Kiss of the Spider Woman Cast Recording

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 9:40pm

yay or nay?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 9:43pm

Both recordings are great. I prefer the OBC. SImply Divine. I also enjoy the Williams disc, but Chits will always be the ultimate Aurora/Spider Woman.

Both recordings are must haves. A dark, energetic, innovative score.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 11:01pm

I asked for this and Parade for Christmas and they are coming in tomorrow cause we ordered it earlier this week. I've been waiting a week and a half to get theis, I'm so excited

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 11:08pm

The thing about the OCR of Kiss of the Spider Woman is that it feels so absolutely essential to me. I mean, if I'm listing my favorite cast recordings, it isn't on the list but it's still one of the most important recordings I own. It's hard to explain. Even if you have a passing, slight, teeny-tiny admiration for Chita Rivera, you need it. And if you don't even have that, I'll be damned if this doesn't turn you into a fan.

I recommend the OCR to any and everyone and if you end up loving it, get the 1994 recording, too. I've sort of fallen in love with it; I think it's probably Brian Stokes Mitchell's fault.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 11:09pm

Chita's version of the title song is absolutely STUNNING.

Worth the price of the CD.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 11:21pm

You guys are killing me. I cant wait any longer, I am in complete standby for a new cd. I havent gotten a new cd since.....see I cant even remember how long and thats when you know its bad.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 11:24pm

I second that emotion, ljay. Williams' work on the second disc is good, but Chita is fierce. Nobody does the title song like she does.

And C, it's worth the wait. You will likely be glued to your cd player as soon as you get it.

It's one of those rare recordings (Parade too) that is so theatrical, you are transported.
Updated On: 12/25/05 at 11:24 PM

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 11:28pm

Whoa what timing, I just got the 1994 recording of this today as a gift, lol. Haven't listened to it yet, but with both Brian Stokes Mitchell & Howard McGillin I know I'll enjoy it.

[AAO26]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 11:42pm

yay- for the OCR..Chita is truly amazing in this recording..her voice is perfect for the score..

vannesa. w. has a beautiful voice but she doesnt bring the darkness required by the role..to the recording..

chitas delivery of the title song is chilling..

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 12:02am

I think there have been a couple threads on this, but they were a while ago so they're probably hard to find. I personally think it's worth getting both recordings as "Spider Woman" has, IMO, one of the best scores of modern musical theater, and the trio of leads on each recordings are very different.

I personally prefer Vanessa Williams as the Spider Woman/Aurora, as Chita Rivera sounds well, too old (although I'm sure she was thrilling onstage). Williams' rendition of the title song is also just...perfect. Howard McGillin, my favorite tenor EVER, sings wonderfully as Molina, but there's something about Brent Carver's vocals that despite being less technically impressive, seem more appropriate for the character. And although Anthony Crivello does well as Valentin, no one can match Brian Stokes Mitchell.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 1:11am

I got the William's recording first... and for some reason, I kind of prefer it.

Williams has really smooth vocals, which I think work for most of Aurora's songs. Chita does sound a bit aged on the recording, which I'm afraid don't work for me, at least on the CD (Again, I'm sure she was STUNNING onstage and completely deserving of the Tony). Except her version of the title song IS the definite version (and her age gives her the edge over William's too-smooth interpretation).

Carver's voice has never really done it for me, but he emotes so well.. which is why he keeps on getting work. He's a true actor.

McGillin sounds PERFECT on the recording, but I'm sure Carver was more effective onstage.

I've never been too thrilled about Crivello.. his vocals are always a little too harsh for my liking.

And Mitchell... he is my demigod.
"When I close my eyes, and hear her steps, and I know she's come to HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD MEEEEEE!!!"...
'Nough said there.

They are both essential for, I believe, a complete collection.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 5:37am

It was June, 1994, when Vanessa achieved a long-cherished goal...her starring debut on Broadway. She took the theatrical commuity by storm in “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” replacing Chita Rivera in the dual role of Aurora -- the movie goddess who inhabits the fantasies of a prisoner -- and the angel of death Spider Woman in the hit musical based on the Oscar-winning film of the same name. Vanessa was credited with boosting ticket sales for the Tony Award-winning production and her performance won critics over, with reviews that ranged from “an irresistibly alluring temptress” to the New York Times’ rave: “Whenever she’s on stage, the temperature in the Broadhurst Theatre shoots up about 20 degrees.” Newsweek proclaimed: “Even when she becomes the lethal Spider Woman, any sensible fly would want to scuttle to the center of her web and cuddle up.” Her initial three-month commitment turned into a nine-month run in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (which ended in March, 1995) and firmly established Vanessa as a well-rounded, multi-talented triple-threat, dazzling audiences nightly with her acting, singing and dancing. Legendary director Harold Prince said of Vanessa: “She is strong, clear-eyed and smart, with not an ounce of phoniness. She’s a director’s dream and is capable of great diversity.”

Her performance in the musical was so brilliant that a second cast album was recorded with Vanessa singing the starring role – the first time a new cast album has been recorded for the same production. The new Broadway cast album of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” starring Vanessa Williams was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Show Album.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 11:58am

I don't think Chita sounds "old" - I think she sounds "smokey" and "sultry."

I love Vanessa, I do.

But comparing her to Chita is like comparing Sutton Foster to Gwen Verdon.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 12:55pm

Ditto Ljay.
Unfortunately, I was never able to see the original production of this show with any of the three major actresses who played Aurora/Spider Woman, however, from the cast recordings I can tell that I believe Chita's rendition of the role is so layered and so full of power, whenever I hear her singing the title song I am so overwhelmed, when she sings at the end "But you cannot escaaaaaaaape" you sort of get a feeling that perhaps that's one of the best matches of song/actress in decades, as you hear her voice you can't avoid but imagining that this has to be one of the most powerful performances on any cast recording.
Anyways, I don't want to discredit Williams, especially since I never saw either actress on stage.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 2:59pm

sweet! I have the OCR i just got it for Christmas and now i'm rushing over to my CD player to hear it