I don’t see how this wouldn’t get a Grammy nomination. I believe Dear Evan Hansen has been the favorite for the win so far, though (but this Sunday blows DEH completely out of the water, IMO).
Didn't get a chance to see this production, and I held off listening to Move On on NPR, so my first listen to anything from this was just now and I am blown away!
The only word I can think to describe this recording is "soaring." Crisp, beautiful orchestra, and the vocal mixing is perfection.
These orchestrations are unbelievably. It sounded beautiful in the theater, but nothing compared to how they sound on this recording.
I'm sure DEAR EVAN HANSEN or HELLO DOLLY (yuck) will still win the Grammy, but this is truly the best cast album of this (and many other) seasons.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
Well I'm pretty speechless in regards to this absolutely brilliant recording. I listened to a few songs on my way to work this morning and almost had to pull over because I started crying during Sunday. I got to work and my supervisor asked if everything was alright because my eyes were all red. LOL. I can't remember the last time I rewound multiple songs JUST to listen to the beautiful orchestrations. Just an overall stunning capture of this amazing score.
Also how wonderful it would be for Ashford and Gyyllenhaal to win Grammy's after not being able to contend for Tony awards.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
Stayed up way too late last night listening to it while I worked in my hotel room. Flying home tonight. I usually watch a movie or Netflix show on flights. Tonight, I think I’ll just listen to this some more...
I didn't get a chance to see the show on Broadway (I am unashamedly asking for bootlegs if anyone wants to PM me), but the album has the beautiful transportive powers which I think only Fun Home had, out of recent albums. That is the only other show which I am able to picture in front of me when I listen to it, I close my eyes and I'm sitting in the theater. And with SITPWG show, even though I didn't see it live, having had seen all these performer live once is enough - you can picture them because of the quality of their acting-singing and this gorgeous mixing.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
This was 100% worth the wait. Clearly, a lot of love and care was put into the production of this album and it shows. I feel like I'm hearing the score for the first time again. All of my favorite moments are there, but also so many new things I'm hearing that are equally as breathtaking. It all sounds *so* good - not sterile at all, just overwhelmingly gorgeous and crystal clear.
BroadwayConcierge said: "Up to #33 on the overall iTunes chart. Not too shabby for a Broadway revival of a Sondheim that's been closed for six months!"
Now #30!!! Yay!! I feel like we're in that one "Dreamgirls" scene.
I really hope this recording wins the Grammy. It really deserves it.
They/them.
"Get up the nerve to be all you deserve to be."
Are we sure the orchestrations are completely original? I haven't spent the time to sit and listen side-by-side but it does sound like I'm hearing things for the first time and I wonder if that's because we are indeed hearing things for the first time. For example, when I listen to "No Life" the orchestrations are so interesting - much more pleasant than I remember ever hearing on record before (something I didn't really notice in the theatre though).
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I am sure Starobin took some liberties with his own work. Plus he had two additional musicians to work with, so I’d think he made some changes. I am also hearing too many moments that sound brand new to me. They are definitely some of the greatest orchestrations of all time, they put the London/Roundabout reduction to total shame. Even the expanded sound on the London recording can’t come close to Starobin’s work.
Serious question: What does everyone think is the main problem with the Hello, Dolly! album? I ask because I can't really seem to understand the hate for it. I'm bummed that it doesn't include the bow music, but it basically sounds exactly the same way that it does in the theatre. Just wondering, since I wouldn't really say that this recording sounds any better than Dolly's. Although the packaging of the Dolly album seems nice at first, until you realize that there's one picture in the whole booklet, which I could easily see how that could piss some people off.
GeorgeandDot said: "Serious question: What does everyone think is the main problem with the Hello, Dolly! album? I ask because I can't really seem to understand the hate for it. I'm bummed that it doesn't include the bow music, but it basically sounds exactly the same way that it does in the theatre. Just wondering, since I wouldn't really say that this recording sounds any better than Dolly's. Although the packaging of the Dolly album seems nice at first, untilyou realize that there's one picture in the whole booklet, which I could easily see how that could piss some people off."
IMO, there's 'no life' in it, everyone almost seems 'robotic'. The ensemble numbers are too clean? and quiet. The complete opposite when experiencing it live in the theatre.
Just finishing the 'Sunday' cast recording and wow is all I must say. I loved all the new orchestrations I heard too. I wish they included more of the chromnolume #7 thou
finally listened to the new recording last night and was blown away by it. we are so lucky to have received this album! the moment where the chorus sings acapella during the finale brought a tear to my eye. if jake gyllenhaal starred in a film adaptation of Sunday that would be phenomenal.
georgeanddot, the problem i had with the dolly recording is that it's sterile and lifeless. it's such a mechanical uninspired recording, especially since it's a musical with multiple other better recordings.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
This Sunday recording is absolutely gorgeous, but I don't have a problem with the Dolly recording. The songs sound good and energetic (at least to me), the orchestrations are beautiful, and all the actors sound great. It's my favorite recording of Dolly because I love the cast infinitely better than other production, and this specific revival is one of my favorites. The original and 94 cast albums were better in orchestrations though.
The one disappointing thing about the recording is the French Horn not screwing up the final note like they did in the theatre. Didn't they want to make it realistic!?!?!
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000