I just wanted to jump in here, since I just bought my cast recording of Piazza 3 days ago. I have already burned a copy for my car and loaded it in mp3 form onto 2 mp3 players and my PSP. In other words...if there's a device capable of playing music in my home, car, or on my person, its currently playing Piazza. Like a 24 hour All-Piazza-All-The-Time radio station.
I saw the performance on the Tonys and thought, "Gee, that's kinda pretty", but that alone didn't make me run out and buy it. In fact, I was happy that Spamalot had won "Best Musical", since I had been happily listening to that for a few weeks. Now? I still love "Spamalot" and don't begrudge them the win, but...I confess that it mystifies me. "Spamalot" is a wonderful, fun romp. Piazza is a grand, beautiful stroll that begins in Italy but somehow ends up in your heart.
The vocal talent present on the Piazza cast album is ear-blowing. I was truly hooked by the time I heard Margaret's and Clara's voices singing "Its a new old world to me/its a new old world and/we are finally here". That ending just crashed over me like a wave and I heard myself inhale with a small gasp.(And I seriously don't care how corny that sounds...its true!)
Then I kept listening. I think Clara's "The Beauty Is" is perhaps the finest, most beautiful "I want" song ever written for the stage. Its just so small and sweet and sincere, then just soars into the end.
"Passeggiata" had me humming its melody at work for hours (so don't let anyone tell ya its not the kind of music ya hum...I beg to differ). "Say It Somehow" is another one that stands out for me...when Clara and Fabrizio sing "Ah, we'll play a game/You trace it on my skin/Do it any way but let's begin", I got goosebumps. And "Love To Me" gives me the sniffles every time I hear it.
I have put in many hours in the past few days listening hungrily to this cast album. And when I'm not actively listening to the music, I find myself thinking about the themes in the show; about how much we as human beings limit ourselves or others based on preconcieved notions of what we can and can't do, and how we sometimes either lose sight of the value of love, or else we horde it and say that some people can have it, but others can't. There's just so much that these characters can teach us if we spend some time with them. And the music makes the visit an absolute pleasure. I mean, I've gushed to the point of embarrassment about it, and I still can't shake the feeling that I haven't quite gushed *enough* yet. :-P
I'm not really adding anything new to this thread that hasn't already been said. But I just felt like I wanted my voice out there as part of the chorus. I truly love this recording, and though I doubt I'll be able to make it to New York to see the production, I can honestly say that I've enjoyed loving the show from a distance. See, sometimes long-distance relationships *do* work out.
Updated On: 6/14/05 at 07:17 PM
