A Stephen Sondheim Evening (1983 Concert Cast) [Cast Recording] [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
A revue created for the Whitney Museum's Composers' Showcase series (and sometimes known as You're Gonna Love Tomorrow), A Stephen Sondheim Evening collects songs with music and lyrics by Sondheim in a live 1983 concert featuring a top cast of Liz Callaway, Cris Groenendaal, Bob Gunton, George Hearn, Steven Jacob, Judy Kaye, and A Little Night Music's Victoria Mallory, with a special appearance by Angela Lansbury. While many of the songs were somewhat obscure at the time, they're rather familiar decades later, including selections from 1954's Saturday Night and outtakes from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. And though the Fender Rhodes sounds dated, the cast and the performances are excellent. Callaway's "What More Do I Need" is still definitive, and Sondheim himself accompanies Lansbury's "Send in the Clowns" and leads the singers on "Old Friends." --David Horiuchi

Tracks:

Symphonic Sondheim: Sweeney Todd--orchestra, Jerry Hadley ("Johanna"), Eugene Perry,Herbert Perry ("Pretty Women")
Evening Introduction--Bill Irwin
Loveland/Getting Married Today--Ensemble, Jeanne Lehman, Mark Jacoby, Madeline Kahn
Waiting for the Girls Upstairs--George Lee Andrews, Michael Jeter, James Naughton/Love, I Hear--Michael Jeter/Live Alone and Like It--James Naughton
Someone Is Waiting--Richard Muenz/Symphonic Sondheim: Barcelona--orchestra
Being Alive--Patti LuPone
Good Thing Going--The Tonics
Losing My Mind/You Could Drive a Person Crazy--Dorothy Loudon
Our Time--Boys Choir of Harlem/Children Will Listen--Betty Buckley
Anyone Can Whistle--Billy Stritch
Water Under the Bridge--Liza Minnellli, Billy Stritch
Back in Business--Liza Minnellli, Billy Stritch, Ensemble

Tracks:

Symphonic Sondheim: Comedy Tonight--Bill Irwin, orchestra
Sooner or Later--Karen Ziemba
Pretty Lady--Mark Jacoby, Eugene Perry, Herbert Perry
Green Finch and Linnet Bird--Harolyn Blackwell
The Ballad of Booth--Patrick Cassidy, Victor Garber
Broadway Baby--Daisy Eagan
I Never Do Anything Twice--BETTY
With So Little to Be Sure Of--Jerry Hadley, Carolann Page
Not a Day Goes By--Bernadette Peters
Remember?--Ron Baker, Peter Blanchet, Carol Meyer, Bronwyn Thomas, Blythe Walker (Quintet)/A Weekend in the Country--Kevin Anderson, George Lee Andrews, Mark Jacoby, Beverly Lambert, Maureen Moore, Susan Terry, Quintet
Send in the Clowns--Glenn Close
Old Friends--Liza Minnelli
Sunday--Bernadette Peters, Broadway Chorus

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2006-08-06

This is a wonderful double CD of fabulous musical numbers performed by theatre greats and directed by a legandary musical director.

Simply the Best.......2005-06-29

First, to the person who criticizes the recording b/c of "Broadway Baby." Daisy Egan (who sings in in this recording) sounds like she's 10 becuase she IS young. She had just appeared on Braodway in Secret Garden and won a Tony for it. It's a joke...Broadway BABY...hello, it's a joke.

In a compilation of songs like this you're always going to have tracks that you prefer over others, but the majority of the renditions in this CD are great. This is simply one of the best collections of Sondheim out there. You get interpretations that span from "classical" (Green Finch), to bordering on insane (Anything Twice). This is to demonstrate how versatile this composer really is.

In my opinion, some of the best renditions are "Not a Day Goes By," "Anyone Can Whistle", "Girls Upstairs Medley," "Losing My Mind/Drive a Person Crazy," and "Weekend inthe Country." Makes me wish I had been there to witness it first hand.

If you love Sondheim and enjoy hearing Broadway performers, get this CD. A great recording.

Inconsistent, but mostly excellent.......2004-03-21

I am sure no knowledgeable person would deny how absolutely perfect all these songs are. However, the performances on this album are extremely inconsistent. It will go from an excellent rendition (Waiting for the Girls medley, Sunday, With So Little To Be Sure Of, Sooner or Later, Green Finch, Send in the Clowns, Pretty Lady) to the weird (I never Do Anything Twice), to the bad (Broadway Baby, Our Time). I still have absolutely no idea how they managed to butcher one of the best songs ever written--Good Thing Going--and turn it into smooth jazz elevator music. Why would they give Broadway Baby to someone who sounds like she's 10? That said, Liza Minelli, Glenn Close, Karen Ziemba, Dorothy Laudon and the "Waiting for the Girls" performers are all very good. And ending with Bernadette Peters and "Sunday" ends the set on a absolutley fabulous note.

"Celebration" is not strong enough a word.......2003-04-30

This review is by Crosley.

I have been a major Sondheim fan for quite some time, and I finally obtained a copy of this album. I was blown away by the excellent cast and phenomenal selection of music. It is obvious how much work went into this production, considering that this is the live recording of a one time show, and it's flawless. The songs cover all of his shows with the exception of "Passion," which was released 3 years after this show. Also, the shows for which he wrote only lyrics are ommited, like West Side Story, Gypsy, etc. Thus, you can find material from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone can Whistle, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Merrily we Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and Assassins.

There are two striking things about this CD (besides the music and performers themselves). First of all, some of the songs are completely stylistically reworked. The most obvious are "Good Thing Going" and "I Never do Anything Twice." Both are traditionally very ballady with a piano accompaniment, but here they have been redone as jazzy tunes. The result is excellent. Such reworkings demonstrate that Sondheim writes music for virtually any style, and in these cases, across several styles. It's a great example of his variety. The other interesting thing is how many songs have overlapping melodies of songs from different shows. Case in point, "Our Time" and "No one is Alone" are sung seperately by the Harlem Boys Choir and Betty Buckley (the original Grizabella in Webber's atrocious "CATS," although Buckley was excellent) respectively, and then combined. Putting these two songs together offer different meanings to each, and the music is only enhanced. Another example, the trio of "Waiting for the Girls Upstairs," "Love, I Hear," and "Live Alone and Like It" are sung in that order, and then the latter two are combined. Again, the meanings of the songs change, this time in an almost narrative style, and offering different takes on love in the same montage. Lastly (at least for this review, there are more), Dorothy Laudon's (the original Ms. Hannigan in Annie) combination of "Losing my Mind" and "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" is brilliant. Those who are familiar with these songs will wonder how exactly they fit, but trust me, they do. She swtiches back and forth between melodies to create a number that starts poignant and beautiful, and soon moves to become uproariously funny. Both the song reworkings and overlapping melodies of unrelated songs are all for the better.

I recommend this recording to anyone wanting to get better acquainted with some of Sondheim's best work, or those already familiar who want to hear a tour de force of phenomenal music. It has been said that Sondheim is a masterful lyricist (which he is), but lacks real talent for music. This CD is the final proof that such critics are wrong. His music may take a few listenings to get into, contrary to Webber or Wildhorn, but unlike those two, he doesn't cater to the audience. He challenges them to think outside of traditional musical theater in a glorious repertoise of shows that reach for a smarter, more sophisticated form.

A maginificent evening, a magnificent album.......2001-12-16

There's something to be said for the first concert you ever see at Carnegie Hall. I was fortunate enough to have this be my first. This entire evening was devoted to his genius and the performers did not disappoint.

This wonderful double CD shows off the best and brightest of the musical theatre composer and it is, as one person put it, "an embarassment of riches." With songs from his finest works done in amazing arrangements (listen to that harmony in "We Had a Good Thing Going"!) combined with fabulous performers this is a Sondheim lovers delight.

Tracks:

Send In The Clowns (From 'A Little Night Music') - Cleo Laine
Losing My Mind (From 'Follies') - Barbara Cook
I Remember (From 'Evening Primrose') - David Korman
Liasons (From 'A Little Night Music') - Hermione Gingold
With So Little To Be Sure Of (From 'Anyone Can Whistle') - Jerry Hadley
Not A Day Goes By (From 'Merrily We Roll Along') - Bernadette Peters
Pretty Women (From 'Sweeney Todd') - Michael Rupert
In Buddy's Eyes (From 'Follies') - Barbara Cook
No One Is Alone (From 'Into The Woods') - Cleo Laine
Johanna (From 'Sweeney Todd') - Victor Garber
So Many People (From 'Saturday Night') - Suzanne Henry
Sorry-Grateful (From 'Company') - Stephen Collins
Too Many Mornings (From 'Follies) - Barbara Cook
Finishing The Hat (From 'Sunday In The Park With George') - Mandy Patinkin
Not While I'm Around (From 'Sweeney Todd') - Angela Lansbury
Like It Was (From 'Merrily We Roll Along') - Julie Andrews
Unworthy Of Your Love (From 'Assassins') - Annie Golden
Anyone Can Whistle (From 'Anyone Can Whistle') - Cleo Laine

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful songs.......2003-02-07

If you're a Sondheim ballad fan, this a must-have. While there are a few renditions that aren't great (Not a Day Goes By is way overdone), the selections from Follies sung by Barbara Cook are outstanding. The Cleo Laine version of "Send in the Clowns" is lovely and Stephen Collins does an amazing good job on "Sorry-Grateful" from Company. Still, it's the Follies songs that truly shine!

Average customer rating:

Crossover at Its Best
If Dawn Upshaw had made only one album...
Great songs by a better than average singer. Buy It.
A must album for all musical theatre lovers.
Timeless recording

I Wish It So
soprano Dawn Upshaw , Marc Blitzstein , Eric Stern , Stephen Sondheim , Kurt Weill , Leslie Stifelman , Leonard Bernstein , and Matthias Naegele
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000005J2V
Release Date: 1994-08-02

Tracks:

I Wish It So
There Won't Be Trumpets - Sondheim
What More Do I Need? - Sondheim
That's Him
The Girls Of Summer - Sondheim
The Saga Of Jenny
Like It Was
Stay Well
I Feel Pretty
Glitter And Be Gay
My Ship
In The Clear
Never Get Lost - Take Me To The World
My New Friends - Bernstein

Amazon.com essential recording

With a spirit of innocence and excitement, no audible breaks of register, and perfect diction, Dawn Upshaw graces us with a satisfying crossover recording in which each song is a fully realized musical monologue. The eclectic and infrequently performed repertoire, from Bernstein, Blitzstein, Sondheim, and Weill, compliments her charm and interpretive acuity. There's her humorous "Saga of Jenny," her adorable "That's Him," her poignant "Like It Was," and her freshly vibrant "I Feel Pretty." Conductor Eric Stern is divine in his arrangements and accompaniment. This is one of the best musical theater albums available. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

Crossover at Its Best.......2006-11-15

"I Wish It So" is the CD that first introduced the exceptional "crossover" talents of soprano Dawn Upshaw. The album, which comprises (mostly) little-heard songs by Kurt Weill, Marc Blitzstein, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim, opens with the title number, a lyrical gem from Blitzstein's JUNO, and continues with Sondheim's vibrant "There Won't Be Trumpets," in which Upshaw, rather than belting, lets her voice ring. She then slam-dunks Sondheim's "What More Do I Need," a truly raucous number. Other highlights include the two songs from Weill's LADY IN THE DARK: the haunting ballad "My Ship" and the witty "The Saga of Jenny," presented here in a superb jazz arrangement. The sound of Upshaw's lower middle voice in this number is thrilling. Her combining of Blizstein's "Never Get Lost" and Sondheim's soaring, life-affirming "Take Me to the World" is perfect, as is her musical yet emotional rendition of "Like It Was" from Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. The album climaxes with the mock-coloratura aria "Glitter and Be Gay" from Bernstein's CANDIDE, in which Upshaw scales the heights with consistently pure and beautiful tone. In a day when many great opera singers attempt, unsuccessfully, to sing "popular" song, "I Wish It So" is an example of crossover at its very best. It is a CD that no one who loves both opera and musicals should miss.

If Dawn Upshaw had made only one album..........2006-08-24

I have a weak spot for crossover albums by opera stars, which can often be train wrecks or embarrissing self-parodies. There's not a cringe-worthy note in this one, however. Dawn Upshaw has never been as vibrant on disc, and her style in pop music (albeit serious pop music) surpasses expectations. She is a master at touching vulnerability and stars-in-her-eyes vulnerability. There's no current Broadway star who can match her in any of these songs form Sondheim, Weill, and Bernstein, certainly not for sheer beauty of voice and charm. Upshaw went on to make an excellent album of Rodgers and Hart songs, but nothing else quite matches this first effort.

Great songs by a better than average singer. Buy It........2006-04-24

'I Wish It So' sung by popular / classical switch hitter, Dawn Upshaw is a very, very good interpretation of classical American musical theatre pieces by four masters of the genre, Leonard Bernstein (music), Marc Blitzstein (lyrics), Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) and Kurt Weill (music). As I am most familiar with female interpretations of Kurt Weill's songs, especially by the likes of his widow, Lotte Lenya and Weill interpreter extraordinare, Ute Lemper, I have to say that while Upshaw does them justice, she does ont outshine the very best Weill interpretations. Primarily, I believe she suffers from never actually performing the works on stage, as Lenya has.

And, since Ute Lemper did an album with a similar collection of songs (Illusions) from Sondheim and others, I thing Lemper still has the edge on interpreting other composers as well.

On the positive side, I find Upshaw's interpretation as good or better than almost everyone else who makes a career out of these songs, such as, dare I say it, Barbra Streisand. This is a good thing, because I believe Upshaw is not up to the very best mezzos who share her classical works. She can't hold a candle, for example, to Renee Fleming or Anne Sofie von Otter, although her interpretations of Weill are as good as von Otter, just not as good as Lenya and Lemper.

A very, very nice album if you like female vocalists.

A must album for all musical theatre lovers........2005-04-21

Dawn Upshaw once again disproves the adage that opera singers can't sing showtunes properly. Her diction, her ability to act out the lyrics and her crystal clear angel-like voice are just heavenly. Miss Upshaw could teach quite a few Broadway and Cabaret singers a thing or two about interpretation and she would have her hands full teaching opera singers like Te Kanawa or Fleming how to put over a showtune properly. Simply divine!

Timeless recording.......2004-07-20

This is an endlessly rewarding album by an operatic soprano who demonstrates an expressiveness and range rare in crossover albums of this sort. Upshaw modifies her classical technique without compromising it, narrating with a conversational tone and youthful ebullience well-suited to musical theater. She continues her tradition of championing obscure American art songs with three gorgeous Blitzstein pieces, and wisely avoids the standard, overdone Sondheim showpieces in favor of several gorgeous lesser-known songs. "I Feel Pretty" is given a refreshing makeover, while "Glitter and Be Gay" demonstrates both her impressive vocal control and comedic prowess. Despite the odd choice of "There Won't Be Trumpets", which demands a belter to properly execute the climax, this album is a well-conceived and cohesive collection that becomes more enjoyable on each subsequent listen.

Average customer rating:

For Fans of Broadway (Sondheim, Hamlisch & Bernstein e.g.):
The songs that didn't get away
Songs that showcase Sarah's theatrical gifts
Good, for Sarah Brightman
Pleasant, but not up to standard

The Songs That Got Away

Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
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Binding: Audio CD

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Dive
Surrender
The Trees They Grow So High
Fly
As I Came of Age

ASIN: B000005S0R
Release Date: 1999-11-16

Tracks:

Meadowlark
I Am Going To Like It Here
I Remember
Mr. Monotony
Dreamers
Silent Heart
Lud's Wedding
Three-Cornered Tune
If I Ever Fall In Love Again - Sarah Brightman Sarah Brightman
What Makes Me Love Him?
Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta
Away From You
If Love Were All
Half A Moment - Sarah Brightman Sarah Brightman

Amazon.com

For those Sarah Brightman fans who didn't spring for The Songs That Got Away when it was a pricey import, this domestic release will be a must-buy. Originally recorded in 1989 shortly after she achieved international fame in The Phantom of the Opera, the album spotlights obscure American and British musical theater songs that either were removed from shows or were "lost" when the shows themselves slipped out of the repertoire. (Of course, some of the songs aren't nearly as obscure as they were in 1989--the opening track, Stephen Schwartz's soaring "Meadowlark," has since been claimed by Liz Callaway, Patti LuPone, and Betty Buckley, while Stephen Sondheim's "I Remember"--well suited to Brightman's glasslike tones--is now recognized as one of his most gorgeous and haunting compositions.) Brightman performs well on this diverse collection of entertaining and often lovely songs, including an early draft of Frank Loesser's "Fugue for Tinhorns," here sung as a triple-tracked, lilting waltz, and the Puccini aria "Chi il bel sogno di doretta," which foreshadows her later, more ambitious crossover projects. There's also a tune from Jeeves by then-husband Andrew Lloyd Webber, who produced this album not long before he and Brightman divorced in 1990. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

For Fans of Broadway (Sondheim, Hamlisch & Bernstein e.g.):.......2007-02-24

This is an interesting and surprising production that showcases the vocal prowess of Sara Brightman. It is not however, representative of the new and highly overproduced vocal productions that constitute her newer recordings. Although this production really allows the listener to hear a very melodic and unencumbered vocal performance, as it is pleasing in it's simplicity, yet meant for the more discriminating listener. Fans of Irving Berlin, Andrew Lloyd Weber, and Richard Rodgers will feel right at home here. For those seeking another major sonic production as in Eden, La Luna, Dive, or The Harem Tour this is not it! My criticism is not of her vocal prowess or production values but the apparently endless array of previously released material offered as a new and different recording. But I suppose that this is rather due to the greedy objectives of of A&M Records just trying to go to the bank, often and laden heavy with dollars. Nothing that any label wouldn't try to do. My advice with Sara Brightman is "caveat emptor" (buyer beware) check the disc carefully for redundancy of tracks within her discography. If you're a fan of this genre of music, you will probably respond quite well to this recording.

The songs that didn't get away.......2004-02-12

This is one of my favorite albums by Sarah. She surprised me with her ability to go from light opera to jazz. Here we don't find the over-produced albums such as Harem, just a superbly trained voice. No little girl breathy tunes here, just solid performances. This is the Sarah Brightman that I like to remember and enjoy. If you see this album and you're a Sarah Brightman fan, pick it up and treasure it. I'd like to see her do more of thisgenre, where she showcases her voice. Who ever thinks that Sarah has a small voice will be convinced otherwise by this album.

Songs that showcase Sarah's theatrical gifts.......2003-12-11

Before experimental albums like Dive and Fly, as well as the ones where her classically-trained voice enchanted millions, Sarah Brightman did a collection of musical and theatrical songs originally released in 1989, but reissued when she made it big with Time To Say Goodbye. Her vocal style leans towards the theatrical Broadway side, but more mellowed. But on songs like the strings-laden mid-tempo "Meadowlark" from Stephen Schwartz's The Baker's Wife, the way she would later do splendidly interpret Lloyd Webber's songs is in the making. Here are other highlights, including those that were reissued on Sarah's Encore album (2002).

Stephen Sondheim's "I Remember" is a sad ballad told from the POV of a window mannequin remembering the sights it has experienced throughout the seasons, but the memories are now hazy and at the end, it sings, "At times I think/I would gladly die/for a day of sky."

Some songs like "Lud's Wedding" from Bernstein's failed bicentennial musical, only seem to work due to Sarah's voice. Ditto for the simple "Three-Cornered Tune." Consisting of three verses, each repeated twice. However, Irving Berlin's "Mr. Monotony", a tune understandably cut from Easter Parade, is not a particularly inspiring song.

Marvin Hamlisch's "Dreamers" is one of my favourites here, as I have affinity to it, and I'm sure Sarah is one at heart as well. "Only dreamers have wings with which to fly far away", as in their own fantasies, but unfortunately, "sometimes dreamers are forced to leave their dreams far away", i.e. the harshness of reality. However, it paints them in a positive light and states that everyone needs to have some sort of dream "to take time to find treasures and mountains we can climb."

"Silent Heart" really showcases Sarah's voices, on how some things the heart is best left silent, as in things that really thrill it. "If I Ever Fall In Love Again" is taken from The Crooked Mile and is a nice love song Sarah really wraps herself in.

"Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta" from Puccini's La Rondine is a great showcase of the operatic voice that would come into full bloom on Time To Say Goodbye. This song would be reissued on Encore.

"Away From You" by Richard Rodgers, and taken from a musical biog of Henry VIII (!!!). "The clocks are frozen and time's a traveler who's lost his way" is one of the sentiments Sarah conveys effectively. Also reissued on Encore.

"If love were all, I should be lonely" sings Sarah from Noel Coward's Bittersweet, "If Love Were All" was the one song that stood out for me when I first heard this CD. The ability of a talent to amuse is seen as a solid standing for mental security. A definite standout here.

From Lloyd Webber's Jeeves, the lush strings of "Half A Moment" features the vocal stylings familiar enough to those who have Sarah's Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection. It focuses on how important the capture of a moment to bright up a future rainy day is. Also reissued on Encore.

Initially, I dismissed this as the songs that should've stayed away. Although they lack the magical punch of Time To Say Goodbye or La Luna, it's still a worthwhile collection, because Sarah's clear birdlike theatrical/musicals voice makes it all worthwhile.

Good, for Sarah Brightman.......2003-08-25

Some people just love Sarah's voice, but I don't see what's so special about it. She sings in two sorts of ways, the first one is lovely, simple, forgetable, and the other sounds like Stitch with a high voice. This CD does her justice, though. A lot of the tunes are catchy and nice (how she sings them could be better) but the one I really like is "Three cornered tune." Now that's a good song! She does not have a particularly bad voice, but nothing interesting - that's for sure. And when she tries to act in her music she sounds even worse! But that's alright. After all, everyone has a different style. A highlight of this CD includes "Mr. Monotony," which, unfortunatly, did not come with lyrics in the CD case. Too bad, because its a great song. At the end of this record, though, she writes about these songs and - wow! It is amazing how many shows that song was taken out of! At one point it said it had Judy Garland singing it, and when I try to imagine her doing it I know that must have been awesome. I really want to hear Judy Garland singing this song sometime. Maybe I'll find it here on Amazon... But anyway, back to Sarah Brightman. The only other thing I can think of to say at the moment is that from what I've heard of her records, this is as good as it gets. And also, the track titled "Dreamers" is nice. I like the tune and she doesn't sing it too bad, either. It would be a good song to be played at a graduation. Only after a while the sound of it gets a little creepy and annoying. And its sticky, too. "Silent heart" is a classic, though she shouldn't sing it twice. For you see, she sings it, and then you think, "Ah, that's a sweet song. Wonderful words, soft tune," and the music gets at a great stoping point and then comes back for an encore (as one of Sarah's other records is titled). And then we have to listen to it all over again - and its not as good the second time. So overall is it good? Yes, it is. Though perhaps not good enough.

Pleasant, but not up to standard.......2003-06-22

I love Sarah Brightman's singing and her musical style as presented on Eden and La Luna. This CD is completely different in style from those two. I find it enjoyable, but it is not my favorite. Her singing is nothing special on this CD, it doesn't display her vocal range or talent in the way that her other CDs do, especially her CD "Surrender", her vocals are absolutely stunning on that CD.

The Frogs / Evening Primrose (2001 Studio Cast)

Average customer rating:

Primrose Shines, Frogs Leaps!
Can I sell it On Ebay!!!!
Very Good Evening Primrose
The Real Thing.
Addendum

The Frogs / Evening Primrose (2001 Studio Cast)
Stephen Sondheim , Nathan Lane , and Brian Stokes Mitchell
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sondheim Sings, Vol. 1: 1962-1972

ASIN: B00005OM6W
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

Fanfare
Prologos: Invocation and Instructions to the Audience
Traveling Music
Parados: The Frogs
Hymnos: Evoe!
Dialogue: "Pluto!"
Parabasis: It's Only a Play
Dialogue: "That Was Some Banquet!"
Evoe for the Dead
Invocation to the Muses
Fear No More
Exodos: The Sound of Poets
If You Can Find Me, I'm Here
I Remember
When?
Take Me to the World

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

After unearthing Stephen Sondheim's youthful effort, Saturday Night, a couple of years ago, producers desperate to bank on the name of one of Broadway's last living titans continue chasing after obscure offerings. The Frogs was a 1974 adaptation of a play by Aristophanes and was staged by the Yale Repertory Theater for a week. This recording, the first complete one, boasts the presence of Nathan Lane, Davis Gaines, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. In Broadway star power, that's like having Jim Carrey, Brad Pitt, and Tom Cruise in the same movie. Evening Primrose was a 1966 ABC special, which spawned a couple of songs ("I Remember" and "Take Me to the World") that made it into the cabaret and solo recital repertories. Granted, these two pieces are for Sondheim completists, but they do provide an interesting glimpse into the mind of one of the musical theater's most brilliant auteurs. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Primrose Shines, Frogs Leaps!.......2005-08-27

This recording is arguably one of Sondheims greatest! The Frogs, which appears here with a brilliant cast (Nathan Lane, Brian Stokes Mitchell among others) is one of Mr. Sondheims oddest pieces of theater. Although it was recently revived on Broadway with a new book by Mr. Lane and that recording is probably better, the entire first half of this recording (which is The Frogs) is brilliant for nostalgias sake and for the amazing expierence of the music itself. Mr. Sondheim has created such music for The Frogs! Very grandiose and stunning!

But it is really the final four tracks on the album (The Evening Primrose) that shines. The Evening Primrose is also an interesting Sondheim show but this one is quite possibly worth the price of the album itself. This recording (the only LEGAL one i know of) of the show is... well... perfect. The music is Sondheim at his best, the singers (Neil Patrick Harris plays the lead) are terrific and it just sounds glorious!

The Frogs might be an interesting and entertaining reason to purchase this album but it will The Evening Primrose that will make you scream with joy!

Can I sell it On Ebay!!!!.......2005-06-01

Contrary to other reviwes posted I will tell you that the Evening Primrose on the Mandy Patinkin Cd "Dress Casual" IS the "Primrose" to own. This one was in my opinion under acted and undersung. While Mandy Patinkin is always over the tip, Ms Peters is one of the best Interpreters of Sondheim's works and the orchestration on this is much darker and deep, like the subject matter of the piece. I found this whole CD lacking, given that just like the "Dress Casual" I bought it only for the "Evening Primrose" selections. Thank the GODS for CD Burners so I can compile my own best of Sondheim CD.

Very Good Evening Primrose.......2004-04-15

I find the Evening Primrose here much better than that on "Dress Casual." Firstly, because the two performers--Neil Patrick Harris and Theresa McCarthy--are both amazing singers. Also, because both of these performers are younger and thus, their voices are more "youthful". For this musical, in particular, "youthfulness" is important; Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin are simply to mature to effectively do these parts. I find Neil Patrick Harris, in particular, absolutely superb, and his version of "Not While I'm Around" (on the NYP Sweeney Todd recording) is far and away the best I have ever heard (except for LuPone's dismal British accent). This Evening Primrose alone is worth the price of the CD.

The Real Thing........2004-02-17

>The Patinkin-Peters version of "Evening Primrose" is in Patinkin's "Dress Casual" CD, the studio recording that became the basis of his Broadway concert. I believe this was the first time all four songs were recorded.

Possibly, but on THIS disc we have the first time all four songs were recorded UNDER SONDHEIM'S SUPERVISION, and that makes all the difference in the world. Mandy Patimkin greatly distorts "If You Can Find Me"'s melody; Bernadette Peters's voice is under the accompaniment on "I Remember", and the arrangements on "Dress Casual" are over-elaborate, gooey, and unrestrained. Neither singer effectively plays his character. No, the "Evening Primrose" you want is right here.

Addendum.......2004-01-31

If you're looking for the Mandy Patinkin "Dress Casual" CD (as an alternative or supplemental "Evening Primrose" recording), note that Amazon has it listed, for some reason, under "classical music".

Sondheim Evening: A Musical Tribute (1973 Concert Cast)

Average customer rating:

The BEST of Sondheim
Marry Me a Little
One of the Best Sondheim Concerts ever
A must have for Sondheim fans!
I wish this CD would never end!

Sondheim Evening: A Musical Tribute (1973 Concert Cast)
Stephen Sondheim , Alexis Smith , and Anthony Perkins
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sondheim - A Celebration at Carnegie Hall (1992 Concert Cast)
A Stephen Sondheim Evening (1983 Concert Cast)
Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)
Marry Me A Little (1981 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
Sondheim: The Stephen Sondheim Album

ASIN: B000003F1M
Release Date: 1990-12-13

Tracks:

Act I: Ov - Paul Gemignani
Act I: Do I Hear a Waltz?: Do I Hear A Waltz? - Dorothy Collins
Act I: Gypsy: If Mama Was Married - Alice Playten/Virginia Sandifur
Act I: West Side Story: America - Chita Rivera
Act I: Follies: One More Kiss - Justine Johnston/Victoria Malloy
Act I: Follies: Broadway Baby - Ethel Shutta
Act I: Company: You Could Drive A Person Crazy - Donna McKechnie/Pamela Myers/Susan Browning
Act I: Evening Primrose: Take Me To The World - Marti Rolph
Act I: Evening Primrose: I Remember - Victoria Mallory
Act I: A Little Night Music: Silly People - George Lee Andrews
Act I: A Little Night Music: Two Fairy Tales - Mark Lambert/Victoria Mallory
Act I: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Love Is In The Air - Larry Blyden/Susan Browning
Act I: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Your Eyes Are Blue - Harvey Evans/Pamela Hall
Act I: Follies: Pleasant Little Kingdom - Dorothy Collins/John McMartin
Act I: Follies: Too Many Mornings - Dorothy Collins/John McMartin

Tracks:

Act II: Entr'acte - Paul Gemignani
Act II: Anyone Can Whistle: Me And My Town - Angela Lansbury/Harvey Evans/Tony Stevens
Act II: Company: The Little Things You Do Together - Mary McCarty
Act II: Company: Getting Married Today - Beth Howland/Teri Ralston/Steve Elmore
Act II: Follies: Buddy's Blues - Larry Blyden/Donna McKechnie/Chita Rivera
Act II: Saturday Night: So Many People - Susan Browning/Jack Cassidy
Act II: Company: Another Hundred People - Pamela Myers
Act II: Company: Happily Ever After - Larry Kert
Act II: Company: Being Alive - Larry Kert
Act II: Do I Hear A Waltz? We're Gonna Be All Right - Laurence Guittard/Teri Ralston
Act II: Follies: Beautiful Girls - Ron Holgate
Act II: Follies: I'm Still Here - Nancy Walker
Act II: Anyone Can Whistle: A Parade In Town - Angela Lansbury
Act II: Follies: Could I Leave You? - Alexis Smith
Act II: Follies: Losing My Mind - Dorothy Collins
Act II: Anyone Can Whistle: Anyone Can Whistle - Stephen Sondheim
Act II: Company: Side By Side By Side - Entire Company

Amazon.com

Affectionately referred to as the "Scrabble album" for its playful cover art, Sondheim Evening: A Musical Tribute was the first of many tribute albums celebrating the music of Broadway's greatest modern composer, Stephen Sondheim. In 1973, however, he was still a relative newcomer whose work as a lyricist was more celebrated than his early efforts as a composer, which included Company and Follies. Accordingly, this tribute deviates from later efforts by including a few songs for which he only provided lyrics, but somewhat surprisingly, it also sets a trend by unearthing rarely heard selections--from Saturday Night and Evening Primrose--as well as songs cut from various shows, including A Little Night Music, which had just premiered a few weeks earlier). And that cast! Members of the original companies--including Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera, Dorothy Collins, Alexis Smith, and Donna McKechnie, just to name a few--as well as Sondheim himself singing "Anyone Can Whistle" from the piano. Obviously, later tribute albums have more material to work with and similar all-star rosters (though they sometimes resort to gimmicks such as men singing women's songs), but this one has yet to be topped. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

The BEST of Sondheim.......2006-07-22

The best Sondheim collection available. the live performances add greatly to the album. All the performances are fresh and fun, or heartfelt and lovely. Added bonus is the performance of unused songs from several shows. The wholething is wonderful. Only wish it had been done more recently to include the shows of the past 30 yrs. Could be quite an evening. The Carnegie Hall tribute album is glossier and more recent, but I like this better.

Marry Me a Little.......2005-08-15

This is an old favorite that I already had on LP, but decided to finally upgrade to CD. Obviously, I like it or I wouldn't have bothered.

One of the Best Sondheim Concerts ever.......2004-01-13

I bought this set used on vinyl when I was 17. Then again on cassette when I was 25. I'm now about to buy it on cd. Why? Hands down it is the best concert album of his works. Nothing gimimicky, just a great evening of song, most with the original performers recreating their moments. Also, there are more than a handful of cut songs and obscure lyrics. For you Sondheim buffs: the original lyrics to "We're Gonna Be All Right" which got sanitized during the tryout becuase Dorothy Rodgers thought the lyrics were too racy. And a previous reviewer complained that there were No performance of Night Music songs on the disc, Here's why. The Cast Album had just been recorded by Columbia and they held the rights to any of the original cast recording of the songs. During "Liasons" and "Send in the Clowns" the Engineers from Warner Brothers (the original Label) had to shut off the mics. A shame...written accounts of the evening state that Glynis Johns had the house in tears with Send in the Clowns. Still and all, a worthwhile album.

A must have for Sondheim fans!.......2002-01-01

Aside from featuring a song ("Two Fairy Tales") that appears on no other tribute/compilation CD that I'm aware of, and several other rarely performed tunes, this tribute has another significant feature: All the singers appeared in, or were intended to appear in, original Sondheim productions, so the net effect is to provide some tantalizing examples of how these songs sounded live on stage by their original singers.

There are so many treasures on this CD! Examples: If you doubted that Beth Howland owns "Getting Married Today," this rendition will put your doubts to rest; she actually sings it faster than on the OBR of Company! Similarly, while there have been plenty of decent renditions of "Broadway Baby," Ethel Shutta proves why she was the first (and best). Nancy Walker's "I'm Still Here" ranks with the greatest versions of this song. And what a joy it is to hear Angela Lansbury, by this time an experienced musical thespian, singing songs from Anyone Can Whistle with considerable assurance.

One small complaint I have is that while the cast of the then-current A Little Night Music appears, none of them sings any songs on their own; they merely provide part of the chorus (and Hermione Gingold was one of the "Beautiful Girls). As I am a Len Cariou fan, I was disappointed that I didn't get to hear him live. Still, this is a sensational collection that should delight both Sondheim fans and musical theatre fans in general.

I wish this CD would never end!.......2000-04-13

This is probably my favorite of the Sondheim compilation CDs I have. It's a live concert recorded in 1973, right in the middle of the "Golden Age" of Sondheim. It's got the great songs one would expect ("Being Alive", "America", "Broadway Baby") and it also has a good handful of songs that were cut from his shows...all of them on par or better with the ones that were kept in! It stars many of the members of "Company" and "Follies" along with biggies like Chita Rivera and Angela Lansbury, whose "Me and My Town" is a riot. My only complaint is the sound quality. But if anything, it just gives the recording more character! This is a great CD and I couldn't consider my Sondheim collection complete without it.

Average customer rating:

It contains songs not on other CD.
The Best Of The Mantovani Orchestra
The Best of the Mantovani Orchestra (vol 1 & 2)
Poor Recording
Top of the "Beautiful Music" Heap

Best of the Mantovani Orchestra

Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mantovani's Golden Hits
Many Moods of the Mantovani Orchestra
The Best Ever Mantovani Collection
The Ultimate Collection
Melodies of Love

ASIN: B000000L5X
Release Date: 1994-09-12

Tracks:

Some Enchanted Evening
Three Coins In The Fountain
The Impossible Dream
More
Send In The Clowns
Charmaine
Somewhere My Love
Elizabethan Serenade
Carnival Of Venice
Overture-Die Fledermaus
Merry Widow Waltz
Summertime In Venice

Tracks:

The Shadow Of Your Smile
The Sound Of Music
Italian Fantasy
For Once In My Life
Swedish Rhapsody
I've Grown Accustomed To His Face
The Entertainer
For Once In My Life
Skater's Waltz
Tales From The Vienna Woods
Londonderry Air
Autumn Leaves

Customer Reviews:

It contains songs not on other CD........2007-01-01

I am pretty happy with the CD I have. I noticed that these songs are not on other CD. Summer Time in Venice, Three Coins in the Fountain, The Impossible Dream, Send in The Clown, Somewhere My Love and Elizabethan Serenade. The sound quality is acceptable.

The Best Of The Mantovani Orchestra.......2004-04-13

This cd is an ok collection of tunes from Mantovani.It's not the best but it's ok.This 2 cd set features songs such as three coins in a fountain,send in the clowns,skater's waltz,for once in my life and others.This isn't the only version of for once in my life Mantovani did.This version is light strings.Manti's other version is with a harpsicord and heavy strings.It is on Mantovani Scene/Mantovani Sound which has just come out from Vocolion.It also has such songs as dear heart,both sides now,honey and a lot of others.Amazon doesn't have this yet but I have just recieved my copy from another website.Like the other viewer said unfortuanly the sound quality is bad on the best of collection.I even heard somebody coughing on one track and there is some tape hiss from the transfer.I would like to recommend a 2 cd set by John Fox going under the name of the starry night orchestra that is put out by yestermusic(good music group)and has 30 tracks by Mr.Fox.Every song has a heavy string contingment and it states that these were played on beautiful music stations.John Foxes Strings are so beautiful.
The John Fox I'm talking about isn't the same John Fox that is a commedian that is sold on this site.

The Best of the Mantovani Orchestra (vol 1 & 2).......2002-09-14

The Madacy Label has betrayed Mantovani's genious, and substituted poor recordings in these 2 CD's. I have immediately
cancelled all Madacy Label orders with everyone, and will investigate all future items with a Canadian origin prior to purchase.

Joseph C. Jernigan

Poor Recording.......2002-09-05

The quality of the recording is poor. You can hear flutter in the string passages, which is 90% of Mantovani's music! There is also hiss noise, and pops in piece transitions... Amateur transcription from tape to CD's, is my guess. Someone else made bad reviews regarding the poor recording on the same record label, so my suggestion is to stay away from the label Madacy Records.

Top of the "Beautiful Music" Heap.......2001-02-19

This CD has a nice collection of Mantovani's work. The combination of older standards with "newer" (such as Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life")is great. This is the stuff that is usually mocked as "elevator music" but also considered by many good romancing background music. Many of these arrangements were heard on a local Beautiful Music FM station where I live before the format change. The only negative I have is for a "box set" there is no write-up on the Orchestra. It would have been nice to read about Mantovani and what inspired his arrangements, and the orchestra personnell. My copy was made in Canada by Madacy. Maybe someone who has contact with that company could recommend a booklet for any future copies made.

Average customer rating:

Great classic!
Tenors on Tour - Versatile and Beautiful

Tenors on Tour

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Tenors Anyone?: Great Tenors Sing Pop Favorites
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ASIN: B0000029VG
Release Date: 1997-03-04

Tracks:

Blue Moon - Moon River
Besame Mucho
Climb Ev'ry Mountain
Love is a Many Splendored-Thing
Maria
Yesterday
Autunm Leaves
Over the Rainbow
Giants In the Sky
Sometimes A Day Goes By
Time After Time
Some Enchanted Evening
This Nearly Was Mine
Ave Maria
Wiegenlied (Lullaby)
The Long and Winding Road
Bridge Over Troubled Water
O Sole Mio
Torna a Surriento
Mamma
Lolita
Chitarra Romana
Nessun Dorma

Customer Reviews:

Great classic!.......2003-03-25

This is a great compilation with the best tenors ever!Try this CD!

Tenors on Tour - Versatile and Beautiful.......2001-06-20

Tenors on Tour is a CD which will live forever. The opening songs by Placido Domingo, His arrangement of Blue Moon and Moon River, set the tone for the CD. To hear Richard Tucker do "Climb every Mountain" was a wonderful trip down memory lane. Who will ever forget him? Placido continues with Broadway..Maria from West Side Story and a Beatles song "Yesterday". Mandy Patinkin's "Over the Rainbow" is classic and wonderful! But in my opinion Jose Carreras has the most "goose bumping" production on the entire CD. His Ave (Maria) is so beautifully done it may just bring tears to your eyes. The "King" Pavarotti is the "clean-up Hitter with selections from LaBoheme,and he does "O Sole Mio" as only He can do it. This CD is a treat for anyone who enjoys fine music. You will play it over and over again.

Average customer rating:

Worth having because of Honey...
One of the best Sondheim compilation CD availiable
Honestly, Why Bother?

The Musicality of Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim , Carolee Carmillo , Sean McDermott , Judy Kaye , Julia Migenes , Susan Egan , Emily Loesser , Stephen Bogardus , Elisabeth Welch , Caroline O'Connor , and Don Stephenson
Manufacturer: Jay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

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The Musicality of Kander & Ebb
The Musicality of Porter
The Musicality of Rodgers & Hart
Musicality of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Musicality of Lerner and Loewe

ASIN: B0000640NQ
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

Broadway Baby (Follies) - Carolee Carmello
Anyone Can Whistle (Anyone Can Whistle) - John Barrowman
Lovely (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) - Emily Loesser and Don Stephenson
Being Alive (Company) - Stephen Bogardus
Liasons (A Little Night Music) - Elisabeth Welch
Wait (Sweeney Todd) - Judy Kaye
Loving You (Passion) - Sean McDermott
Honey (Cut: Merrily We Roll Along) - Jacqueline Dankworth, Maria Friedman, and Michael Cantwell
Lion Dance (Pacific Overtures) - ENO Orchestra
I Remember (Evening Primrose) - Julia Migenes
Stay with Me (Into the Woods) - Caroline O'Connor
Sooner or Later (Dick Tracy) - Susan Egan