Sunset Boulevard (1993 Original London Cast)
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Music CD Cover
Performer: Andrew Lloyd WebberEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Cast Recording
Published: 1996
CD Release Date: 1996-06-10
Music Label: Decca Broadway
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Act I: Prologue
- Act I: Let's Have Lunch
- Act I: Sheldrake's Office
- Act I: On The Road/The House On Sunset
- Act I: Surrender
- Act I: With One Look
- Act I: Salome
- Act I: The Greatest Star Of All
- Act I: Let's Have Lunch/Girl Meets Boy
- Act I: The House On Sunset
- Act I: New Ways To Dream
- Act I: The Lady's Paying
- Act I: The House On Sunset
- Act I: The Perfect Year
- Act I: Dialogue After The Perfect Year
- Act I: Artie Green's Apartment
- Act I: This Time Next Year
- Act I: The House On Sunset
- Sunset Boulevard
- Act II: The Perfect Year
- Act II: Journey To Paramount
- Act II: As If We Never Said Goodbye
- Act II: Surrender
- Act II: Girl Meets Boy
- Act II: Eternal Youth Is Worth A Little Suffering
- Act II: Too Much In Love To Care
- Act II: New Ways To Dream
- Act II: Sunset Boulevard
- Act II: The Greatest Star Of All
Free Music Notes for Sunset Boulevard (1993 Original London Cast)
Free Music Review: Intensely Emotional and Hauntingly Beautiful
Hit: 5 Stars
Musically, 'Sunset Boulevard' is Andrew Lloyd Webber's best behind 'The Phantom of the Opera'. When I first heard this album last year, I had no idea of the story. The reason I bought it was because Lloyd Webber had composed it, so I knew that I may have been in for something good. As I found out later, I was in for something amazing! The first time I had heard of Patti Lupone was in 'Les Miserables' (The Original London Cast). She was good in that, but nothing too memorable. So the first time I heard her in 'Sunset Boulevard' I was shocked and surprised at her powerful voice, especially when she says; Norma: "You there, why are you so late." Lupone's portrayal of Norma Desmond is haunting and awe-inspiring. It is the power in her voice, and the fact that she actually sings the songs, instead of speak/sings or shouts which Glenn Close does at times, that makes her the best Norma I have heard yet. Patti's voice is deep, husky, and sounds like Gloria Swanson's in the film of 'Sunset Boulevard' due to the fact that she sounds as if she is singing from the back of her throat. Her voice, therefore, makes her realistic in the role of the "old time movie star". Glenn Close is a brilliant Norma, don't get me wrong, but I feel that she over acts and she speaks instead of sings. Patti has a very beautiful and powerful voice and due to the fact that she actually sings the role, I believe she is better than Close. I don't agree with other reviewers who say Patti is not emotional; she is extremely passionate in the role, it is just that Close is moreso. In a comparison to Swanson, I believe that Patti uses her serious side more, whereas Close employs the more frivolous side of her. Kevin Anderson's portrayal of Jo Gillis is extremely realistic. Anderson has a smooth and easy voice. On the other hand, Alan Campbell from the American Premiere Recording, is so over the top it becomes comical at times. 'Sunset Boulevard' employs an intensity, dark themes, and an ability to appeal to the emotions of the listeners. There are so many songs in the album which do this. "Surrender" is a pretty, yet haunting song which is performed beautifully by Lupone. This song involves one of Norma's philosophies; that she will never surrender her belief that she will return to the movies. Lloyd Webber's music is compelling in this song and the lyricists, Don Black and Christopher Hampton, have produced some very stirring lyrics. "With one Look" reveals Norma's personality as well as her yearning to be back on the big screen. Norma is an extremely proud character, yet naive. She believes that she is "the greatest star of all", and that she is able to do anything she likes; because she is rich and the "people in the dark" adore her (in her opinion). Lloyd Webber's music in this song is powerful and the lyrics perfectly illustrate Norma's feelings. Patti sings this song with passion and she enthralls the listeners, with the overbearing personality of Norma. "The Lady's Paying" is my second favourite song in the album behind "As If We Never Said Goodbye." It is light-hearted and amusing. Again, I prefer Patti's portrayal of this song ahead of Close's because Patti sings it and Close practically speaks it. Lloyd Webber composed a great song when he wrote this one. "As If We Never Said Goodbye" is a passionately emotive song in which Norma's dreams appear to be coming true. It is, in my opinion, the most powerful song in the album, and one of the saddest, as Norma has built her hopes up, but her dreams will not come true. For this song I believe that Glenn Close and Patti both sing it brilliantly, especially the following part; Norma: "Could I stop my hand from shaking? Has there ever been a moment With so much to live for?" This is an extremely passionate song as Norma sings how she has missed being in movies. Lloyd Webber's music is inspirational and leaves the listeners in awe as the music haunts and amazes them simultaneously. The lyrics are emotive and appeals to the senses of the listeners brilliantly. The lyrics at the end of the song are simply beautiful; Norma: "We taught the world new ways to dream." "The Final Scene" involves the climax, and is the most emotional scene in the album. When Jo reveals to Norma that she has been living in a dream that will never come true; she will never make a return to the big screen, she shoots him dead. She then becomes emotionally unstable, and the listeners are coerced into pitying her, even though she has just killed the man she loves. Patti performs this scene with intense passion, and consequently she stirs the emotions of the readers. She finishes with the lines that she has yearned to say for twenty years, Norma: "This is my life. It always will be. There is nothing else. Just us and the cameras and all you wonderful people in the dark. And now, Mr Demille, I'm ready for my close-up." The story of 'Sunset Boulevard' is tragic and employs an intensity which serves to involve the listeners emotionally. It uses a lot of quotes from Billy Wilder's 1950 film of 'Sunset Boulevard' which makes it very good, as the film's script employed brilliant language. However, I would have preferred this album to be complete like the American Premiere Recording. Yet, Patti Lupone's portrayal of Norma Desmond is amazingly powerful and passionate, and in my opinion, is better than Glenn Close's very good portrayal. The rest of the cast are also wonderful. The lyrics are also extremely good. However, it is Lloyd Webber's rich blend of music which makes this album emotive, compelling, and beautiful; if a tragic story can be beautiful.
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