The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever? — Page 3

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#51

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

I'm going with Bernadette and Marc K.

awkward.

"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912

#52

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

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

#53

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

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

#54

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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?

#55

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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.

#56

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

Why do people always forget about Dorothy Loudon?

"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

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

#57

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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.

#58

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

Miriam: your list is definitive.

May I add: Karen Morrow

#59

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

Mandy Patinkin

Sutton Foster

#60

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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!

#61

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

Julie Andrews

and

George Hearn

#62

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

Female
Julie Andrews
Donna Murphy
Sutton Foster

Male
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Mandy Patinkin

"Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one." -Stella Adler

#63

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

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

The Official Douglas Hodge Fansite

#64

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

I've got to go with Norbert Leo Butz.

So good.

Silence seemed the only way. Now I understand it's cost.

#65

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

"Blow out the candles Robert and make a wish. Want something, want SOMETHING."

#66

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

"Fidelity is more than mere display, it's what a man expects from life. Fidelity, like mine to Desiree and Charlotte my devoted wife..."

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

#67

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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?

#68

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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!!!)??

"I'm mad, you're mad. we're all mad"... The Cheshire Cat

#69

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

richard kiel Don Quixote

Betty Buckley

BLAH BLAH BLAH

#70

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#71

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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.

"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

#72

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

"If There's One Thing to Learn it's You Just Can't Go Wrong If You Follow Your Heart, and End With A Song"

#73

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

"At the opening night party, they had clowns on stilts, jugglers, a chocolate fountain, popcorn, hot dogs. [My son] looked at me like I had been holding back. Like, 'This is what you do?' I had to tell him, 'No, no, darling. Opening nights don't usually look like this.' It's usually a dark bar with a bottle of vodka." ?Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Jan Maxwell plus i proudly share the title of the shortest member over the age of 10 with wickedrentq!

#74

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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!

~And let us try, before we die, to make some sense of life~

#75

re: The Greatest Musical Theatre Voices Ever?

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

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