Miss Saigon CD- Page 2

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 9:22am

I enjoyed Jo Ampil in JCS, but didn't like her so much in Miss Saigon. I love Ruthie Henshall and think that Lea Salaonga is the best Kim there ever has been and will be.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 1:53pm

someone was right. John Barrowman was first brought on to record the role of Chris for the CSR, but for some reason it just didn't happen, so they brought on Peter Cousens (whom I think is horrible). The interesting thing is that Peter did not yet played Chris when this recording was released, which is stupid because his characterization of Chris is all wrong on the recording, but that's me. Joanna Ampil sounded much better years later after the recording when her voice matured and her accent somewhat disappeared. Kevin Gray is better live, but I prefer Jon Jon Briones as the Engineer as well as Joe Foronda. Anyone see it on Broadway? I have no clue why Luoyong Wang was with the show so long. He sounded TERRIBLE as the Engineer. He mumbled all his words because of his accent. Oh, and the CSR I listen to only when I want to hear the complete score to the show. I still prefer the OLC recording.

GO MISS SAIGON!

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 2:09pm

I agree that the vocals on the London Cast Recording are far superior. Lea Salonga possesses one of the strongest, prettiest voices in musical theatre. While skilled, Joanna Ampil's voice has a forced vibrato and her accent gets in the way.

Yes, Lea's voice has changed. It's no longer as innocent as it once was, but it's stronger and cut like crystal. She no longer sounds at all like she did on the OLC.

And what is this about a nose job? Why on earth would she even NEED one?

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 2:09pm

I agree that the vocals on the London Cast Recording are far superior. Lea Salonga possesses one of the strongest, prettiest voices in musical theatre. While skilled, Joanna Ampil's voice has a forced vibrato and her accent gets in the way.

Yes, Lea's voice has changed. It's no longer as innocent as it once was, but it's stronger and cut like crystal. She no longer sounds at all like she did on the OLC.

And what is this about a nose job? Why on earth would she even NEED one?

[showstopper]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 3:14pm

She didn't need one, broadway matt just felt like saying something mean.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 4:51pm

Oops, Lea and plastic surgery - a very dangerous road to take

I LOVED Jon Jon as The Engineer, I thought he was wonderful.

QM

[kangaroo]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 10:58pm

Lea did not have a nose job... yes that was very mean. And I would just like to say... sorry no I haven't seen all the Kims played, but do you know waht? I know that Lea is the best. Why? Becuase she is amazing, and my fav. Broadway star.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 11:09pm

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)?

Yes, I saw Margaret Ann Gates twice in the role of Ellen - she was phenomenal. Although the character is unwritten, I felt like Gates truly owned the character. Her "Her or Me" (or whatever they renamed it to) was a showstopper. I also really love all the new subtext that casting Ellen as an Asian creates. It definitely complicates the love triangle in intriguing ways.

And Lea Salonga is, IMO, the best and definitive Kim. Everyone else is pretty much following in her shadow.

[Kris2]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 11:33pm

It's nice to have the full show on CD, but the Original London Cast Recording is better. The voices on the Complete Recording make me cringe. They must've been a lot better to see/hear live. However, on that recording, they just weren't good. I don't remember how Ruthie Henshall sounds as Ellen on the CR, but she was fantastic live. I know that for sure. Jon Jon sounds overacted as the Engineer on the CR, Lea is much stronger than Joanna (and Lea's just gotten stronger over the years), Simon is better than Peter, and Hinton sounds a little off from what I remember. It all just sounded really forced.

I would love a chance to revisit this show one day considering how underwhelmed I was by the cast I saw on Broadway.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 12:56am

I love Lea. I happened to see Joanna as Fantine in London, she was fabulous then. Her voice id fabulous, her acting is much better than her singing is. And she IS a good singer.

[Kris2]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 12:57am

That's so odd. I thought Joanna played Eponine?

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 1:17am

she did... now she plays Fantine!

[AbsolutKnight]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 10:30am

One of the reasons I enjoy the Complete recordings of Les Mis and Miss Saigon is that they use a Full orchestra... or at least it sounds that way, I could be wrong. Although it isnt what you will hear when you go see the show I think it ends up being a much fuller sound to the music.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 11/9/04 at 2:22pm

To Lea Fans- if you don't have her "Broadway Concert" on CD, you should check it out. On it, she sings a gorgeous song called "Too Much For One Heart" that was cut from Miss Saigon (replaced with "Please"- they have the same pretty melody). Anyway, if you saw The Making of Miss Saigon, they show Lea and Monique (Kim understudy) at the final auditions, each singing a verse. Lea's cd is the only time the song has been sung and recorded in its entirety.

It's nice having a complete recording of the show for the small pieces of music missing from the OLC such as Thuy's plea to Kim, extra Bangkok music, extra pieces of her and Chris. I just wish Lea hadn't had scheduling problems (that's the story on why she's not on it). I saw Lea in the final B'way performance of Saigon, and her Kim had evolved so much. Gone was much of the innocence (as would be after living through a war) and in its place was a more womanly, steely determination. And I have never heard any performer sing THAT much material (almost 3 hrs worth) so beautifully and with not a single note out of place. Lea, come back to NYC!