Chess concert CD? — Page 2

I think Head at least does the role justice. His "Pity the Child" might be the most boring thing I've ever heard (I think some of that can be attributed to the production), but otherwise, he sings the role well and with a well-placed sarcastic edge.

I prefer Pascal by far as I'm a big Adam fan in the first place, coupled with the fact that he was my first Freddie, but I think Murray does a nice job. Adam brings a lot more anger and rage to the role, but Murray's interpretation is good as well.

I have the live Sweedish recording. Eh, it's okay, but I would have much rather had a recording of the Actor's Fund Concert! Dear Raúl, you are perfect except when you miss one freakin' cut off. That was awesome!

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Dear Raúl, you are perfect except when you miss one freakin' cut off.

What happened with Raul in the concert? I didn't notice any mistakes on his part.

Sutton sounded too young.

She definitely doesn't sound like the "typical" Svetlana, but I think it puts a new spin on the character. I think her innocent sound makes her character more likeable.

(BTW, I think I'm the one who sent you the concert on musicals.net )

Sutton sounded way too young. Emily Skinner would be my dream Svetlana.

BTW - I did not like the way the songs were arranged.

I love the Danish tour CR, with the opening of STORY OF CHESS. I mean, it makes so much more sense to explain the history of the game before the real action starts. It's also a nice prologue before BAM! Here we are in Merano.

I also miss SOVIET MACHINE.

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Though I wasn't in attendance, I have heard an unofficial recording of the show. FYI - Originally, Julia was supposed to be Svetlana and Lara Fabian (French popstar) was supposed to be Florence. For whatever reason, Lara bowed out and Julia was crunching in rehearsals inbetween voice-overs. Sutton was brought in last minute and actually delivers one of the more consistant performances.
though I am a fan of Groban from his studio recordings, without studio magic, the finesse just wasn't there. he had some good moments though. From all accounts, Julia had been cranking it out, but she sounded just fine to me. My favorite moment was when they did the "Whitney/Cissy" high-part in "I Know Him so Well." They blew the roof off.
I have to jump on the Raul bandwagon here as well. He was outstanding as the Arbiter. It made me wish he were Freddie. How awesome would that be!

Another fly in the ointment about the commercial recording of the show: Around the same time, Dave Clemmons was casting a concert of CHESS north of NYC, I think. There was talk of a full fledged revival at the time and that probably also scuttled any recording prospects. I ALSO heard that the ABBA guys would just wish people would get over Chess and move on.

I love this show though and would love to see it done well someday!

Josh Groban...lacking charisma?? I'm shocked.

Shocked.

sweetestsiren - it's also (mis-)placed late in ACT 2 on the OBC.

It just seems like he is being a complete ASS to Anatoly - whether or not he should be is, I suppose, a matter of interprestation - during the Interview (or Chess & Politics). Then, he asks for sympathy.

I prefer him asking for sympathy from Florence before she blows him off. Sort of makes his behavior in Act 2 more justifiable. (You know, he told her in Act 1 about his plight...and she left him still.)

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Exactly.

I also prefer STORY OF CHESS as the opening. I know it's cliché, to open a show with that "history lesson" - but it works best there.

In the benefit, they stuck it in snugly in Act 2. Right when tensions are high.

I know, it is to bring the Arbiter back. But, hey. Arbiter - Act 1. Svetlana - Act 2.

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I always envisioned, I guess, "THE STORY OF CHESS" as some sort of ballet on a Chess board as the story played out, ya know?

The music is so delicate.

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Updated On: 2/9/06 at 05:39 PM

Sorry, but Julia's pitch was consistently flat in her upper belt throughout. Very disappointing. Josh gave one of the finer vocal performances in the concert. And seeing how it was meant to be a concert, not a theatrical production, he was fine. I like Murney, but a couple of times, she was actually completely off-key. Get the Chess in Concert CD from Sweden. It's one of the finest recordings of the score AND it is sung in English. The Danish recording may be the most complete, but they skimped on the orchestrations and some of the voices are rather annoying. I'm not a huge fan of the book changes for the Danish version either. The story changes focus often and ends with Florence singing a reprise of Anthem leaving me wondering whose story was really being told. By far the most baffling rewrite to date.

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I guess Chess will never have the perfect book.

It depends on which story the director wants to be told.

Florence is the only consistant character throughout the show, really. She is the one who suffers repeatedly, so to speak. I've always seen it as her story. Sort of an interesting take as the "STORY OF A CHESS SECOND."

sweetestsiren - I agree with the lyric idea. Maybe having a reprise later on, though, would further stregnthen the idea is the lyrics are also sung at the top of the show?

Then again, I've always seen the game of Chess as a metaphor for the love story and political story...which was, I'm sure, the intent.

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Updated On: 2/9/06 at 06:24 PM