The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?- Page 3

[Jwei123]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 11:47am

I'm going with Bernadette and Marc K.

[Elizabeth_DeBris]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 11:56am

That's true. I guess it depends on how you want to define "best voice."

[MusicalDirector109]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 11:56am

Female: Julie Andrews
Ethel Merman
Audra McDonald
Male: George Hearn
Alfred Drake
Brian Stokes Mitchell

[Demitri2]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 12:15pm

I can't believe only one person listed Streisand. She's had one of the longest most successful careers ever based mostly on her singing voice. She's sold over 70.5 million albums, started on the legit stage yet only ONE person listed her?!?!?! Yet Julie Andrews is listed multiple times. How many albums did Andrews put out compared to Babs? (or Minnelli for that matter?) We ARE talking about the greatest voices aren't we? Sure Andrews was phenomenal but let's compare "Star" to "Funny Girl" as far as the female voice sending chills up and down one's spine. I just don't get it....Streisand would still outsell Andrews (given she could still sing) in any concert/musical setting so why is she being shortchanged on this board?

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 12:23pm

Sure Ethel was an amazing performer with a big voice, but I wouldn't classify it as one of the best voices ever. W/o a doubt Audra.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 12:37pm

Why do people always forget about Dorothy Loudon?

Updated On: 4/10/05 at 12:37 PM

[Sant]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 12:56pm

"I can't believe only one person listed Streisand. She's had one of the longest most successful careers ever based mostly on her singing voice. She's sold over 70.5 million albums, started on the legit stage yet only ONE person listed her?!?!?! "

DEMITRI: She's on TWO lists, actually. On mine and Elisabeth DeBris's. She has a great voice, but let's keep in mind that she has done only two B'way shows (I Can Get It... and Funny Girl) as far as I know, and they've been like 40 years ago. And not that she hasn't had a chance to get back on Broadway stages... So that may be a reason people haven't listed her, people may consider her more a recording artist than a 'Broadway Star' - which this thread is basically about.

But she DOES have a great voice, and she DID start from Broadway, so that's why I included her on my list. And a curious detail: Liza appears on only two lists as well though she has been in more Broadway shows than Babs.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 1:19pm

Miriam: your list is definitive.

May I add: Karen Morrow

[Hank]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 1:44pm

Mandy Patinkin

Sutton Foster

[paradox_error]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 2:41pm

I'm staying away from this thread, but I want to thank Miriam for her post.

What a wonderful list! Thankyou Miriam!

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 2:43pm

Julie Andrews

and

George Hearn

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 3:31pm

Female
Julie Andrews
Donna Murphy
Sutton Foster

Male
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Mandy Patinkin

[Sheri]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 3:36pm

My vote definitely goes to John Raitt! I'm so sad that he's gone.

[ButtonstheClown]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 3:36pm

I've got to go with Norbert Leo Butz.

So good.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 3:43pm

Barbra Streisand
Barbra Cook
Liza Minnelli
Bernadette Peters
Patti Lupone
and
George Hearn
Hal Linden
Alfred Drake
John Raitt
John Barrowman

[Broadway Style]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 4:01pm

Demitri2-while reading through the first pages you took the rant right out of my mouth..
I think Barbra Streisand has one of the most amazing voices ever-everything else about her IMHO is up for debate but there is abosloutely no denying her voice

OTHER FEMALES:
Judy Garland- I am not sure about her Broadway credits but I love her voice too
Chenoweth-one of the most unique voices
Marin Mazzie
Jennifer Holliday

MALES:
John Raitt
High Panaro

Updated On: 4/10/05 at 04:01 PM

[Demitri2]

Posted: 4/10/05 at 7:10pm

Ooooh Slant....I guess what first made me notice the Streisand omission was seeing Andrews name appear on so many people's lists and Streisand's on only two. Then I couldn't help but think, you (and most the other posters) would then consider Andrews a more popular choice as far as being considered a musical theater voice but Streisand you would not for reasons you mentioned. That's where I can't separate these two performers. Julie had 3 shows to my knowledge and Babs had two before they both abandoned the stage for decades. Both went to Hollywood and made musicals (winning Oscars) in the early to mid sixties (Babs recreating more female musical theater heroines than anyone else at the time in films like "Funny Girl", "Dolly" and "Clear Day" and using a musical theater voice).Both became film stars and made the usual transition to light comedy. As far as Andrews later doing "Victor/Victoria" (her best medium for later success), there was Streisand around the same time probably playing Madison Square Garden (concert tour) so I just see them as having careers too similiar to place one in this category and not the other. Though Babs did have a recording career, I always felt she sang all that pop rock post sixties stuff because that's what was selling. At the right time she did her "Broadway" and "Back to Broadway" albums and a great portion of her concert material is theater related. So I guess what I'm still wondering is...lol....was Streisand eliminated for reasons other than being too diversified? Does she not have a relationship to Broadway as strong as most regardless of whether she's choosen to use her musical theater voice in film, recordings and concerts rather than on a stage?

[stonewall2]

Posted: 4/11/05 at 4:36pm

For sheer clarity and diction Mary Martin topped my list! Have you ever listened to songs as a kid and completly misunderstood the words 'cause the singer wasn't clear(and then felt like a fool as an adult!!!)??

[mikewood]

Posted: 4/11/05 at 4:39pm

richard kiel Don Quixote

Betty Buckley

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/11/05 at 4:48pm

Ethel Merman was very loud and hit the notes, but I would not consider her one of the "greatest" voices, just one of the most famous.

I think my favorite voice to listen to would have to be Helen Gallagher. She had a very distinct sound with a lot of power and pizzazz, but could instantly flip to a softer and more nuanced sound. I just think the woman was nothing less than amazing.

One of the most impressive voices to grace the Broadway stage (as fleeting as it was) has to be Yma Sumac. My jaw drops every time I listen to Flahooley.

But overall, I think the "best" female voice has to go to Barbara Cook. Her voice displayed amazing range and character. I'm impressed with her in every cast recording she made.

For men, I'm not sure anyone could beat John Raitt, but let's not forget the amazing range, emotion and clarity of David Carroll. Probably the best male voice on Broadway post-Golden Age.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 4/11/05 at 5:02pm

Geez. Who would know that praising our favorites could turn into such an argument? That being said, I would have to go with:
Male: Ben Wright (I think that's his name, ITW)
Female: Nothin' against Streisand, I just don't prefer her, but I am going to have to go with Andrews.

[stylinbohemian]

Posted: 4/11/05 at 6:58pm

Female- i personally think idina Menzel's voice is phanominal

Male- I really liked Neil Patrick Harris's voice in Assassins revival cast recording

[zippyjen]

Posted: 4/11/05 at 7:25pm

female-
julie andrews
Jennifer Holiday
Heather Headley
sherie renee scott
stephanie d'abruzzo
mary martin

male-
adam pascal
raul esparza
norbert leo butz
and i happen to adore joel grey

[hannahshule]

Posted: 4/11/05 at 7:35pm

I'd just like to congratulate Miriam on her list, well done!

I'd have to agree with almost evryone you said!

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/11/05 at 8:43pm

I just realized that I haven't made my own list.

LEGENDARY FEMALES
Patti LuPone
Ethel Merman
Dorothy Loudon
Barbara Cook
Lotte Lenya
Mary Martin
Vivienne Segal
Julie Andrews
Judy Garland
Bernadette Peters

CONTEMPORARY FEMALES
Melissa Errico
Emily Skinner
Alice Ripley
Audra McDonald
Michele Pawk
Carolee Carmello
Victoria Clark
Tonya Pinkins
Donna Murphy
Marin Mazzie

LEGENDARY MALES
Alfred Drake
John Raitt
George Hearn
Mandy Patinkin
Larry Kert

CONTEMP. MALES
Norm Lewis
Raul Esparza
Norbert Leo Butz
Malcolm Gets
Michael Cerveris
Boyd Gaines