Larger Orchestra Confirmed for Night Music Recording

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 12:50am

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/135612-A-Little-Night-Music-Cast-Album-Gets-Recorded-Jan.-4

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 12:51am

So....is this admitting that the "Chamber Orchestra" doesn't really work?

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 12:52am

^ No. Sunday increased their 5 piece orchestra too.
And many cast albums augment orchestrations for the recording, including some of the original Sondheim OBCRs.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 12:58am

From ATC.

"It happens all the time. Even the South Pacific revival added nine players for the recording (four violins, two violas, one cello, one bass, and timpani). And they had a huge orchestra as a starting point. I think if you check your CD liner notes, you'll find very few cast recordings that didn't augment their orchestras."

I don't see why this would be shocking news to anyone.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 1:14am

It's not shocking news at all, but it is definitely delightful news :)

[theatreguy]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 1:59am

It will certainly be interesting to see just how much larger they're making it. Will it bew a few additional strings, a full orchestra, something else?

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 2:05am

It's not going to be a full orchestra. I assume just a few additional instruments for a fuller and more lush sound.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 10:32am

It's not shocking news at all, but in this case, it is going against the alleged creative "concept" of having a small chamber sound.

Past augmentations (except for the recent Sunday) weren't throwing out a "directorial vision" to add players.

It does feel like they're doing this merely because they can afford to pay extra musicians on a recording, but not during the run, where "concept" is king.

Why else would they be doing it?

EDIT: Either you have a minimalist approach or you don't, and you're just saving money. You can't "spin" it both ways. That's too much b.s.

Updated On: 1/4/10 at 10:32 AM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 10:35am

Either way, I can't wait to hear it!

[Roscoe]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 10:44am

So I can get a fuller richer sound for about one tenth what it would cost to hear the tinier thinner sound?

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 12:22am

Details from the recording:

- A total of 11 instruments were used. 8 are used in the theatre.

- Apparently a TON of dialogue was recorded. Angela's opening and closing scenes were recorded, including her amazing "Croatian count" scene. Desiree and Fredrika's WEEKEND dialogue was recorded. And I was told practically the last 20 minutes of the show were recorded.

- The 2 Fredrikas were split for the recording. So I would assume one got "The Glamorous Life", and the other got the WEEKEND dialogue.

This post will probably just cause more bitching. But I am excited. This sounds great! It is certainly going to be the most complete recording of the musical.

Updated On: 1/5/10 at 12:22 AM

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 12:30am

That sounds exciting. I'm glad they are adding more pieces to the recording.

Updated On: 1/5/10 at 12:30 AM

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 12:31am

Double Post

Updated On: 1/5/10 at 12:31 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 12:42am

I'm torn about the dialogue, I've always been. On the one hand, it's great that more of the show is preserved. On other... I just want to listen to the damn music.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 11:05am

So it will be the most complete recording of the score with only 11 musicians. Gee. Thanks. Can't wait.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 12:25pm

No one is forcing you to buy it or listen to it, cranky pants.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 1:35pm

how did you find out all this information, ljay? were you at the cast recording session?

i'm thrilled about Angela's dialogue by the way!

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 3:11pm

No, I was not there, but I spoke to someone who was.

[cglaid]

Posted: 1/6/10 at 9:23pm

Keaton Whittaker did the songs and Katherine Doherty did the dialogue, in case anyone was wondering.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 1/6/10 at 11:15pm

I always appreciate dialogue being preserved on these recordings; it's sort of unfathomable to me that it could be preferable not to have the option to have it. Very excited.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/6/10 at 11:36pm

If all they recorded doesn't fit on an 80-minute CD, will we expect bonus tracks from B&N or iTunes (ala West Side Story)?