What is your favorite cast recording? — Page 4

My favorite is Avenue Q. Although it's not that much of a moving show as it is funny, the album means alot to me because it was my first cast album I ever recieved. It's been listened to so many times that I wore out "Fantasies Come True" yesterday- when Kate comes in it starts to skip along. Thank goodness I imported the album on to my computer.

RAGTIME, SWEENEY TODD, GYPSY, RENT, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, WEST SIDE STORY

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Caroline, Or Change
Chess (86 concept)
Sweeney (original)
The Last 5 Years

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I sure wish I heard what others hear in scores like SWEENY TODD AND 'PIAZZA. I hate both these scores, and find them void of melody. Just a bunch of unconnected notes, under the lyrics, going nowhere. None of the music is something I ever want to hear again, let alone sing. None of it sounds like a song, to me. So many people just love them, and I just don't hear it. As opposed to something like, RAGTIME, where every song is melodic and beautiful to me; and, I just want to hear them over and over and over again. I suppose that's why I hate most musicals; but I wish I didn't.

I sure wish I heard what others hear in scores like SWEENY TODD AND 'PIAZZA. I hate both these scores, and find them void of melody. Just a bunch of unconnected notes, under the lyrics, going nowhere. None of the music is something I ever want to hear again, let alone sing. None of it sounds like a song, to me. So many people just love them, and I just don't hear it. As opposed to something like, RAGTIME, where every song is melodic and beautiful to me; and, I just want to hear them over and over and over again. I suppose that's why I hate most musicals; but I wish I didn't.

In a way I can understand where you are coming from, Johnboy2.

Older musicals tended to use songs writteb in standard ABAB or AABA. RAGTIME as a pastiche of early 20th century music does this too. SWEENEY, & PIAZZA are edging more towards opera with obvious classical refences where a theme in one song may reaapear later in the score but not within the same song. Taken as a whole each score is like one long rhapsody with dialogue interruptions. (Sondheim took this even further with PASSION - another score that some love and others hate. Passionately. But even those who hate it have to admit it is a marvel of musical construction.)

Much of SWEENEY's and some of PIAZZA's music is angular and discordant to emphazize character. This serves the drama well but I will admit it doesn't awlays make for easy-listening. It is foreground music that demands you get involved with the characters and story. A show like MAME you can enjoy just casually listening to the songs without having to remind yourself of who is singing and why.

As Sylvia Fine said comparing GOOD NEWS with COMPANY: "A creampuff is no subsitute for a steak. But each has it's place, and a good one too."

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...EVER??? God, that's like picking a favorite child.

Recently "The Light in the Piazza" and "The Drowsy Chaperone" for different reasons.

All-time? Probably "Sweeney Todd" (Original Cast) - A masterpiece from start to finish.

Sentimental favorite: Baby - because it reminds me of a very specific time and place in my life.

Classic? - The Most Happy Fella (Original Cast)

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Thanks for that, frontrow. It doesn't make me dislike it any less, but it sure as hell explains it! I hate opera, too. Well, I love lots of opera music, I just don't want to hear it sung. And, this opinion was formulated after a season of seeing various opera, starring some very well known opera stars, in their prime.