Which Pacific Overture Recording should I buy?

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 7:43pm

Well everyone gave me GREAT advice for Follies, and I'm 100% satisfied, so what about Pacific Overtures?

Which Cast Recording Should I buy? Also how do You like it? I'm not really familiar with it at all, but do I buy CD's and DVD's that's I haven't heard or seen before? Yes, All the time including The Color Purple last night at Target!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 7:47pm

I have both American productions, and like the newest one better, but the original cast recording is good too....

[C is for Company]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 8:00pm

My favorite song, Someone in a Tree I find to be so much better in the original, but overall I enjoy the new recording more.

[Jud Faginsky]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 8:07pm

Thank you C! I have only heard Someone in a Tree from the new recording on this website and on accuradio. I think it's terrible. I haven't listened to my original recording in a number of years (it's a record) but I remember loving the song, and I couldn't understand why I hate it now. So if the old version is much better, that would explain it.

[lvpblues]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 8:43pm

The OBC is gorgeous. Thrilling performances (particularly Mako as the Reciter) and such a beautifull layered and complex score... You can get more music on the other recordings (the 2-disc London recording contains the entire show - dialogue and all - I know Jay reissued a highlights version, but I'm not sure whether the complete one is still in print), but I highly recommend the original.

~Kev
Updated On: 2/1/06 at 08:43 PM

[C is for Company]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 8:47pm

It really seems that this is one of those recordings with no set opinion which is the best, just like Assassins and Chess. Good luck picking. BTW which recording of Follies do you have that you liked a lot? If its the OBC then nvm, cause I have it and absolutely do not see what is so great with the show, althought I havent seen it and maybe its one that you have to see to get. I am 100% in the minority of those who place Follies in the bottom 3 of my Sondheim Favorites list

[jasonf]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 9:22pm

The London opera one has very poor sound quality. It's good, but it's difficult to listen to. The OBC or the revival is definitely better.

[guitarperson]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 9:34pm

I prefer the original recording but perhaps that is just because I was so accustomed to it before the new one came out. One advantage of the older recording is fuller orchestrations. The one song of the new recording that I think is definately inferior is "Please Hello." I do, however, enjoy B.D. Wong's performance quite a bit.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 11:34pm

I prefer the OBCR by far! I found quite a few of the singing voices on the revival recording quite unpleasant. They couldn't sing nor could they "talk" the song well. It just sounded bad to me.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:54am

I don't enjoy the revival recording - the OBC is absolutely brilliant. Definitely the OBC.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 10:29am

1) OBC is the first one to get. Original tempos, orchestrations, great recording!
2) English Opera recording is also good. This is how I first heard the show and fell in love with it, but then I heard the OBC.
3) Revival is last (sorry folks). The singing is pleasant and it is a nice recording (though BD is a little bland), without the full orchestrations and acoustic, I found it wanting.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 11:46am

The OBC is (as usual) the one that best represents the authors' intentions. It is not among the ones being remastered and reissued in a few weeks, but I suspect that if the first batch of Sondheim reisues sells well they will do more.

The English National Opera recording (available in the US as a British import on the That's Entertainment label) is 2 Cd's and has the entire show including all dialogue. The CD is recorded at a low level but there are plans to re-master and re-release this on their US label JAY later this year, so you might want to wait for that.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 1:05pm

The OBC. The revival disc sucks.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 1:08pm

Neither. Look, I adore Sondheim, but it's just a really boring score.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:15pm

In your opinion. Pacific Overtures has MANY fans.

[Pippin]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:35pm

Pacific overture is definately not a boring score. it is one of my favorite sondheim scores. maybe you just appreciate it becuase it draws from "pacific" music rather than the western sounds that sondheim writes in.

the opening is vibrant
there is no other way is one of his most beautiful songs.
next is a wonderful closing number brimming with electricity in the orchestrations.

I am sorry that you do not appreciate it, but it is by no means boring IMO

[C is for Company]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 3:25pm

Next, The Advantages of floating in the middle of the sea, and Someone in a tree are must haves and I feel those three if I ever had to make a compilation cd of his best songs from his shows, would all be on there representing Pacific

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 3:36pm

Thanks, It seems that the OBC is the one to get.

In regards to Follies, The 1998 Paper Mill CD is the one that is getting played more.

While I like the original, I'm liking the Paper Mill Version More.