"Passion" Questions

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 8:45pm

Hey, I was thinking about buying a recording of "Passion." Do you guys recommend it?

I'm not familiar with much Sondheim, but I love Sweeney Todd and Assassins, I like the songs that I've heard from Company and A Little Night Music, and I'm seeing A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum later this month. As a theatre fan, I thought I should grab the recording for another musical.

I've heard it's not one of his better musicals. Do you BWW-ers agree? I have broad and bizarre tastes in musicals-- usually, the only scores I don't like are those that are written and performed in 'rock' style, those with truly horrible lyrics, and (sometimes) those that are unecessarily laced with profanity.

Also, is the Original London cast recording any good? I'm really obsessed with Michael Ball, and I wasn't a huge fan of Jere Shea's voice on the thirty-second-samples I heard from the OBC. However, I thought Donna Murphy on the OBC sounded way better than what I heard of Maria Friedman on the OLC. Any opinions on this?

Thanks so much!

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 8:47pm

The OLC has more music. But the OBC has better performances.

I personally really like the score. I say get the OBC, and if you like it...get the OLC.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 8:56pm

I like the London recording better because it has more of the score and I love both Michael Ball and Maria Freidman so the performances are great to me. It should be noted though that the recording is a live concert performance and not an actual studio cast recording of the original London Cast -- but it's still an excellent recording of a very good show. I wouldn't recommend it as one's first exposure to Sondheim, but if you've already liked A Little Night Music then you should be good with this one as well. Just don't go in expecting stand alone songs. The score stands alone as a whole. It's hard to explain, but you'll get it once you listen to it.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 8:57pm

I don't like the OLC very much, but I completely adore the OBC. Passion is one of my favorite scores, and the performances on the OBC are wonderful. Donna Murphy and Marin Mazzie are sublime.

I would also definitely recommend watching the DVD if you can. Jere Shea is a bit...wooden, but again, Donna Murphy and Marin Mazzie are sublime.

[brightredday]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 9:43pm

When I got the OBC, I waited until I had time to listen to it all the way through and pay complete attention, and I really recommend doing the same on your first listen. It's not for everyone, but I was immediately hooked, and I don't think it would have worked as well for me had I just listened with half attention the first few times.

As givesmevoice says, the DVD is also a great way to get into it.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 9:52pm

PASSION is in my top three favorite musicals. It's just a brilliant score, an incredibly romantic and yes, passionate, love story, and it features one of Sondheim's most complex women characters--or for that matter one of contemporary theatre's most complex women characters.
I simply cannot stand Maria Friedman in the OLCR, no matter how many times I listen to it, her take of Fosca as a larger-than-life hysterical woman makes the role a caricature and it becomes almost campy. Perhaps in the hands of another actress this take might have worked, but Friedman overacts to no end and her voice doesn't fit the score as beautifully as it has the potential to do.
On the other hand, Donna Murphy is pure brilliance as Fosca in the OBCR. The album itself might not feature as much of the score as the OLCR does (though really the OBC doesn't butcher the score by any means like say the FOLLIES OBCR does), but it does feature four outstanding performances by Murphy, Marin Mazzie, Jere Shea, and Gregg Edelman. Murphy not only signs the role perfectly well but her acting really comes through in the recording. Her Fosca is desperate and passionate but not in the ridiculous way that Maria Friedman plays her, in the hands of Murphy, Fosca is a real person. Marin Mazzie's vocals and acting are fascinating, I adore her Clara, and Jere Shea does a great job too--even if people like to bash him for some reason. All in all I recommend the OBCR hands down, and get the DVD, it's such a great story. I can't get enough of it.

[binau]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 10:09pm

I personally would not get the CD without the DVD first.

[ARIELT]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 10:19pm

Buy it!!...the voices are good (Marin Mazzie and Jere Shea in particular)...the opening number is great, the finale is great and there are some really profound lyrics in the show...although it's all a little obsessive in a few too many ways.

I've seen the show three times...twice on Broadway...once at a local theatre...and I haven't been bored yet...then again, who could be bored listening to Sondheim...

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/6/09 at 11:13pm

Passion is actually my very favorite Sondheim show. The music is GORGEOUS. But you have to really sit and listen to it, and it may not all come together for you until the Finale.

I prefer the OBCR to all the other recordings. I haven't heard/seen any Fosca that even comes close to Donna Murphy's portrayal, and I don't like the added song for the OLCR, which I feels ruins the dramatic revelation of "No One Has Ever Loved Me."

Updated On: 4/6/09 at 11:13 PM

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 3:48pm

This is one of my favorite Sondheim scores, its beautiful. I love the OBC! Its devine

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 3:55pm

I listened to Passion on my way to work today because of this thread, and it really is just the most beautiful score. (it also reminded me how much I think Donna Murphy's voice sounds like a clarinet.) I really hope you give it a try, Schmergy!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 6:45pm

Argh, now I'm so conflicted... because I really, really love Michael Ball, but Donna Murphy sounds so fantastic. But now I know for sure that I' getting at least one of the albums.

Not to be rude, but what is Maria Friedman famous for? I keep finding her in the credits for a ridiculous number of West End musicals. I think her voice is nice, but not out of the ordinary-- what show made her famous?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 6:51pm

Do you like The Light in the Piazza?

If you do, you'll likely love Passion.

I say get the DVD first.

[merriwether]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 6:54pm

i totally disagree BobbyBubby - i despise Light in the Piazza, but i love Passion - they are two totally different animals; one tries too hard to be different (Piazza) and the other is dark and seductive in it's musicality

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 6:55pm

I absolutely love Piazza-- it's my new favorite. That's actually why I thought of getting Passion-- I read a review that said that if you liked one, you'd probably like the other. That's interesting, though, meriwether-- I guess Piazza is 'trying too hard,' but I never saw it as anything particularly daunting and deep, just... pretty music and interesting sets.

The problem with getting the DVD is that it's got... well, it's got sex-type scenes, however modest, and I would feel really uncomfortable watching that with my parents around. Actually, another reason why I was thinking of getting the OLC is that the album cover looks less dirty-- since I want to ask for it for my upcoming birthday, and I'm not sure how my parents would feel about ordering a CD with a sexual-looking cover.

Updated On: 4/7/09 at 06:55 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 7:01pm

If you don't like Maria Friedman, don't get the OLC. It's likely to ruin the score for you. I'm not a fan of her Fosca. Murphy owns the role. I'd go for the OBC.

There is one sex scene at the beginning where you see Marin Mazzie's breast. It is tastful.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 7:52pm

Marin Mazzie mostly covers herself with a sheet during the sex scene. If you see anything, it's really quick.

I like Michael Ball normally, but his Giorgio was "eh" to me. I prefer Jere Shea.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 7:57pm

The Dutch recording is great too!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 9:05pm

Ask for the DVD, which doesn't have a sexual cover, and act surprised if they are mad about the sex scene (which again, is tame, I've seen worse on network TV).

I find the OLCR disjointed. It was recorded live, correct? It sounds it and lacks the spark of the OBCR. Many of Sondheim's lyrics don't work with the British accents. I find Ball's Giorgio uninspired.

I was 15 or 16 when my Mom bought me the OBCR. She didn't care about the cover that I remember, but I guess each parent is different.
Updated On: 4/7/09 at 09:05 PM

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 4/7/09 at 9:17pm

My parents probably wouldn't mind; I'm just cautious!

Anyway, thank you so much for all of your help! I saw the beginning sequence of the DVD on a Certain Website, and there was nothing on there that I found shocking, so I guess I had an inflated idea of what the scene would be like.

[fosca3]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 10:42am

I'll be the one voice of dissent and say that I prefer the London recording

I have both, and have listened to the Broadway a few times, and I agree Donna Murphy *IS* a much better Fosca than Maria Friedman. I also find Friedman too campy and overly-dramatic (I saw Friedman play the part in London, and I still picture Norma Desmond acting when I listen)

BUT, Michael Ball's Giorgio is PERFECTION

His intonations, the nuances and emotions in his delivery, for me he absolutely IS Giorgio

I also love that the London recording has more dialogue, so that you can 'live' the story while you listen

The London PASSION is what I've been listening to in my car for the last few weeks, and I can't get enough of it. It breaks my heart every time I hear it

If only we could mix Michael Ball and Donna Murphy onto the same recording...

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 10:48am

If only we could mix Michael Ball and Donna Murphy onto the same recording...

Ha, I did that with my Les Miserables cast recordings... I mixed and matched my favorite performers from among four recordings...

I love your username!

[fosca3]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 12:59pm

I forgot about my username -- I guess I didn't have to say I love PASSION, did I?

I always wished I could 'mix' LES MIS too, but wouldn't even know where to start (I'm a complete technophobe)

I'd take the Complete Symphonic completely as is (Philip Quast, Michael Ball, AND Anthony Warlow!!!), and mix in a different Valjean. I guess I'd end up with Colm Wilkinson, unless I wanted to mix in Robert Marien in French or Randal Keith from a bootleg

Sorry to highjack the thread, but who did you mix in your dream LES MIS?

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 1:03pm

OMG! I mixed Les Mis like that, too! I call it "Les Awesome." I also made a Miss Saigon recording mixing the CSR with the OBCR because I haaaate the CSR's Chris.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 3:14pm

Schmerg, you probably thought the opening scene of Passion was more revealing because when live it was more revealing. There was none of the awkward fumbling of the sheets to keep covered. Marin Mazzie was totally exposed.