Passion: the recordings and shows

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:51am

I'm obsessed with Passion (how fitting). Since I can only manage to have Passion on my mind at the moment, I was curious if any of you had opinions about the different recordings and videos avalible and what you thought about the performances. The OBC, London Cast, Concert Recording (video). I haven't heard the (was it Dutch?) recording, but does anyone know how that one is?

I just got the OLC and Maria Friedman sounds so odd to me (very melodramatic, extreme). While I heard Micheal Ball was stale on stage, he actually sounds quite lovely (acting wise and otherwise) on the cd and the Clara sounded terribly harsh and cold. Did anyone see the show? How did the performances compare?

Did anyone see the OBC. How did the show itself compare to the video?

Does anyone have any opinions of the concert performers?

Favorites? Gripes?

For some reason, the three leads are divided on the recordings to me. My dream cast would be Donna, Audra, and Michael. Isn't that odd? Though I did like Mr. Cerveris for some reason Ball seemed more sensitive on the recording to me... I really liked that for some reason.

Sorry if this doesn't make sense. I haven't had much sleep:)

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:08am

I haven't heard the version with Michael Ball (but I've heard good things, and knowing Michael Ball I'm sure it's true) but I have the OBC and loveloveloveLOVE it. I think that Donna Murphy's voice is so beautiful and I love her portrayal of the character, and I'm a fan of Marin Mazzie and Jer Shea (I'm sure I'm getting his name wrong or at least spelling it incorrectly) as well.

I have the filmed stage production with the OBC cast and adore it. I did see the concert on PBS and in all honesty I was pretty disappointed. I didn't like Patti LuPone's portrayal of Fosca; she lacked dignity. Okay, I know that this is weird to say about Fosca, but I thought Donna gave her this unshakable dignity... with her, I came to love the character. With Patti, I felt no attachment whatsoever.

And... this is gonna sound horrible, but I didn't think Giorgio fit the part physically in the concert (please keep in mind that I'm really picky.) I guess I've just always pictured Giorgio as a young pretty boy.

On the plus side, Audra McDonald was magnificent. Was there any doubt, though? I was so excited when I found out she was going to be playing Clara.

Passion is my favorite Sondheim show. It's just so beautiful, and it really makes you think too... well, it got me thinking pretty philosophically about love, anyway.

[jo]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:15am

I did see the London version onstage with Michael and Maria. I have also seen the DVD of the Broadway version ( edited for television) with Donna, Marin and Jere Shea. I have the London and the Broadway CDs as well as a jazz version of the music ( supposedly approved by Sondheim).

Michael Ball's singing is great. He does have a natural gift and his vocal performance is nuanced and exhibits such a wide range, emotions- or vocal prowess-wise. I would say his acting has a lot more passion in it than Jere Shea's rather wooden performance. Maria Friedman has a gorgeous singing voice but she tended to overact at times. Donna gave a restrained performance ( and probably the more credible one) and her singing is all right.

Passion is one of my favourite Sondheims - why not get both CDs? My personal favourite is the London concert version ( the recording was done almost a year after the show closed and was recorded live from several concert performances)!

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:28am

Wow, Jo, I didn't know it was recorded live. That's actually quite interesting. My favorite thing about the OLC was Micheal's performance. I hadn't really heard or seen him in anything aside from that Les Mis Anniversary Dream Cast Concert.


How was...Oh dear was her name something along the lines of Helen Robeson? I don't have my cd right here. Was she as cold as she sounded. I supposed it might work for the character.

One of my problems with the concert cast was that Patti seemed so much cooler than Donna (though I thought her interpretation valid) and Audra so much warmer than Marin (her voice is lovely, but in both the obc recording and and dvd she seems somewhat detatched from Giorgio, thought not as much so as the OLC Clara) and it worked somewhat. I felt that you thought Marin's Clara cared greatly for Giorgio, but didn't really love him truly.

As much as I hate to say this, I think Audra was maybe too warm for Patti's Fosca. I'm not sure it balanced as well as the OBC.

But the OLC Clara sounds almost unlovable. Did she come across as such?

[gettinhep]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:31am

I adore the filmed version with the OBC. It is a marvellous preservation of Donna's incredible performance. It is unfortunate that the camera placing limited the width of stage to be seen. So, Fosca's entrance is not as dramatic as you would experience from a seat in the Plymouth Theatre. However, the close-ups do allow the performers to embue the piece with subtlety rather than melodrama. The fact that is was filmed in the theatre, without an audience allows the viewer to absorb the musical without the annoying audience reactions that marred the Broadway run.

The color quality of the film is excellent and faithfully reproduces the Rothko-inspired backgrounds without too much bleeding. The soundtrack is also good. The DVD has the added atttraction of one of the funniest audio commentaries. Stephen Sondheim, James lapine, Donna Murphy, Marin Mazzie and Jere Shea all contribute to the fun of the commentary. It is one of my most precious DVDs. Enjoy.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:33am

The Clara thing has always kind of saddened me... they seem so in love at the beginning of the show. You have to wonder if we'd still root for Fosca had Clara not been married.

Of course, Fosca may have been better for Giorgio 'cause whenever he said something mean to her she'd... like... deflect it. Clara can't seem to handle him as well. I dunno, just my interpretations. Like I said, this show makes me think a lot.

[gettinhep]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:41am

Buffy, dear, I just love your signature. Oh, if only...

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:43am

I agree Spork, Clara can be heart breaking played a certain way. Clara can be played many different ways (as can all three main characters) and it can really effect the piece. I heard that Rebecca played a very cold and detached Clara. It would have been interesting to see that. Heck, I'd have loved to have seen that whole production. Did anyone see it? Wow.

I'm almost eager to get the foreign languange recording, even though I've had no word if it's any good nor not.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:53am

Michael Ball is better as Giorgio on the London cast (First Night), but Jere Shea is fine enough on the Broadway cast(Angel.) But Donna Murphy and Marin Mazzie are far superior to their British counterparts. I like the sound of the Broadway disc better too..the orchestra is warm and lush.

I do wish that Angel had included more dialogue. There are gaps in the plot on the Broadway recording while the London recording weaves in more dialogue and gives more a sense of the story. (Angel gives a detailed synopsis and all the lyrics plust lots of beautiful colour photos of the Broadway production in the booklet, while First Night offers just a skimpy cast list on a folded insert.)

BUT ...The London Cd also has the restored "I Love Fosca" aria for Giorgio to sing to the Doctor before he makes his final visit to Fosca.

I have both, and despite my preference for the Broadwasy, there is much I like about the London recording.

The Broadway cast video is a must for any fan of the show (and there are more of us around than you would think!) The commentary, as smeone else mentioned, is lively and fun. (Sample... "James Lapine: I forgot we filmed this for PBS. We don't get to see any of Marin's breats. Sondheim: The word is either!")

I also enjoyed the concert version on PBS. Audra was fabulous... is there anything she can't do? I had seen Michael Cerveris do the show in Washington and he was fine. Patti LuPone seemed almost too strong for the frail Fosca, but she sang and acted the role well.

The show just seemed so out of place on Broadway in 1994 (when it was even less of a theme park than it is today) - a serious, romantic chamber opera running against CATS, PHANTOM, BEAUTY AND TH BEAST, BLOOD BROTHERS and others. Already some opera companies have picked itt up and I suspect more will as time goes by.

[Quasi]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 4:17am

I have the Dutch recording and it is really good. The three musicalsstars from The Netherlands Vera Mann (Fosca), Stanley Burleson (Giorgio) and Pia Douwes (Clara) are playing and singing. I saw the show without understanding any word and loved it just by knowing the great music of Sondheim he wrote for this show.

[jo]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 5:31am

Buffy -

A few more notes on the London production --

*Helen Hobson played the role of Clara. She portrayed her as a real lady who happened to fall in love with another man, perhaps without meaning to do so...and was asked to make a difficult choice later on. She chose duty over passion - I am not sure if Giorgio was not being unselfish either. Helen is beautiful but not a sultry type of mistress. The first duet between her and Michael of HAPPINESS was beautiful and the eventual confrontation ( when they parted) quite dramatic.

*The London production was a two-act show ( I understand there was no intermission on the Broadway production) and probably included more dialogue and of course the simply awesome vocal display of I LOVE FOSCA by Michael Ball ( one of the rare moments in theatre where I almost choked because of the sheer beauty of voice). I saw the show several times in London and everytime I hear that passage, I felt so moved.

*The show played only for 6 months and they recorded the concert version 9 months after it closed.

It is interesting to consider which point of view one takes when appreciating the show - do you look at it from the point of view of the sensitive Giorgio, the obssessed Fosca, or the confused Clara? Or all three? Who expresses love the best..or at least human passion?

Btw, a new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is previewing on Broadway at the Marquis (previews start October 28, opening on November 17) called THE WOMAN IN WHITE. It is likely that Maria Friedman will play the lead role...and could be joined by Michael Ball in a completely different role ( as a villain). Watch out for it -- these two are outstanding vocalists in musical theatre!

Jo

[jo]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 5:33am

sorry, double post Updated On: 7/29/05 at 05:33 AM

[Pinguin]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 6:45am

I am a fan of the OBC recording, and I own the video of the production, and while I think the show is BRILLIANT I think it was poorly directed. But that's MY opinion as someone studying directing ;0)

It's my second favorite show!!! What an amazing piece!

[jacco]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 8:38am

I have been fortunate enough to see 3 Passion productions: Broadway, west end and Holland. The show was marketed really well over here in the Netherlands: it was the only production I've seen in which the audience actually knew what to expect. Both in new York and London people absolutely HATED this show, while in Holland it was really loved. The Dutch version was somewhat more sentimental, but worked really well. The Broadway version was really distant, and I saw Donna Murphy's understudy, which didn't help. The dvd is brilliant though. The London version was very strange: Mr. Ball walked away with the evening, while I really admired Friedman. At least they were much better in this than in the awful Woman in White. As a Passion Fan you should try the Dutch version, just out of curiosity (and find out how awful our language sounds lol)

[jo]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 8:49am

The critics did not hate it in London. Someone sent me a compilation of all the reviews and I would say that they are more positive than negative. Maria was very much critically acclaimed. It actually won the Evening Standard's Best Musical award. Maria Friedman won the Olivier best actress award. As for fans - a 6-month run of a Sondheim musical in London is not bad. Of course, there were many Michael Ball fans who kept the show going, as Maria once said in an interview. I saw the show a number of times, and talking to people around me, I did not get the impression that they hated the show. There were even instances of standing ovations after the show over the few times I was there.


Updated On: 7/29/05 at 08:49 AM

[jacco]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 9:11am

I've seen loads of people walk out. But they just had no idea that this was not a show with crashing chandeliers and helicopters etc. And I was really annoyed with the Michael ball fans, who actually screamed when the lights when down. And I remeber being amazed by the amount of Japanese people in Broadway who all fell asleep and hed no idea what this show was about.

I TOTALLY adore it though....

[sharon1]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 10:48am

It just goes to show you though how fickle the theatre going "masses" are. You can't please everyone that is for sure. The one thing I find over and over again about this show is the respect people have for the vocal abilities of both the New York and London casts. That seems to be fairly consistent

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 11:00am

It's a great show. I love happiness.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:17pm

pinguin, how would you have directed it? I mean that totally sincerely. I'm curious what ideas you have for the show?

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:17pm

"I Love Fosca" aria? *gasp!* I have never heard that! Or even heard of it! I MUST get the London now!

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:22pm

Jacco, I never understood why Passion was so hated...aside from the fact it's unconventional. I understand why people might not like it...it isn't for everyone. I know there are Sondheim fans who don't like it...I'd guess because it's not terribly skeptical, but need everything be? I think it's a lovely story.

No one goes around hating on beauty in the beast. Somehow I find a woman falling in love with a big giant furry man-animal slightly more disturbing.

Perhaps in London they were trying to focus on the fact that it's supposed to be Giorgio's story...though Fosca shouldn't be lost among the rubble either.

Thank's for the Dutch recommendation. I just may seek it out. The only show I've heard in Dutch was Annie.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:26pm

It's also an extra on the OBC dvd spork, which might be slightly easier to seek out, though it's better quality on the recording:)

[Lori]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 3:16pm

Spork get it...the aria is gorgeous. Sondheim put it in especially for Michael Ball to sing.

Love the OLC recording, it's one of my favorites. I really enjoyed the Live at Lincoln Center show but have to agree with whoever said that Cervais threw them off as Giorgio. I thought his performance was wonderful but physically he just didn't fit the image. That could, of course, be because the image I had was Michael Ball at 33...