Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)
Free Music Review: Maybe I am partial to Esparza
Hit: 4 Stars
I love the revival of this show. I think its a beautiful version of Company with lovely vocals. I might be partial to Esparza but I truly think that this was a great revival. I think its a wonderful rendition of the Sondheim classic. Free Music Review: London Cast Recording Still the Best Ever of "Company"
Hit: 3 Stars
Stephen Sondheim's 1970 musical, "Company", boasts one of musical theatre's greatest song scores; unfortunately, "Company" also suffers from perhaps "the worst" book ever written for a musical. George Furth's script is almost painful to watch unfold even in anticipation of hearing the wonderful Sondheim songs in between the inane, totally messy scenario which is devoid of any character development or humanity. No one could elevate Furth's convoluted script, not even Dean Jones, Larry Kert or even Elaine Stritch. So the same problem with the 1970 original still plagues all productions of "Company", including the 2006 revival from which this recording derives. Raul Esparza sings well but is not nearly as good as Larry Kert, the best Bobby ever, or even Dean Jones on the Original Cast recording and to make matters worse the new orchestrations actually detract, rather than enhance Sondheim's fabulous score. The greatest recording of "Company" remains the CBS London Original Cast Recording, which features the incomparable Larry Kert as Bobby and is, in actuality, with one exception, the Broadway Cast Recording sessions with Kert's vocals replacing Dean Jones. The same cast as the Broadway version also appeared in the London production, the exception being Julia Mackenzie as April so the song 'Barcelona" was re-recorded and is different from the Broadway Cast album to reflect this cast change. Kert took over the role on Broadway early in Company's original theatrical run, but not soon enough to be featured on the Broadway Cast Album which has Dean Jones, who opened the show. The London Cast Recording has not been released on CD but is worth seeking out on vinyl; in the meantime you can hear Kert's definitive performance of "Being Alive" as a bonus track on the current CD of the Broadway Cast. Kert's rendition can still send chills up your spine with his still unsurpassed combination of great acting and singing, the like of which, alas, we shall not see or hear again on Broadway, if the 2006 revival of "Company" and other recent revivals of classic shows are any indication. Most of these productions seem to rely heavily on some hack director's "creative vision" rather than concentrating on the merits of what made the original show worthy of revival in the first place. In the case of any future revival of "Company", throwing out George Furth's abysmal book would be a welcome step in the right direction as it is not one of the things that made the original production memorable or great.Free Music Review: A great addition to the COMPANY collection
Hit: 5 Stars
This recording of COMPANY, though not replacing my favorite, the original cast recording from 1970, is a great recording of the current revival. Raul Esparza is one of the main reasons to buy this version. There is a bit too much dialogue for my taste. When I listen to cast recordings, I want to hear the music, not rehash the scenes. But all the scene work leads into the songs and set them up rather well, not this turns out to be a minor quibble.Free Music Review: Disappointing Orchestration & Vocal
Hit: 2 Stars
Economics no doubt dictated the size of the orchestra and thats too bad. As someone who grew up on the original recording with Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations, I am forever disappointed with the sound of the revivals.
The orchestras sound thin and don't have any of the magic coloring of Tunick's genius. Although I love distillations of big works by ensemble orchestras, the sound of the revivals have no appeal to me. Too, its a tough thing to match the voices in the original production and maybe unfair to compare them. It just seems that everyting was just so right with the OBC. Newcomers to Company, however, will no doubt be enchanted by this CD as I was 37 years ago by the original which is so burned into me that I am incapable of enjoying the revivals.
Free Music Review: Super
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a super recording of one of my least favorite musicals (perhaps because shows that come close to real-life issues are much less entertaining than, say, The Wedding Singer). Raul Esparza is wonderful in the lead, and every cast member is highly talented. There are a few new songs in this production, and the recording is sparkling clear. A must have for any Broadway collection.