SUNSET BOULEVARD 2024 West End Cast Recording Thread- Page 4

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 8:23am

Duplicate post. Ignore

Updated On: 10/25/24 at 08:23 AM

[OhHiii]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 8:35am

Oh jfc here we go again. Seb, I hope you’re able to find joy in *something* in life because the way you conduct yourself on this board is somethin. 
 

Anyway. Nicole’s voice is so spectacular. It’s at the same time classic and incredibly distinctive. I’ll admit AIWNSG has brought me to tears every time I’ve listened. Her tone pierces the soul and that’s not hyperbole. So thrilling to see a bonafide talent getting this level of recognition. Truly experiencing a star is born moment with her. I can’t wait to see what she does after this. 

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 8:40am

OhHiii said: "Oh jfc here we go again. Seb,I hope you’re able to find joy in *something* in life because the way you conduct yourself on this board is somethin."

 +1

Gonna borrow a line from the show / movie. 

To Seb: is your life really as empty as that?

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 8:41am

chernjam said: "Billboard just released this interview with ALW about the new album in which they kind of leak/confirm his next musical is The Illusionists and that Jamie Lloyd is doing Evita in London this summer

https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/andrew-lloyd-webber-sunset-blvd-album-nicole-scherzinger-1235810398/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social"

I could find no mention of The Illusionist in that article.

[binau]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 8:46am

I just think her vocal nuances, timbre, dynamics, textures etc on the big songs is so strong, among the best I’ve ever heard for a female vocalist in theatre and so nuanced.  It’s also a unique sound, which is hard for pop sounding vocalists.
 

And for me by far the best on record for these songs. It was SLIGHTLY better live (I say this because I’ve been feeding off bootlegs for a year waiting) - might have been better if they recorded it slightly earlier. However, it’s still coming through strong on the recording so it feels almost like splitting hairs. I don’t know how anyone could suggest otherwise ESPECIALLY given Glenn Close vocals - if you prefer Glenn’s vocals over Nicole’s I don’t even know what to say my jaw would drop. 

As for his Evita, well I’ve already seen it he did it before. Assuming it’s the same production. You’re right it had a blank stage but no video cameras. I didn’t find it as jaw dropping (good way this time) as Sunset, but it was moderately thrilling and might be even better next time.

 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 9:51am

And to the question of how long she holds home here, it was a good 15 seconds when I saw it. It was something to behold and seeing the entire audience lean forward in anticipation of how long she would go. Vocal pyrotechnics at their finest really. 

[EvanstonDad]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 10:19am

Listening now. The orchestra sounds great and I really like Tom Francis's voice. But good lord the tempos are slow. So far this isn't the transformative experience others have been promising, but I'm sure the visuals make a huge difference. Don't think this will replace the original Broadway recording as my go to even though it's just objective fact that Scherzinger is a better singer than Close.

[binau]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 10:59am

OhHiii said: "And to the question of how long she holds home here, it was a good 15 seconds when I saw it. It was something to behold and seeing the entire audience lean forward in anticipation of how long she would go. Vocal pyrotechnics at their finest really."

I also LOVE the very long HOMEEEEEEEEEEEEE and then the quick "at"LASTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT........I think it was this moment that I felt that Nicole had basically written herself in the musical theatre history books.,

And it felt so earned in terms of the moment/character. Not pointless belting for the sake of it. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 11:31am

binau said: "OhHiii said: "And to the question of how long she holds home here, it was a good 15 seconds when I saw it. It was something to behold and seeing the entire audience lean forward in anticipation of how long she would go. Vocal pyrotechnics at their finest really.", 

I also LOVE the very long HOMEEEEEEEEEEEEE and then the quick "at"LASTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT........I think it was this moment that I felt that Nicole had basically written herself in the musical theatre history books.,

And it felt so earned in terms of the moment/character. Not pointless belting for the sake of it."

If Michael Riedel is right--I have no idea if he is--and Sunset Blvd. has never been a financial or long running hit in America (business fell off for the original production when Close left, and the costs associated with the show were so high that it never made a profit), is the general feeling here that this revival might outlast the original or at least make a genuine profit? Is this a game-changer in the show's history? 

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 11:48am

joevitus said: "If Michael Riedel is right--I have no idea if he is--and Sunset Blvd. has never been a financial or long running hit in America(business fell off for the original production when Close left, and the costs associated with the show were so high that it never made a profit), is the general feeling here that this revival might outlast the original or at least make a genuine profit? Is this a game-changer in the show's history?"

The original was a costly flop (at least on Broadway, not sure about its other territories) and it was ALW's first real foray into lead-producing after his years of work with Cameron Mackintosh, Robert Stigwood, etc. I believe he also had a lot of his own money in the show.

The Close revival might have returned 25-50% to investors, but having a 40-piece orchestra was the killer. (Especially now that we've heard how good it sounds with 19 and a really skillful sound design/synth augmentation.) I had heard a rumor at the time that Bernadette Peters was being courted by both DOLLY and SUNSET to replace; no idea if that's true, but we know what decision she made.

If the numbers sustain here through July (or beyond), I expect it will recoup. Maybe it can even tour to major markets sans-Nicole. Anecdotally, the show seems to be in that rarified space of "snob hit + cool & edgy thing that younger people like" which certainly helps to justify ticket prices and appeals to multiple demos.

Updated On: 10/25/24 at 11:48 AM

[binau]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 11:54am

That is interesting RE: Bernadette and Sunset. I think she chose the right show for the time of her career with "Dolly". 

From the NYTimes in 1997, the legend is that the show lost loads but according to this statement if true it might have mostly recouped? 

''Sunset Boulevard'' has paid back about 75 percent of its investment, with one more disbursement to come, said a spokesman for the show. In the end, investors will recoup 85 percent of their money."

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 1:56pm

This sounds very strong! Beautiful orchestra and sound mixing. Nicole and Tom sound great!

A bit torn on the slow tempos for Norma's big numbers (WOL and AIWNSG). They sound hypnotic and haunting, and the extended sustained notes ("I've come home at last") are very impactful. However, I just wish the tempo had a bit more drive. I do think the slow tempo accentuates some of the clunkier rhymes (rhyming dark with...dark). The many lyric changes are kind of a lateral move--I'll get used to them and they give Betty more edge which is nice, but some of them don't flow as well as the old lyrics (no one says I-da-HO). I think the big ensemble numbers have more impact on stage than on the album: having the ensemble be this sort of cold, faceless mass is super effective on stage but leads to them sounding a bit affectless and flat on the recording (the notes are not flat, I just mean emotionally). But no one is listening to this for the ensemble numbers, so that's really a non-issue.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 2:48pm

Did they cut the scene where Norma gives Joe the cigarette case that says “mad about the boy?” I missed the scene on the album but she still sings “mad about the boy” at the end during her breakdown.

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 2:51pm

Correct. Norma has written “mad about the boy” on her dressing room mirror which we see during the Act II opening. But there are no props, so everything about her giving Joe the cigarette case and Betty discovering it are cut.

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 5:27pm

spicemonkey said: "To Seb:is your life really as empty as that?"

Not as empty as saying these things to someone who gives an opinion on details of a cast recording that doesn't suit your vision, or puts you back into reality a bit.

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 5:29pm

binau said: "It was SLIGHTLY better live (I say this because I’ve been feeding off bootlegs for a year waiting) - might have been better if they recorded it slightly earlier. However, it’s still coming through strong on the recording so it feels almost like splitting hairs. I don’t know how anyone could suggest otherwise ESPECIALLY given Glenn Close vocals - if you prefer Glenn’s vocals over Nicole’s I don’t even know what to say my jaw would drop."

I agree, it was better live. I also heard a bootleg from last week on Broadway and it was better on there too. Do you know when the cast album was actually recorded?

 

Updated On: 10/25/24 at 05:29 PM

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 7:06pm

Seb28 said: "spicemonkey said: "To Seb:is your life really as empty as that?"

Not as empty as saying these things to someone who gives an opinion on details of a cast recording that doesn't suit your vision, or puts you back into reality a bit."

well
well
well
It's not about giving an opinion
It's what your comments "smell" like: always arrogant, taking all chances to trash other people's "poor taste" (in your pov).
as if you are the golden standard of musical theatre or what.

Btw, do not always click thumb up to your own comment ok, if your life is not empty ?
Get a mirror





Time to reflect what other people think about your attitude two years ago


Updated On: 10/25/24 at 07:06 PM

[Seb28]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 8:29pm

Just chill ok. I am giving my opinion on a cast recording. 

Always honest, always well substantiated. If this is a problem to you the solution lies within yourself.

Spicy discussions are not an attack on your identity.

 

 

Updated On: 10/25/24 at 08:29 PM

[TBFL]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 9:54pm

The show was recorded over five live performances, with the majority of the recording taken from the performance on Thursday 21st December 2023.

According to the CD notes - which are horrendous to read in red print against the black background

[chernjam]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 11:36pm

Lot666 said: "chernjam said: "Billboard just released this interview with ALW about the new album in which they kind of leak/confirm his next musical is The Illusionists and that Jamie Lloyd is doing Evita in London this summer

https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/andrew-lloyd-webber-sunset-blvd-album-nicole-scherzinger-1235810398/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social"
I could find no mention of The Illusionist in that article."

It appears to have been a "leak" because not only did I read it, but BWW was running a headline about it citing the Billboard article which about an hour or two later the headline was changed just to talk about Evita and the Billboard Article was changed.  So bizarre that there was no notice of the article being "edited" which I thought was standard protocol.  I thought it was so odd because it seemed like the most anti-climactic launch of a new project.  I'm assuming he got the rights issue worked out or I doubt he'd mention it to a reporter.  But probably wanted to wait to do  a proper launch

[chernjam]

Posted: 10/25/24 at 11:47pm

I dont remember ever being stuck in traffic before and being happy like I was today.  Got to sit and listen to the recording straight through two times today.  Memories of 31 years ago on a Friday just around this time of year being a Junior in college and finding an "Import" of the World Premiere Recording (for you young folk, no amazon, no streams, and the recording was released in the UK in August of 1993 with the American release not to come till closer to the LA opening, which for those of us desperate to hear the whole score, was a killer).  Anyway that day 31 years ago was the first time I remember ever connecting with a musical score like this.  In 31 years I've collected every official recording out there and a couple unofficial ones.  
Today felt as close to that day as ever. 

This recording easily ranks as the best of them all to me.  The fact that it was a live recording makes it even more spectacular, the quality is exceptional and can't imagine a studio recording being any better.  The few audience insertions only add to the thrill of it.  The orchestra sounds absolutely amazing and getting to listen through it twice after seeing it two weeks ago tomorrow, all the edits and changes ALW and the creatives made to it only enhanced what was already a masterpiece in my book.   

[binau]

Posted: 10/26/24 at 3:09am

One of the notes is that "9 microphones were added around the auditorium to achieve the special effect of the theatre". I wonder if this is why the recording does feel so full and not like one of those flat soundboard live recordings. Is this commonly done? 

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 10/26/24 at 8:51am

I am finally listening to this now. I saw the first performance of this production and had mixed reactions, but generally didn't like it. The hype both in London, as intensified in New York, is bewildering to me.

I thought listening to this might explain to me what I was missing, with Jamie Lloyd's visuals taken away. I was all set and enjoying it until Nicole came on.

She's talented. But she isn't Norma and this is either misdirection, miscasting, or both.

How does someone listen to this and take it seriously? Or is this just meant to be a campfest?

'Don't worry about monAYYYYYY, I'll make it worth your while, honAYYYYYY'.

Really? This is considered, as some critics have said, a 'megawatt performance for the ages'?

[binau]

Posted: 10/26/24 at 9:06am

I actually saw those moments that you describe as camp more like Norma’s desperation to hold onto behaving like her youth as if she was young and famous, so there is a subtext of almost patheticness which is very Norma. Your description of it makes it sound like you don’t see any subtext and Norma is just saying that to make the audience laugh, which is in my opinion a pretty shallow read of the character and production. 

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 10/26/24 at 9:09am

binau said: "I actually saw those moments that you describe as camp more like Norma’s desperation to hold onto behaving like her youth as if she was young and famous, so there is a subtext of almost patheticness which is very Norma. Your description of it makes it sound like you don’t see any subtext and Norma is just saying that to make the audience laugh, which is in my opinion a pretty shallow read of the character and production."

The reaction from the audience is clear in the recording itself: laughter.

It's trashy and inappropriate.

I wouldn't mind so much if this had a rewrite to set in the era Jamie Lloyd wanted it set in and Lloyd didn't have '1949' appear on the screen at the beginning. Updated On: 10/26/24 at 09:09 AM