Oscar Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers - South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: AN ALL TIME GREAT!
Hit: 5 Stars
Certainly one of the few all time great scores for the musical theatre, SOUTH PACIFIC is very much alive and very, very well in this recording made over fifty years ago.Beginning with those first three majestic chords from "Bali Ha'i" through to all of the justly famous songs: "Some Enchanted Evening," "There Is Nothin' Like A Dame," "A Wonderful Guy," and "Younger Than Springtime" to the less famous but no less superb "Twin Soliloquies," "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught," and my personal favorite, "This Nearly Was Mine," everyone is a gem.
The cast is flawless: Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza lead a cast with no weak links. Interestingly enough, except for the opening song sung by two children and three songs in which the chorus sings, every one of the songs in this classic show is sung by the four principal players.
The sound is remarkable for being so "historic" and there are even four bonus tracks: Martin sings two songs cut from the show in tryouts, Pinza sings "Bali Ha'i" and there's even a ten minute "Symphonic Scenario for Concert Orchestra" taken from the themes of the score.
The accompanying booklet has interesting essays, a plot synopsis and several terrific photographs from the original Broadway production. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Free Music Review: beautiful recording of a very important musical......
Hit: 5 Stars
Though, SOUTH PACIFIC was made into a successful movie, I would take this, the original recording with Mary Martin (as Nellie Bly) and Enzio Pinza (as Emile de Becque) over it any day! For starters, there is so much spunk and great chemistry between the two leads--star crossed lovers who meet, by chance, in the South Pacific, when Bly is working as an on-site nurse for soldiers stationed there. This beautiful musical really has it all. Romance, humor (though, sometimes a little dated!) and drama. The sweeping score and powerful, punchy lyrics, written by the great team of Rodgers and Hammerstein, remains as compelling today as it was, at first release on Broadway, in 1949.
Some of the best-loved songs (plus many more) are featured on this remastered recording, available on CD. They include "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught," which alludes to racism and also how we are raised to be products of our environment, "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair," and "Some Enchanted Evening." You will really hear the powerful messages that the more dramatically intense songs convey and will smile over the others that are more light-hearted in nature. Just wonderful! They don't write songs like this anymore.
Free Music Review: Simply Phenomenal
Hit: 5 Stars
No recording of this score will EVER replace this original cast album. "South Pacific" deserves to be heard this way, and no other. Accept no substitutes! Mary Martin shines on "A Cockeyed Optimist," "Twin Soliloquies," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," "A Wonderful Guy" and "Honey Bun" and is well supported by Ezio Pinza. Although many critics find fault in his performance, Pinza is very effective on "Some Enchanted Evening" and "This Nearly Was Mine." But aside from the star performances from Martin and Pinza, the score is best-remembered from Juanita Hall's haunting "Bali Ha'i." What a number! I still remember the first time I ever saw the film. I couldn't believe they had the nerve to dub Hall with Muriel Smith. I've sinced learned that Rodgers & Hammerstein preferred Smith's singing and Hall's acting, but that seems preposterous to me. Hall's delivery of this number is dead-on and cannot be surpassed. Whether you are a fan of American musical theatre or not, you should own this album. It is THAT good!Free Music Review: SOUTH TERRIFIC!
Hit: 5 Stars
A first-rate score by Rodgers & Hammerstein; four sensational and perfectly cast leads; and an ensemble (orchestra and chorus) that does more than just support the stars. The album always has been a joy from start to finish! In just under 46 minutes you get all the key musical moments from the score. The Cd includes 4 bonus tracks: Mary Martin's solo recordings of the cut songs "His Girl Back Home" (Originally to be sung by Cable as "My Girl Back Home") and "Loneliness of Evenng"; Ezio Pinza's solo recording of "Bali Ha'i" and a Symphonic Scenario for Concert orchestra conducted by Andre Kostelanetz. Best of all the CD re-produces the original artworked that was on the first LP issue in 1949.That leads to my one very minor quibble: The mono sound is a little "old" sounding. The top end is just a little brittle. Still, miles ahead of Decca's OKLAHOMA and CAROUSEL or Victor's ALLEGRO. And a far better recording of SOUTH PACIFIC than any subsequent cast or sountrack album.
Free Music Review: 1949 on CD works just fine!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
SOUTH PACIFIC is arguably Rodgers and Hammerstein's best musical. This 1949 original cast album has everything going for it. Mary Martin is Nellie Forbush, supported by Ezio Pinza, and a great cast. South Pacific was Rodgers and Hammerstein's third great Broadway hit, following Oklahoma (1943), and Carousel (1945). The pair had also done some Hollywood work with State Fair (1945, 20th Century Fox). South Pacific set the record for gross box office receipts, a record it held until My Fair Lady broke it.Although the album is in monaural (recorded in 1949; what do you expect?), the sound is very clear and does not distract from the listening experience. It's on the Columbia label, a major plus for cast recordings, as Columbia was the best in the business. The 1958 soundtrack is in stereo and is nice, but this is the DEFINITIVE South Pacific. Highly Recommended!