South Pacific (Which Recording?)

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 2:44pm

I'm looking at picking up South Pacific, but was wondering which recording I should look at getting?
I know there are multiple versions out there, but I'm looking for something complete with a good cast. Anybody have suggestions?
Thank you!

[folkyboy]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 2:47pm

i rather like the Reba/Stokes one that was recently released. i listen to that one quite often

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 3:00pm

Get the Film Soundtrack or the Mary Martin original...AVOID THE TV MOVIE SOUNDTRACK WITH GLENN CLOSE AT ALL COSTS!

[JBSinger]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 3:36pm

If you want some authenticity, go for the Original Broadway cast with Mary Martin. It's not complete at all, but it is pretty wonderful. The recent Reba/Stokes Carnegie Hall version is pretty terrific. Reba scoops up, Stokes falls off, Lilias and Jason are amazing and Alec is very funny. Orchestra sounds fantastic and you get the Live nature of the event. It regularly makes its way into my Cd player.

But if you're willing to wait a couple months, the Lincoln Center cast will probably have theirs out by summer 08.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 3:45pm

Will there be a new one this Spring with the great cast and 30-piece orchestra Ted Sperling will lead at Lincoln Center Theater?

I hope so!

Certainly the R & H organization should agree to that if they didn't for the Oklahoma on Broadway recently. Although it had the terrific Patrick Wilson it had that British woman as Laurie who couldn't really sing and would have been awful.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 7:55pm

I love the Mary Martin recording, but if you can find it at a library, watch the concert with Reba and Stokes. I didn't like "South Pacific" at all until I watched it. Then, I understood why it won a Pulitzer Prize.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 8:28pm

London Revival

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 10:11pm

I love the Carnegie Hall recording. I won it right here on BWW, so I got it for free and didn't have to love it. But I really, really do. It makes me cry and it makes me laugh and it makes the hair on my arms tingle.

Updated On: 12/21/07 at 10:11 PM

[Broadway Bound2]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 10:16pm

I would gowith the Original Broadway Cast (Mary Martin). You will get good vocals from all the cast and it is complete as it is the Original.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 10:19pm

I have the Motion Picture recording and it's ok, pity about the quality being so poor and crackly, but maybe there are re-mastered versions about. I also have a Full symphonic, with a crap cast, but great orchestra, as such recordings so often are.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:37pm

The overture on the original is so lush. I can close my eyes and get transported back to the Majestic Theater in '49 (no, I wasn't born then). It's just a great time capsule.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 1:56am

There's only one recording of South Pacific as far as I'm concerned. With the original you will understand why Mary Martin was an audience favorite, why an opera singer needs to sing Emile (though Stokes did an excellent "This Nearly Was Mine"), why "You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught" is the most important song in the piece, and why Juanita Hall won the Best Supporting Actress Tony.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 2:04am

I would get the Original Cast Recording for all the reasons Jewishboy describes, and the recent Carnegie Hall concert recording for completeness (performances are nicer than the Paige O'Hara JAY recording, though I'm not sure if the JAY is even more complete than the Carnegie Hall).
Mary Martin's Nellie can't be beat.

[choitoy]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 2:54am

Anyone here have an opinion on the National Theatre version?

[westcoast_wannabe]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 5:41am

I have to cast my vote for the Carnegie Hall (Reba / Stokes) recording. I just bought it a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely love it. I know other people have said that they don’t care for Brian Stokes Mitchell but he made me fall in love with “What Nearly Was Mine.” I used to hate that song, I felt like it was too long, just going on forever repeating the same thing over and over again; now it’s my favorite song in the show. Reba is perfect as Nellie. She is a home spun sweet as apple pie all American girl who captures that character in every way.

[Janki]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 6:27am

The National Theatre/London Revival is amazing. Lauren Kennedy and Phillip Quast sing Rodgers and Hammerst. as if they've never done anything else their whole life. Saw the show as well, and loved it! So get that one!!!!

[lesmis]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 7:40am

I agree that the Original Cast Recording is the one to get. I think that Mary Martin must have been amazing to see onstage.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 8:25am

allofmylife, I adore the overture! Most played track on the album for me.

[choitoy]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 4:55am

Janki, thanks for your opinions. I was debting if I should get the NT cast or not, and I guess I'll have to check it out now.

Posted: 12/23/07 at 5:37am

Absolutely - the NT recording is a superb memento of a stunning show. I have most of the SP recordings, and now I never play anything other than the NT one. Lauren Kennedy and Philip Quast are, for me, the definitive Nellie and Emile.

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 12:10pm

The London recording is flawless. Much as I like the idea of O'Hara as Nellie, I wish Kennedy was doing the role at Lincoln Center.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 4:10pm

The original hands down. No question. Second would be Carnegie Hall.

The worst recording has to be the studio cast recording with Kiri te Kanawa, Jose Carreras, Mandy Patinkin and Sarah Vaughan. Thoroughly awful in every way.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/23/07 at 8:33pm

Vmlinnie,

I directed a production of the show in the 1970's. Our orchestra was nine violins, three viola, two celli, two string bass (doubling tubas) and the usual R&H five reed, three trumpet, two trombone, percussion piano and for the only time a harp. A thiry piece orcehstra. You coulnd't store a snickers bar in that pit.

But what a sound. When that overture blasts out with the Bali Hai theme, MAN does the hair on your neck go up.

Funny story I heard: During the original run, R&H had three shows running on Broadway simultaneously. Thieves would buy front row seats and then send them to rich people with a "letter" from Richard Rogers saying "here's the tickets I promised." Of course, tickets were rarer than hen's teeth.

Then, while the people were at the show (and they ALWAYS went) their houses would be burgled.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 12/24/07 at 3:24am

I think that South Pacific may be my favorite R&H score. The King & I is a close second ...

I have the OBC, the recent London cast and the Reba/Stokes cast. All of these have value, but if you are going to choose just one, I say get the original. Martin & Pinza are perfection, the orchestrations are divine and it clips right along.