Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Roger246
Featured Actor Joined: 3/4/06
#1Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 3:38pm
I was wondering which version of Pacific Overtures should I purchase. The Original 1979 or the 2004 Revival?
Thanks in advance.
#2Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 3:48pmThe original is a lot better than the revival. The orchestrations are lush and "Someone in a Tree" is one of the greatest tracks on any cast album. I have to admit, I prefer the revival recording's "Next," though. Both are worthwhile, but start with the '76 recording. I haven't heard the '87 London recording yet, so maybe someone who has can clue you in on that one.
#2Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 3:49pm
The original. The vocalists in the revival are serviceable, but the new orchestrations make me vomit.
And you can't beat the brilliance of "Someone in a Tree" on the original recording.
-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
#3Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 3:53pm
The OBC is the best by a country mile. The other 2 I've heard are just flat out awful.
....but the world goes 'round
#4Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 3:57pmOriginal, no question.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Roger246
Featured Actor Joined: 3/4/06
#5Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 3:59pmThanks everyone! I will get the original.
JBSinger
Broadway Star Joined: 11/12/04
#6Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 4:16pm
OBC is best
National Opera recording, 2nd (very complete)
Revival, 3rd
#7Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 8:09pmOh, the original. The orchestrations are just marvelous.
#8Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 8:10pmI love the crystal clear sound of the revival recording. I don't believe the original has ever been remastered, so it just doesn't sound very good.
walkedthroughmany
Leading Actor Joined: 3/25/07
#9Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 9:11pm
OBC is best
National Opera recording, 2nd (very complete)
Revival, 3rd
Agreed, JBSinger.
And I much prefer the OBC version of "Next" -- at about 1:22, I think it's one of the most thrilling moments on any cast recording out there.
#10Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 9:13pm
Crystal clear or manufactured and strralised :p?
There is a fine, fine line.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#11Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/12/10 at 9:23pmIt sounds like all of the PS Classics/Nonesuch albums of the Sondheim revivals. I guess you think those all sound manufactured too...?
#12Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/13/10 at 12:56amOBC however...I have a certain fondness for much of the revival, mainly because of the extra dialogue. My favorite Pacific Overtures song, for instance, is A Bowler Hat, and the extra dialogue in the song really gives it an extra emotional punch for me.
#13Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/13/10 at 1:06amThe revival recording is one of the few cast recordings I am disappointed to have bought. I find very little of it to be worthwhile. The original just can't be touched in terms of performances or orchestrations.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#14Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/13/10 at 1:12am
The original recording is superior by far. Better performances, and of course the orchestrations! I don't understand why they had to settle for synthesized [insert Japanese instrument(s) that I'm blanking on] for the revival recording... surely they could have hired someone to play the real thing to make it sound less cheesy? The original recording is literally breathtaking at times.
~Steven
#15Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/13/10 at 2:48amWhile I think the OBC is better, I do think NEXT is far better on the revival recording.
<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
pinoyonbroadway
Understudy Joined: 8/4/07
#16Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/13/10 at 3:27amI have to agree with JBSinger as well. The OBC is the superior recording. I also have a fondness of the ENO recording, mainly because of it's completeness and I really like the orchestrations, though the cast is hit and miss with me. However the full recording is a little harder to find. Usually you can only find the highlights version. I'm not that big of a fan of the revival recording, but I agree with Theatreboy49. I do like the execution of Next in the revival recording.
Everybody's Playing The Game
But Nobody's Rules Are The Same
Nobody's On Nobody's Side
#17Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/14/10 at 5:50am
"It sounds like all of the PS Classics/Nonesuch albums of the Sondheim revivals. I guess you think those all sound manufactured too...?"
I have a double standard and enjoy Road Show, Company, Sweeney. There is something about the PO and Sunday albums that I find a little unnatural (but I do enjoy the performances on the Sunday one anyway).
There are many ways I could explain it though (e.g. I make comparisons to past albums, I tolerate the orchestrations of the first albums because they are part of the 'concepts', I'm bias because of the performances etc..) so I don't know :P.
Still (excitidly) waiting to listen to the Night Music cast recording though!
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 4/14/10 at 05:50 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#18Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/20/10 at 6:56amyeah annnoyingly the PO recording is the only classic Sondheim one that hasn't been properly remastered--andere aresome cuts made to fit what would have been one vinyl record (no Lion Dance, no second verse to Kanagawa, etc), but it's still the one to get--essential.
Pianist3912
Leading Actor Joined: 7/12/07
#19Pacific Overtures - Which Recording?
Posted: 4/20/10 at 8:28amI agree with everyone else. The revival recording really butcher's the great orchestrations of the original.
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