Posted: 1/28/18 at 2:19pm
Although I loved Hadestown, seeing it twice at the NYTW, I have only recently listened to the (live) original cast recording. It is far and away my favorite OCR in quite a while, and I don't understand how it could have not been nominated for the musical theater GRAMMY category. I loved both Dear Evan Hansen, and Hello, Dolly!, but don't think those OCRs are nearly as vibrant and rich as Hadestown's. Anyone know what happened?
Some of the songs feel even more powerful now than during the NYTW production, including "Why We Build the Wall," (sending shudders down my spine), and, during "Hey, Little Songbird" (I think), while Eurydice is "in a meeting" with Hades, Hermes discussing how "you never know what goes on behind closed doors," clangingly resonant with #metoo.
A great job was done producing this beautiful recording, wisely recorded live. I hope the show has more life beyond the Edmonton production, though I'm curious about some of the cast replacements. I thought Damon Daunno as Orpheus, and Chris Sullivan as Hermes, were both fantastic. Anyone know why they were replaced for Edmonton?
