Sweeney Todd PBS — Page 10

Johanna is also a very flighty character, at least in the OBC (not so much in this version). The song is almost a stream of consciousness at times, although the theme and images remain the same.

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Unforgivable.

I do have some nerve, don't I?

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I should have worn green.

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http://video.pbs.org/video/2365329433/

gypsy, I know this is small consolation, but other posters above also reported that it would be available for three years; so I think the error was in the listing not your reading comprehension.

My husband and I watched and enjoyed the concert, but we sat down last night and listened to the OBCR (the 2-CD set with some dialogue) and couldn't help but notice how much better it was, vocally and dynamically. Maybe a revisit on your part will make up for missing the Philharmonic.

^^^ For all the dazzling wordplay, now that I am older:

"I should have worn green
I wore green the last time
The time I was happy"

Are the lyric lines I find most moving in the entire show (FOLLIES).

Can someone refresh my memory? I remember Dorothy Collins wearing a sort of metallic grey-green in her Jean Harlow look for "Losing My Mind". Is that correct?

Updated On: 10/6/14 at 10:14 PM

Thank you, Mr. N. That's exactly how I remember it. It reads as "greenish" to me, though obviously the fabric is composed of multiple colors.

While I did enjoy it, and it kind of brought back the love for the score for me (I have not listened to any Sweeney Todd recordings in a long time), I have to say that in my opinion, there was something off with Bryn Terfel's acting. I feel that during many parts of the show, I felt no emotions from him, and that kind of took me out of the moment. Overall though, the show was still good, and I am glad I caught it, before they took down their online video too.

I'm not so sure his choices were well thought out... or even "choices," per se.

I think he just can't act.

What I mean is Bryn Terfel NEVER acts. Even HE didn't act in this!

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Updated On: 10/7/14 at 10:59 AM

I'll have to take your word for that, PJ, being far from a Wagner expert, but I still think everyone who was on this board RAVING about Terfel's magnificent performance earlier this Spring was either being disingenuous (because of how much they paid for their tix?) or simply didn't care about the quality of the actor in a concert setting. Unfortunately, his vocal performance alone was far from ideal anyway.

I think what kinda riles me about this whole thing is the idea that having an opera sing play Sweeney somehow elevates the experience into the "serious music" realm. When, in fact, when opera singers try to take on musical theatre, the results are often middling to disastrous. Even the great NY Phil gave a strangely anemic performance.

Anyway, we have George Hearn preserved on video multiple times. I'm good.

Updated On: 10/7/14 at 11:52 AM

Gav - I'm referring to video taped productions. Many of us weren't even twinkles in the milk man's eyes when Cariou played Sweeney. The closest I've gotten was his performance of "A Little Priest" with Lansbury at Sondheim's 75th b'day concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Hearn gets mentioned because his is the Sweeney performance best preserved for posterity. I have no doubt Cariou was magnificent.