binau said: "joevitus said: "Listening to that track, I still think her voice is wrong for the role. Was hoping--readingall the love from those who've seen the show--that the recording would show some development from her concert rendition of "Rose's Turn" demonstrating she could mold her voice to the material. Apparently, that never happened."
I'm a little surprised that you would think her voice sounds wrong in a song like 'Together, Wherever We Go". Likewise for "Small World" and "You'll Never Get Away From Me" - I didn't really think these were the controversial songs. Same for Bernadette's performance I didn't think people have an issue with her in these songs, it's more the big 3: "Some People", "Coming Up Roses" and "Rose's Turn".
For me, I started tofeelin safe hands when Audra first sang the note "aliveeee" in 'Some People' and a hundred and 'fiveeeeeee'. I assume it'll come through on the recording but if you listen to her 'Fiveeeee' it sounds like someone with a low, voluminous voice subtly belting the same kind of way Marin Mazzie might have not someone like Kelli O'Hara singing soprano head voice in 'Bridges' or 'The King and I'. (though there are some notes in the song, such as the blueberry pie and hey LA I"m coming your way that start to feel a little higher or soprano-like than people are used to that might take them out a little...only to return to her strong low last note).
In 'Coming Up Roses' some absolutely ferocious notes......e.g. after the (admittedly too high) curtain up, light the lights lines it goes back down to "I can TELLLLLLLL wait and SEEEEEEE, There's the BELLLLLL, FOLLOW MEEEE" it sounds like a hurricane. And the ending of the song it sounds like she is simultaneously straining every ounce of power out of her voice so it has this kind of husky quality while still delivering on pitch etc. I find it thrilling.
Also did anyone know that Bernadette's Gypsy had a 20 year reunion recently???
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I've honestly been trying to think it through, and the best I have to explain my reaction is that her legit soprano sounds too cultured for Rose. She conveys class, which Rose has none of. I cant totally square this with my great enjoyment of her Lizzie in 110 in the Shade, but that role is meant for a soprano to begin with, and Lizzie, while a woman from a small Western town, is a woman who is cultured for her region and considers herself a "lady." Rose is not that at all. She's course, she's without much finesse, and she's blunt. And McDonald's voice doesn't convey any of that, at all.