Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival Cast)
|
List Price: Our Price: $10.99 You Save: $12.99 (54%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival Cast)
Free Music Review: Not quite right
Hit: 3 Stars
This is a very uneven recording. I have not seen this production, and am a big fan of the original produciton and album. I think a minimalist produciton can work, and I quite like the musical arrangements which tend to allow the voices to stand out. Sweeney himself is remarkable. Most of the rest of the cast does well too. But Lupone disappoints as Mrs. Lovett -- she sounds flat and monotonic. Bamford also sounds like he is on way too strong medication. And what's with a female Pirelli?
Also, this should be VERY clearly labeled as a highlights disc. Ther are many missing songs as well as a lack of transitional material -- it ends up giving no clear view of the show. The original recording is far superior as an album and as recorded theatre.
Free Music Review: Perfect.
Hit: 5 Stars
Sweeney Todd is the greatest musical that has ever been made, Sondheim is the greatest lyricist and composer of musical theatre, and the revival production on Broadway was the single greatest thing I've seen on Broadway in the past 10 years. This cast recording is the best recording of anything that I've ever heard, period.
The wickedly talented Michael Cerveris owns the role of Sweeney, it really is going to be the crowning achievment in his impressive career. He's just that good in it, and throughout his performance he repeatedly broke my heart and scared me to death, often simultaneously like in the case of 'Epiphany'... Lupone is a goddess of musical theatre, and it shows here as usual, and supporting players like the scene-stealing Alex Gemignani and the loveably charasmatic Mano Felciano are standouts among an exceptionally talented cast.
Buy this CD, it's a must have for everyone who is interested in musical theatre. No, it's not 100% complete ('Parlour Songs' and 'City on Fire' are the two obviously missing songs), but this recording still retains it's flow without them. It would've been great to have this be a complete recording, but unfortunately due to time constraints and budget the cast was only able to record a 'highlights' version, and yet, besides the two missing songs mentioned, this feels more complete than most cast recordings do.
I was so lucky to have seen this twice on Broadway before it closed on September 3, 2006. I felt like I was witnessing something that would truly only come to Broadway once in my lifetime. Trust me, there won't be anything like it again for a very long time.
Free Music Review: Difinitive Recording of the Sondheim Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
This revival cast recording is magnificent. Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris are fantastic, and the orchestrations are top-notch. If you've only heard selections from the show, now's your chance to hear a comprehensive recording. The story, from beginning to end is amazing. Sondheim's lyrics are tricky, complex and mesmerizing. Don't miss out on this one. Standout tracks include the extremely difficult and complex, "kiss me," to the fantastic melodies in the songs, "Pretty Women," "Not While I'm Around," and "By the Sea." Free Music Review: Superb
Hit: 5 Stars
This most recent revival of Sweeney Todd is a riveting and creative take on the Sondheim classic. Having seen the splendid original Broadway production in '79 or '80, I was surprised to find that I prefer this one. Once you (quickly) become accustomed to the stripped-down instrumental accompaniment (to go with the minimalist stage design), for which the actors play their own instruments, both the singing and the emotional impact of the music come across with a greater clarity.
Most fans of this musical tend to associate Angela Lansbury with the role of Mrs. Lovett, and indeed she endowed it with a comic, manic verve that is difficult to match. Len Cariou (the first Broadway Sweeney) and George Hearn (his successor) were both expressive and moving as the tragic demon barber. In the new version, Patti LuPone offers up a very different Mrs. Lovett: darker, sassy, cold yet passionate, more openly calculating and much more frightening. Her singing, slurred lyrics and all, is vibrant, and perfect for this interpretation-- in "A Little Priest," she manages to be simultaneously scary and funny. The gifted and versatile Michael Cerveris is a wonderful Sweeney Todd. The earlier Broadway Sweeneys gave this character a haggard poignancy; Mr. Cerveris' barber is silkier, more sinister, more tightly wound, with a dash of rather disturbing sex appeal, and in terms of vocal ability he far surpasses Cariou and Hearn. Manoel Felciano does a fine job, and sings nicely, as Toby, Lauren Molina is a touching, sweet-voiced Johanna, Mark Jocoby a fine Judge Turpin, and the rest of the cast excellent all-around.
I highly recommend this recording, and hope to see a DVD of the stage production in the near future.
Free Music Review: AMAZING
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard the idea of a "demon barber" I was a little turned off by this play.... but nevertheless I bought the CD and to find that I LOVE THIS MUSIC!!!!
First off Patti Lupone is AMAZING!!! I love angela lansbury, but I have both recordings of Sweeney and I very much like Ms. Lupone as Mrs. Lovett (she was robbed of the tony for best actress in a musical for this role!!)
Len Cariou is the original sweeney, but Michael Cerveris gives a much more chilling performance!!!! and Benjamin Murguson makes a very nice Anthony as well ("johanna" is my favourite song, I'd love to get a CD with the kenedy center performance with HUGH PANARO and Brian Stokes Mitchell!!!!!)
Its too bad this play is closing in September, at least its going on tour, and they're apparently making a movie version with johnny depp!?!?!?! that should be interesting....
if you're trying to decide which recording to buy first, get this one now and if you love it then get the original....