WSS CD- Page 5
WSS CD
#100re: WSS CD
Posted: 6/7/09 at 1:44am
The tempos on the OBCR are not Bernstein's tempos. It's been said the revival is very accurate to his tempos.
Goddard Lieberson had the tempos on the OBCR sped up to fit as much material on an Lp was possible. (57 minutes making it the longest cast album at that time.) Bernstein was not there for the recording, so it was done without his blessing.
This underscores my argument against recording shows love in the theatre. These tempos may be fine for what happens on stage but on the recording they tend to sound sluggish.
Bernstein himself could be erratic with tempos. His CANDIDE recording is almost too fast. On balance he did a recording of CARMEN for DGG in the 1970s. The prelude is taken at a deadly slow pace. It should be a brisk march and plays like a dirge. His recording of WSS (also on DGG) has a great orchestra track but as soon as Kiri te Kanawa and Jose Carreras begin singing...head for the hills. I remember the excitement when the recording was announced and the crushing disappointment when I first played it. I have seldom played it since and that was ...24 (!) years ago that it was issued.
I have played teh new recording a few times and like a lot of it. But what is with Maria's vocalizing in "I Feel Pretty"? Is she supposed to be a failed opera star? Matt Cavanaugh has a gorgeous voice, and the youthful sound the role requires. Certainly more youthful than Larry Kert on the OBCR. And given the extra time a CD affords there isn't much on here that wasn't on the OBCR and in some places even less.
I like the CD but it doesn't eclipse the OBCR. It is, however, a worthy alternative.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#101re: WSS CD
Posted: 6/7/09 at 2:03amThe only thing I don't like is that they didn't include the taunting scene and a more complete finale. I'm used to listening to the 2 disc Jay Records recording so I sort of miss those tracks. This one wins for sound quality and I really like the Spanish so it'll probably end up being the recording I listen to the most in spite of the missing material.
#102re: WSS CD
Posted: 6/7/09 at 2:33amWell this production doesn't use the orchestration of the taunting scene. So it would have been pretty pointless to record that. I do love the orchestration, but I can understand why it's not used.
#103re: WSS CD
Posted: 6/7/09 at 2:38amWith the original orchestrations it's is just a reworking of the mambo music from "The Dance at the Gym" (which is already recorded) and builds to crescendo then cuts off without a proper ending when Doc enters . That's the kind of music that is very effective in the theatre but does not belong on a cast album.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#104re: WSS CD
Posted: 6/7/09 at 3:28amWell, I like it on the double disc recording as well as the Nashville Symphony Orchestra recording. It just makes it a little bit more complete for me. It's a pivotal scene and it's nice to have it recorded, but if they don't include the music in the revival then it definitely makes sense why they chose not to include it.
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