What is the best recording of OKLAHOMA!?- Page 2

[jo]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 12:59am

I think the score is best appreciated if one sees how the songs are acted out.

I was introduced to OKLAHOMA! via the movie version. And while I enjoyed watching and listening to Gordon McRae and Shirley Jones, I did not appreciate it as much as I did the film version of CAROUSEL.

But then I saw the stage version of the RNT OKLAHOMA! onstage the Lyric Theatre in London in 1999 and saw the filmed version later on DVD - and I thought it actually had a rousing score and quite a story which I failed to appreciate initially.

As to Hugh - just watch him singing and acting out THE SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON THE TOP - just perfect segueing from song to dialog to song!

So goes for his version of OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING and PEOPLE WILL SAY WE'RE IN LOVE.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 1:37am

The 1943 original cast (Decca) is an essential CD because it documents the show when it was new. It is not note-complete: most of the dance music is missing and several songs have lost verses here and there. Even the Finale does not represent the way it is done in the show, but it makes for an excellent album that never wears out its welcome. The recent Decca remaster is taken from the original 16-inch glass masters and has good high fidelity mono sound.

The best sung version is the film soundtrack (on Angel) with Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones. True the orchestrations have been enlarged, and two songs were eliminated, but it does give an enjoyable listen. The current edition includes extended dance music that was left off the original album.

The most vividly theatrical version is the 1979 revival cast (RCA Victor) and I like it quite a bit but I do find some of the performances a little too over-the-top. Being made in 1979 the sound here is much better than the original 1943 cast album and it does use the original orchestrations.

I also enjoy the Hugh Jackman London revival (First Night) quite a bit but the re-orchestration is bothersome. Not that it is bad but it is not an improvement over the originals. Also Susan Strohman and Trevor Nunn fiddled with it adding extra scenes and changing the original choreography. (The British for some reason feel the need to "improve" classic American musicals. They recently re-did MY FAIR LADY and SOUTH PACIFIC. I wish they would stop!) This is however the most complete version available on CD.


You really can't go wrong with any of the above.

You CAN go very wrong with the studio cast starring John Raitt and Florence Henderson (SONY), which is a really awful version.

An older Columbia studio cast with Nelson Eddy was out on CD (SONY, again) but seems to have been withdrawn in favour of the John Raitt stereo recording. It's no great loss but does offer a more complete reading of the score than Decca's set, but the cast is not exciting.

Also avoid the 1980 London revival (JAY) taped live in the theatre. The cast is no--name and the performances are dull.


As for the 1947 London cast with Howard Keel, (Angel) it is just a 16-minute medley of songs none of them complete nor in the order they appear in the show, so it's a useless recording.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 2:06am

The Royal National Theatre CD might be out of print, but it's not hard to find. Try Dress Circle or First Night Records. Don't pay sixty dollars for it. That's insane.

[alterego]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 9:27am

There is also the 1982 Australian Cast recording.

Although frontrowcentre calls the London 1980 album "no name" the Curly on the album is John Deidrich an Australian who is a name in both London and Australia having performed/produced shows in both Britain and Australia (OKLAHOMA! ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, NINE, CHICAGO and soon TITANIC). He recreates his Curly on the 1982 Australian Cast Album which is much better (and studio recorded) than the aforementioned London Album. A highlight of this album is the Ado Annie of Donna Lee. Worth getting if you can find it.

I don't care for the Hugh Jackman National Theatre version.
Updated On: 9/23/06 at 09:27 AM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 10:00am

The film soundtrack is my favorite

followed by the Hugh Jackman version!

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 10:28am

My biggest problem has always been the re-orchestration of the show. Oklahoma is so pure on the OCR. It's like a chamber piece. The orchestra balances perfectly with the cast (and let's face it, it's how the composer envisioned it). The movie is WAY to lush. It takes all the charm and originality out of the sound and Hollywoodizes it. And any time the orchestrations are re-written, it becomes another show for me.

As R&H produced the film version of OKLAHOMA!, I would assume that the orchestrations are just how they wanted them.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 10:52am

FrontRow echoed my sentiments on OKLAHOMA recordings exactly.

The re-orchestrations on the Jackman recording are simply not in the same league as the RRB originals. And sadly (on the DVD) Stroman's choreography cannot hold a candle to deMille's originals. But Jackman does make quite a fine (and fine-looking!) Curley.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 11:16am

JohnBoy2 you are correct in saying that Rodgers approved of the orchestrations of the movie, of course. But the purity of the original almost band-like sound of the stage version just seems to give the story so much life and vitality. 30 voilins have never seemed authentic to me in a mucisal score. It's just to lush. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the setting of the story or the time period.

But that's just me....

[folkyboy]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 11:23am

Patrick Wilson is my baby's daddy! let's stop serving him hateraide!

i do like the Hugh Jackman recording though. only because i never heard the Patrick Wilson cast.

[aprilwong]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 1:04pm

The Hugh Jackman recording.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 3:47pm

Undoubtedly the 1979 revival. Perfect.

[algy]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 4:05pm

I was reading the first page and thinking "Where's FrontRowCentre when you need him" and then there he was.

I have the Hugh Jackman version, which I love, and is easily available in the UK for around the £10 mark - import it, don't pay silly money for it.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 11:21pm

Thanks Algy!

FRC has been very busy seeing shows the past few weeks. A lot of openings in the Toronto area, plus I had to take time off to attend a family funeral.

I was looking for a link to my list on Amazon. I have done a few for shows with five or more recordings. "Which version of X should I get?" SO far I have done OKLAHOMA!, CAROUSEL, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, KISMET, and GYPSY. Working on MUSIC MAN, KING AND I, SOUTH PACIFIC and THE STUDENT PRINCE.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 8/6/22 at 11:02am

my top 3 are:

1979 revival cast recording, 1998 national theatre recording and the original film soundtrack

[jo]

Posted: 8/6/22 at 11:16am

spicemonkey said: "my top 3 are:

1979 revival cast recording, 1998 national theatre recording and the original film soundtrack"

Before the show opened in London at the RNT, Hugh was introduced to London audiences in a tribute concert for Cameron Mackintosh.

 

[noradesmond]

Posted: 8/6/22 at 1:21pm

Jay Blackton conducted the original and the ‘79 revival. And according to IMDB, he conducted for the movie as well. Coincidentally, those three are my favorites - not necessarily in that order. The RRB orchestrations can’t be beat. 

Updated On: 8/6/22 at 01:21 PM

[joevitus]

Posted: 8/6/22 at 6:56pm

JohnBoy2 said: "My biggest problem has always been the re-orchestration of the show. Oklahoma is so pure on the OCR. It's like a chamber piece. The orchestra balances perfectly with the cast (and let's face it, it's how the composer envisioned it). The movie is WAY to lush. It takes all the charm and originality out of the sound and Hollywoodizes it. And any time the orchestrations are re-written, it becomes another show for me.

As R&H produced the film version of OKLAHOMA!, I would assume that the orchestrations are just how they wanted them.
"

Robert Russel Bennet did the film orchestrations, as he'd done the original, and Jay Blackton, the show's original conductor, conducted the film score. Pretty sure the movie sounded exactly as Rodgers and Hammerstein wanted it to sound. I think the "chamber music" quality of the OBC recording probably has more to do with the recording limitations of the era, not the sound Rogers wanted. The OBC of Carousel is basically identical in sound. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 4:36am

MisterRussell said: "Undoubtedly the 1979 revival. Perfect."

Too cartoony, for my taste, and Laurence Guittard's voice is obviously strained by the demands of the score. But I've never heard from someone who caught the revival who didn't like it. 

[noradesmond]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 5:43pm

joevitus said: "MisterRussell said: "Undoubtedly the 1979 revival. Perfect."

Too cartoony, for my taste, and Laurence Guittard's voice is obviously strained by the demands of the score. But I've never heard from someone who caught the revival who didn't like it."

I saw it on tour. John Schneider was Curly and he was fantastic. Maybe the best I’ve seen. I’ve lost my program and old age has deprived me of my memory about who else was in it. I think Mary Wickes was Aunt Eller. Will and Ado Annie were wonderful. And Laurie was such a surprise to me. If I remember correctly, she was in overalls early on - a real girl workin’ on a farm - until Many A New Day when she got dressed for the social. If felt genuine and added such depth to the character.  She was lovely and sang beautifully. Wish I could put names to those actors but, again, I’m working from faded memories. STILL, it registers as my favorite Oklahoma! of the many I’ve seen. 

Least favorite was summer stock, theater in the round with John Raitt. Meh. 

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 6:44pm

noradesmond said: "joevitus said: "MisterRussell said: "Undoubtedly the 1979 revival. Perfect."

Too cartoony, for my taste, and Laurence Guittard's voice is obviously strained by the demands of the score. But I've never heard from someone who caught the revival who didn't like it."

I saw it on tour. John Schneider was Curly and he was fantastic. Maybe the best I’ve seen.I’ve lost my program and old age has deprived me of my memory about who else was in it. I think Mary Wickes was Aunt Eller. Will and Ado Annie were wonderful. And Laurie was such a surprise to me. If I remember correctly, she was in overalls early on - a real girl workin’ on a farm - until Many A New Day when she got dressed for the social. If felt genuine and added such depth to the character. She was lovely and sang beautifully. Wish I could put names to those actors but, again, I’m working from faded memories. STILL, it registers as my favorite Oklahoma! of the many I’ve seen.

Least favorite was summer stock, theater in the round with John Raitt. Meh."

love reading those memories / stories of productions decades ago, thank you.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 8/9/22 at 8:13am

I thought Trevor Nunn was the first to put Laurey in overalls. Is it possible you're confusing the 1979 with the 2002 revival? The YouTube clips of the '79 production have Christine Andreas appearing in dresses all the way through. I've never been a fan of putting Laurey in pants - I highly doubt it would have been acceptable back then would it, for a girl to be in pants? If it was why wasn't she in overalls in the original production and movie?

[BETTY22]

Posted: 8/9/22 at 10:24am

I love the most recent revival. IThe cast album very blue grass and made me listen to every single lyric.