Wicked German CD /cast CD trends

[Justin D]

Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#1

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:51pm

Yes, Wicked, I know, but hey, it leads onto something else....

So I got my German Wicked CD today and was rather disapointed that they sung over the Broadway CD's orchestra track. I was hoping to hear some new orchestrations and even hoping they could include some extras not on the Broadway CD. Anyways, it seems that this is starting to be a trend where producers retain the rights to the recorded score so when another cast recording comes out, they just have to record the actors and mix it over the music track. I guess it saves money, but is it fair to the orchestra?

Atleast with this CD they have credited the orchestra used on the Broadway CD, the other cases there this has happened there were no such credit:

Phantom uses the Canadian Track for the Mexican and Korean CDs
Lion King uses the Hamburg track for the Dutch and French CDs
(I'm sure it happens elswhere but those are the only ones I've picked up on)

So it it is a money issue, does this mean that we should expect more cast recordings in the future from other shows since $$$ has always been a factor in producing recordings? (although Japan has yet to put out a Wicked CD)

What do you all think about this practice?

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre

[defyingravity11]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#2

Posted: 1/8/08 at 6:26pm

I was dissapointed as well. If they're going to produce a new recording, they really should record new orchestrations.

[strelimyn]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#2

Posted: 1/8/08 at 9:57pm

This was quite disappointing to me too. I found myself focusing on the orchestra track just trying to find a difference. I'm glad I am not the only person who found this odd.

sumladfrompa.tumblr.com

[DottieD'Luscia]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#3

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:01pm

Wicked is making money hand over fist and it's quite pathetic that the powers that be can't spring for a complete original recording. I don't know what else to say.

Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#4

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:01pm

As unfortunate as it is, this may be the only way to get more cast recordings that the original one.
I do dislike this recording over previous track trend, but if it's the only way to get more cast recordings, then so be it.
Truth is that cast recordings are not only expensive to produce but also a tough sell.

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

[everythingtaboo]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#5

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:25pm

That sucks. Especially considering that show is making money hand over fist. How great was the Chicago London revival with their orchestrations? Even the Chicago Vienna revival cast recorded the live show. Surely Wicked could do something like that.

"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#6

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:34pm

What dictates whether a show has a cast recording other than the original? (as in with a foreign cast) I wish there could be more recordings of my favorite shows in different languages. I was really upset when the actors or actor's agents wouldn't allow for the Hairspray movie to have the album in French. I can live with tracks being recorded over the original orchestrations, I just want to hear what some of my favorite shows sound like in a language other than the original.
Also, why does it seem like more cast recordings are produced when the London show moves to Broadway versus when the Broadway show moving to London?

"I mean, sitting side by side with another man watching Patti LuPone play Rose in GYPSY on Broadway is essentially the equivalent of having hardcore sex." -Wanna Be A Foster. "Say 'Goody.' Say 'Bubbi.'" ... "That's it. Exactly as if it were 'Goody.' Now I know you're gonna sing 'Goody' this time, but nevertheless..."

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#7

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:41pm

why does it seem like more cast recordings are produced when the London show moves to Broadway versus when the Broadway show moving to London?

I don't know that I agree, I think the trend lately has been that there is only ONE English language cast recording. I can't remember the last time that a show moved across the Atlantic (west or east) and a second cast recording came out of the deal. MAMMA MIA, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, MARY POPPINS, WICKED, AVENUE Q, SPAMALOT, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, CAROLINE OR CHANGE, and the SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE revival (most likely) all have ONE English language cast recording. I doubt that BILLY ELLIOT will produce a new cast recording either.

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

Updated On: 1/8/08 at 10:41 PM

[LizzieCurry]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#8

Posted: 1/8/08 at 11:47pm

The Madrid cast recording of Les Miz uses the Danish track, for some reason.

Ray is right -- I really wish there were more English-language cast recordings. (And a lot of these aren't happening due to Broadway cast transfers, I'm sure)

I hope Jersey Boys is the next but I'm also sure it'll be badly received even if it's really good.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

[Urban]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#9

Posted: 1/9/08 at 1:09am

I agree with the majority, I love multiple Anglaisphone cast recordings simply because it is fun to compare them.

Pity about German Wicked though. Some of the other German shows in my collection have a fine orchestra.

[Justin D]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#10

Posted: 1/9/08 at 7:18am

My guess too is the only way you may get another Engligh recording is if there is a major headliner in the cast (although this does not seem to be the case with Hairspray in London) and i remember reading that Cam Mac had to fight really hard to get the Canadian Phantom recorded (hence the totally different CD cover)

but having listened to the German WIcked, I must say at times it does not sound like it is well mixed, and the audio seems rather divorced from the orchestrations (no matter how I try to imagine it is a new recording)

the one great point about this recording though is No Good Deed, It's worth the price of the CD alone. Something about that actress's vioce just taked off in that song espicially towards the end, and that last note, holding it like that, so nice.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre

[BobbyBubby]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#11

Posted: 1/9/08 at 8:54am

Glad I decided to not pay 40 bucks for it. I HATE the Broadway orchestrations, especially on the cast recording.

[GuyfromGermany]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#12

Posted: 1/9/08 at 9:02am

From what I've heard it was more of a time issue than a money issue with the German recording...
Officials said that they wanted to get the CD out as fast as possible. I don't know if that is the truth but I guess they weren't sad that it was way less expensive either...

I was rather disappointed, too, but after I got over it I fell completely in love with the recording, especially with the two leads Verkaik and Scherer!

In the real world the only people who burst into song are the hopelessly deranged...

[winston89]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#13

Posted: 1/9/08 at 3:03pm

I think that the producers figure that the show has the same orchestrations ect as the original.

Wicked has the same orchestrations on Broadway and in all of its international productions. So, they decided to save money and cut corners and do it the way they did.


I generally feel this about cast recordings. That yes as much fun as it is to listen to your favorite scores in different languages and to here performers from all over the world singnig your favorite show tunes it comes down to money in the end.

It is cheaper to have the one cast album in the same language rule.

Disney learned that the hard way. When they were don making new cast albums of Beauty and the Beast they ended up having three in english when one would do.

I have noticed that many of the people who buy cast albums who aren't huge broadway/theatre fans like us here don't care about who is on the CD. They can't tell nor care about the differene.

People producing the cast albums know this and they know that the cast albums are a hard market to sell. So they don't take any risks whatsoever.

"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear" Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll

[LizzieCurry]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#14

Posted: 1/9/08 at 3:07pm

When they were don making new cast albums of Beauty and the Beast they ended up having three in english when one would do.

THE PRESENCE OF HUGH JACKMAN NEGATES THIS STATEMENT.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

[dshnookie]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#15

Posted: 1/9/08 at 4:04pm

What's next an orchestra strike? :P
Updated On: 1/9/08 at 04:04 PM

[DaneSaw]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#16

Posted: 1/9/08 at 4:32pm

I'm always interested in hearing different translations/orchestrations in productions all over the world, I wish the German Wicked has taken advantage of that and done their own thing.

I, for one, would like to see shows that have been running for a long time get updated cast recordngs. Rent's cast recording, for instance, is 10 years old. Listening to it, it just sounds stale and the music is drained of its power. Not to mention, some of the orchestrations have been updated since the show opened. I know the movie soundtrack is out there, but it'd be nice to have a fresh version of the show available to listen to that's of good quality.

[AvenueQPat]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#17

Posted: 1/9/08 at 7:23pm

Are there at least different vocal arrangements, or are they the same as well - except for possibly that one bit in One Short Day intro.

I wouldn't think that there would be many...but just curious

You learn to play the straight man, the lines become routine - never really saying what you mean - but i know the scene will change :)

[Gobstopper]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#18

Posted: 1/9/08 at 7:52pm

I seem to be on the minority on this (well, me and the producers on Broadway), but I see no point in rerecording the orchestrations for a few reasons.
A) Most people that buy the German recording won't buy the American version, and vice versa. Why change when so few people in the market will actually know?
B)It's ridiculously expensive.
C)It wouldn't be THAT different anyway, because the actual music on the page is no different. If significant changes are made to the score, then, sure rerecord, but otherwise... I think not.

[Justin D]

re: Wicked German CD /cast CD trends#19

Posted: 1/9/08 at 8:24pm

as for the vocal arrangements, everything is pretty much the same, even the intro to one short day is there.

I would have liked some more small things added though, like Morrible's part in Defying Gravity and such.

It is still a good recording and i can live with this trend if it would mean more recordings (i just don't think it will)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre