Depends on what you want to have. Here are your choices:
1. For Songs - The OLC is not the complete show and has songs that were changed when it opened on Broadway (i.e. Her or Me changed to Now That I've Seen Her and Sacred Bird changed to the new version which was merged into the Finale). The OLC was also recorded on the original slower pace.
2. For Orchestration - The CSR was recorded with a 73-piece orchestra, the OLC, less. I personally think the 73-piece didn't translate well in the recording as compared to the Japanese Recording. The OLC is just fine for me. It depends on the sound system.
3. For Performers - The OLC obviously has the cast that originated the roles, the CSR has cast from productions from all over the world. In the CSR, Chris was too whiny for me and Joanna Ampil has a more nasal/breathy voice compared to Lea's pure and crystal clear rendition. But, the CSR has Charles Azulay (Thuy) who sounds better than Keith Burns.
In short, if you are a fan of the show, it would be good to have both because it recorded the historical progress or development of the show.
"I love acting. It is so much more real than life." Oscar Wilde
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." Aldous Huxley
Updated On: 11/10/06 at 01:38 PM
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