I would assume the Jay complete studio recording used the complete original musical score and orchestrations as written.
Wow, Ruthie Ann Miles' rendition of "Something Wonderful" is spectacular, my favorite recorded version of the song by far. I just listened to it three times in a row. Kelli sounds great and is still kind of bland. And Ken Watanabe is marginally more understandable than he was in the theater (I presume he was reading the lyrics when they recorded his numbers).
There is something I've always wondered about "Something Wonderful." Can someone with more musical knowledge explain to me if there is a key change when Lady Thiang sings "He'll always need your love"? I've always found that part of the song particularly dramatic and wonder if that's why I find it so effective.
"I would assume the Jay complete studio recording used the complete original musical score and orchestrations as written. "
Is the Overture recorded for (but not used) the 1956 film version complete?
It was included on the soundtrack album along with some other musical numbers that were not in the actual film.
On the original 1956 soundtrack issued by Capitol Records the Overture is the first track. When the soundtrack was re-mastered and re-issued by Angel Records, the Overture is the last track and the first track is what is known as the film's "Main Title" which in actuality is just a re-working of "The March of the Siamese Children".
Updated On: 6/4/15 at 11:59 AM
I can't get over Ruthie Ann Miles' "Something Wonderful." She does with "Something Wonderful" what Audra McDonald did with "Mr. Snow" in the '94 CAROUSEL recording. She basically took this song that we all thought we knew inside out, cracked it wide open, and made us feel like it is the first time we are hearing it. It's a masterful rendition of the song. I actually wish I could hear her sing all of Anna's songs, or really, all of the Rodgers & Hammerstein's oeuvre.
After hearing the recording a few more times, I am still pretty disappointed with Kelli's sort of precious take on Anna. Watanabe sounds interesting, he is not super intelligible, but he seems to "get" the King.
"Is the Overture recorded for (but not used) the 1956 film version complete?"
I'm pretty sure that overture was newly arranged and isn't very similar to the original version as shown on the revival recordings.
I believe the '64 Lincoln Center recording has the complete original overture, clocking in at 5:47, forty seconds longer than the '77 version. I would assume that is the full original version.
The King and I overture that John Mauceri conducts on the Rodgers & Hammerstein Overtures recording is 6:22.
Okay I just finished the new recording on Spotify and WTF is that ending?? If someone wasn't sure what was going on it makes it seem like they're being set up for years of mixups and mayhem with each other, not that one is about to die. Where's the gravitas the finale usually has, even on recording?
"Okay I just finished the new recording on Spotify and WTF is that ending?? If someone wasn't sure what was going on it makes it seem like they're being set up for years of mixups and mayhem with each other, not that one is about to die. Where's the gravitas the finale usually has, even on recording?"
Audio recordings don't usually show the "gravitas", but I will agree that the way the "Finale" was done was strange, maybe have the scene there BEFORE the music starts. But at least I can hear the grand Richard Rodgers ending score in a 29 piece orchestral glory.
Let's wait until Live from Lincoln Center airs this on PBS, THEN we can have the "full version".
I can't wait for someone to rip the audio off of the PBS broadcast so I can finally have the Hello Young Lovers (Reprise) on my phone.
Has a PBS broadcast even been confirmed?
I wish the Light in the Piazza broadcast has been with Kelli. =(
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/12
Overall the recoding is pretty gorgeous. I do wish the reprises or Something Wonderful and Hello young lovers were included, and the cut during the finale was bizarre it makes it sound like the show ends on a happy note. While Kelli is quite enjoyable, I do have to give all props to Ruthie Ann Miles. She completely reinvented a song that I thought we all knew and loved. I've never heard sung with such youth and struggle. While I think her chances are small, it would be quite lovely to see win the Tony tomorrow night.
Updated On: 6/6/15 at 02:44 PMVideos