM
Posted: 7/9/20 at 12:37am
It isn't bad, but I don't love it. I really liked the 1994 Broadway cast, which seems almost a lot recording now because it has never been released as on MP3 (who own a CD player, anymore?). Put most of this recording together with the Dream Ballet from the 1993 London cast, and I think you have a wonderful program, even acknowledging cuts to The Carousel Waltz and no "The Highest Judge of All."
I love the original Decca release the best, but it's obviously very abbreviated, and most of the later recordings are pretty drab affairs (including John Raitt at Lincoln Center). Opera singers don't have the acting chops. Musical theater actors often don't have the vocal skills (Michael Hayden doesn't, either, but I enjoy his Billy a lot).
R&H's best score deserves a better recording history than this.
Posted: 7/9/20 at 7:12am
The 2018 cast album captures the two only great things about an otherwise misfire of a production. The vocals and orchestrations were gorgeous, which resulted in a great album that I still listen to regularly. As for the rest of the production... dreck.
Posted: 7/9/20 at 7:28am
CATSNYrevival said: "Two years removed from the 2018 revival, I decided to give this album another listen today and I'm enjoying ita bit more than I did initially. The cut songs still baffle me, but what is here is lovely and the performancesin particular feel different to me now than they did two years ago. Has anyone else given this album another listen recently?"
2018 cast recording is fine but not good. The orchestra is weak. Feels like some of the cast were doing what were beyond their capabilities.
My fav Carousel recording is the 1987 Studio Recording.
Posted: 7/9/20 at 9:14am
Complete 1994 recording *might or might not be* on Youtube....so I've heard.
Posted: 7/9/20 at 11:45am
I admit up front that I have never been a fan of Carousel, despite its having a number of GREAT songs and melodies (re the latter, the Carousel Waltz). I just found this recording lifeless. It was like no one was actually in the mood to record it. I only played it one time, and don't expect to play it again.
Posted: 7/9/20 at 11:47am
Trousers said: "Complete 1994 recording *might or might notbe* on Youtube....so I've heard."
Thank you!
Posted: 7/9/20 at 11:50am
Posted: 7/9/20 at 1:01pm
Posted: 7/9/20 at 3:50pm
I found myself taking more notice of Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations and the dance arrangements this time around. I like what they did with it.
Posted: 7/9/20 at 8:26pm
Posted: 7/9/20 at 9:19pm
The best version is Steven Pasquale and Laura Osnes in Chicago. However, this cast recording features Joshua Henry, one of the best performers currently on Broadway. His voice is absolutely stunning and the orchestrations are lovely. That's about it for this recording, though. Oh, and the artwork.
Posted: 7/9/20 at 9:53pm
Valentina3 said: "I personally find the 2018 album's If I Loved You/bench scene to be absolutely the best version of that song. There's not one thing wrong about it."
Agreed. I recently started listening to this album and I find the entire album to be lovely. Joshua and Jessie really deliver in this scene, such gorgeous voices.
Posted: 7/10/20 at 9:31pm
Posted: 7/10/20 at 10:51pm
I thought this cast recording was excellent upon my first listening. I find the orchestrations both delicate and muscular when they need to be, and the cast is vocally almost perfect. Jessie Mueller makes for a winsome yet determined Julie, and her singing is lovely and always in character. Joshua Henry is a sturdy Billy and, aside from some scooped notes in 'Soliloquy' that are jarring, I thought he was just fine. Leslie Mendez surprised me, because her go-for-the-laugh playing on TV performances didn't prepare me for her authoritatively placed vocalizing, and though Renee Fleming's 'You'll Never Walk Alone' isn't the best I've heard, she acts the part quite effectively. Oh, and I agree with Valentina3. I thought the bench scene was the best sung and best acted version that I've ever heard, and I've heard almost all of them. I love this recording.
Posted: 7/10/20 at 11:06pm
Amar Ramasar singing "The people who live inland / Are hard to understand / When you're lookin' for fun / They clap you into jail!" didn't age well.
Jokes aside, the Carousel Waltz is my favorite overture ever. You close your eyes and you can see the horses going up and down on the carousel.
Posted: 7/11/20 at 6:28pm
I love this recording, the production I just enjoyed. Any chance to hear this score I will take it. I love the "June is Bustin' Out All Over" on this album specifically. Might be my favorite recording of this show.
