Here's my advice: the single CD of Tanz (hohepunkte) is a third of the magnificent score. If you get the double, it is absolutely thrilling. Outlandish! The score, as an organic whole, represented on the double recording, is the most lush thing I've heard in the last 30 thirty years of musical theatre. It goes from where Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita left off... jam-packed with melody and a moving operatic story. It's definitely better than Phantom (in my book) although Steinman was the first lyricist for Phantom, then had to leave for a Bonnie Tyler commitment. There is only the highlight (hohepunkte) CD and the Complete (der gesantaufnahme) - which are both from the original Vienna cast. There is no Broadway CD (thank heavens), but there are English demos with Steve Barton (the original and superior Count von Krolock). Tanz is currently running in Hamburg, and was still packing-them-in in Stuttgart while the Broadway season raged critics. Steinman did another musical abroad, GARBO, which I'm sure only a few of you would have heard of (it was not successful). He is working on Batman and Bat Out of Hell 2100 (according to what we fans have been told) and I hope it's just as phenonemal and intriguing as the complete work of Tanz der Vampire. For those who've seen the Broadway Tanz, consider you haven't seen the show at all! - because no one can really know this show unless they get the Vienna CD. Not even the Hamburg run is good - because they are constantly cutting out sections of the show to appease paying-time
Who can explain it, who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons, wise men never try
-South Pacific
