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#1

Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 1:19pm

Is it just me or are the voices on the newer studio Miss Saigon recording EXTREMELY inferior to the original London recording? Joanna Ampil is good but her enunciation is akward, and whoever plays Chris should just NOT sing. Hinton Battle doesn't sound too good, and Ellen is good but doesn't compare to the original. I don't understand what the point of this recording is. Why was it made?

#2

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 1:23pm

It was made to preserve the entire score and its revisions and to sell CDs.

#3

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 1:24pm

hey hey there, be careful what you say about Ruthie Henshall!

saying the gal is only good is the equivalent of punching a mere mortal in the face, an unjusitfiable offense. granted, the Saigon CSR isn't her best work.

"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers

#4

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 1:26pm

It doesn't help that Ellen is one of the most inanely written characters in musical theater history.

#5

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 1:31pm

nor does it help that John is better written than Ellen OR Chris AND has the most musically satisfying parts of the counterpoint.

"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers

#6

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 1:31pm

DO you agree with me though that Chris and the other singers are not very good? I have heard multiple times that the singers on the studio recording are better than the OLC, but I just don't see it.

#7

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 1:35pm

I think each Chris is equally poor on those two recordings. I think Hinton Battle's a far more interesting singer than Peter Polycarpou.

I don't think the London recording captured Jonathan Pryce's performance very well but Kevin Gray comes off like he's playing everything for slapstick comedy on the Complete recording.

I think both Kims sound fine on the recordings.

#8

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 1:40pm

Mmmm... everyone has thier own opinion. I like the Chris better on the complete recording and I overal I like the complete recording better than the original London recording because, well... it's complete.

#9

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 1:46pm

Lea Salonga is exceptional as Kim, not the best, but one of the best. I don't care for Joanna Ampil or Peter Cousens. Simon Bowman on the OLC isn't so great but I'm fascinated by his vibrato and get a perverse kind of pleasure listening to him. Hinton is OK, and Peter is evidence enough to never have a white John again. I saw Kevin in the show years ago and he definitely plays it more as a presentational character, more toward the audience, which I don't really like in the character for most of the show. Pryce's interpretation is more sneaky and dangerous, more complex IMHO. Gray's probably got him beat vocally. THE BEST Engineer I've seen is Joseph Foronda on the tour about 5 years ago. He's actually in the upcoming Pacific Overtures.

"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers

#10

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 1:47pm

I loved Salonga onstage but I don't think just comparing recordings that she's noticeably better a singer than Ampil. I can't imagine seeing anyone other than Pryce as The Engineer, although I'm sure others were great in the role.

Updated On: 11/2/04 at 01:47 PM

#11

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 2:22pm

Broadway Matt, who do you think was the best Kim? I can't imagine anyone better than Lea. I saw Jennifer Paz who was AMAZING!

#12

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 3:37pm

I'm not a big fan of Joanna Ampil either, her vibrato can really get on my nerves but live, she blows your socks off. That girl can sing and has a stronger voice than Lea in my opinion.

Overall, I agree that some of the cast of the CR is not great. Peter Cousens sounds terrible, altough I'm not a Simon Bowman fan either (far from it). Both of them are so whiney. I know Chris is meant to be a bit of a wet towel but I prefer Chris to be on the angry side, not on the whiney one.

I love Claire Moore as Ellen on the OLC, she has a wonderful voice.

QM

'He really wasn't good as Fieyro. Is it just me or does he sort of come across as a pimp? Just...the hand motions I've seen him do and the attitude..not that Taye is a pimp.' - SallyBrown on Taye Diggs as Fiyero

Updated On: 11/2/04 at 03:37 PM

#13

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 7:23pm

Claire Moore rocks. It is just amazing, that on Broadway the original Ellen was Liz Callaway. They couldn't be more different. It's like a Lucy and a Lisa.

Did anyone see Margaret Ann Gates? I wonder how that was, having an Asian and an Asian. Does that mean Chris was a Rice Queen (King)?

#14

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 7:25pm

Joseph Foronda was the engineer in the production of Miss Saigon that I did in Houston - he is phenominal. He's in the upcoming Pacific Overtures....

"High time we made a stand and shook up the views of the common man" - Tears for Fears

#15

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 7:41pm

The first time I saw it I saw dee dee lynn magno as Kim and she was ok. The second time I went I saw Lea salonga and margaret ann gates. Margaret ann gates was very good as ellen. I thought Lea Salonga was excellent. She is a wonderful actress as well as a great singer. I didn't know liz callaway was the origional ellen on broadway, is she the one singing on the broadway cd?

#16

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 9:40pm

I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS:
"Lea Salonga is exceptional as Kim, not the best, but one of the best."

Yes she is the best... and I am sure that comparing the two CDs is probably not fair to Joanna.
I love Lea Solanga, and I really enjoyed everyone in the Miss Saigon Cd original. They were the best cast...

NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."

RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.

#17

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 9:57pm

well kangaroo, I admit that I haven't seen every actress to ever portray Kim. there have been easily over 100 by now if you count international productions. that must've taken you quite awhile to watch them all to make sure none are better than Lea. her nose job lost her points on my scorecard. bad idea for a singer.

"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers

#18

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 10:17pm

I read somewhere that John Barrowman was recorded for the complete Miss Saigon CD, but then his tracks weren't used? Is that true? What a waste/whame.

There's always room for pathos - and jazz hands.

#19

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 10:17pm

I think Lea has the best female Broadway voice that I've heard, I love Simon Bowman, and Claire Moore...

#20

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 10:24pm

Yes, the Symphonic Chris is a downright disappointment. However, I think that the rest of the cast holds their own especially the man who play Thuy (name is escaping me, and I am too lazy to look at the CD). I ususally listen to that CD for all the songs that aren't on the London version---AKA everything that doesnt include Chris. I saw Ruthie Henshall right before Saigon closed, and I thought she was wonderful.

BTW-- I saw Margeret Ann Gates as well in the summer before it closed, and let me tell you that that was the most difficult thing to explain to my friends who hadn't seen the show before. Why on earth would they pick an Asian woman to play Ellen? Non-traditional casting at its finest. However, she was a fine actress and singer, and I enjoyed her performance very much. I just had much explaining to do, "Jill, Jill--is that another prostitute??"

No...

#21

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 10:41pm

I saw an asian gal cover for Peggy Trecker as Ellen one night. I think having an Asian performer play Ellen adds an interesting element to the story, which I really enjoyed. Like maybe Chris fell in love with her as a transference of his feelings for Kim. or he just likes asian chicks!

I've often thought that if I were to direct the show I'd like to cast it that way. If anything, it makes the character a little more interesting, gives you something to think about.

"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep. Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse, till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers

Updated On: 11/2/04 at 10:41 PM

#22

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/2/04 at 11:44pm

Who was the best Chris? Will Chase? The one in the touring cast that came to Detroit recently wasn't very good, although John and Kim were unbelievable.

#23

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/3/04 at 3:04am

I saw Melinda Chua play Kim. It is so cute, when the Chris is like two heads taller than the Kim. What an intense actress she is. Vocally not really the best one.

By the way who is the best Thuy and why? I always have a problem with that character and I don't really know why!

#24

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/3/04 at 7:43am

broadway matt, where did you get this information that Lea Salonga had a nose job? She started out with the same exact nose she has now and as far as her voice changing...it's only gotten better. She's got a beautiful tone and her voice has gotten so much stronger since she did Miss Saigon. What are you talking about?

#25

re: Miss Saigon CD

Posted: 11/3/04 at 8:30am

Lea Salonga was the best Kim, but Jo Ampil was better than her as Eponine...and she is quite good as Fantine.....!

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