Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: Angela or Helena ?
Hit: 5 Stars
In Acapulco in '79 I met by chance a vacationing couple who had invested in the Broadway Show and were enjoying the early, but modest fruits, of their risk investment.
Shortly after I went to see the show on Broadway - original cast.
I then bought the two music cassette show album - pictured here- big format and good text book. I still have it and get it out from time to time.
In the '90s I took an Oxford University Summer School for adults course - "Words and Music" - presented by Paul Newbury, who knew and studied with Sondheim. The geniality of "Sweeney Todd" was clearly brought home to me by Paul's enthusiasm, which also led me to exploring and getting to know well the rest of Sondheim.
In 2007 I bought from Amazon the DVD album of a Canadian production with Angela and George. Good, but not quite up to Angela and Len of a few years earlier.
Last night I went to a Cinemex in Mexico City to See Johnny Depp and Helena in the Tim Burton movie. The Saturday night show at 7.30 pm was less than 1/3rd full. The subtitles got some laughs from the audience and nobody left. I suppose we all enjoyed the blood and tension, and the story and the music and the actors. I had my money's worth any way.
So I am checking out what the movies earnings are to date - not too bad- and seeing what versions are available of Sweeney Todd. I'm probably going to order the original broadway cast version- in a re-mastered CD form- to substitute my ageing casettes ... and deck. I have enough visual impressions so my mind's eye and creativity can fill in the pictures and control the horror and let me again enjoy Sondheim's great musical'dramma giocosa'.
Ian Thomas. Mexico City. Feb. 2008
Free Music Review: 5 stars for the original cast, 2 stars for the Remastered 2007 cd
Hit: 5 Stars
For those of you who already have the original issue of this cd and are wondering if the remastered version is worth investing in, let me save you some trouble. There is almost no audible difference in the remastered version, unless you count the fact that they've added a ton of reverb - for those who don't know, it's the sound of singing in a cave. The cd here is otherwise still "trebly," and the discrepancies in volume level are still there. Don't get me wrong, this cast is amazing, but don't pay again for this "remastered" version, unless of course you're dying to hear Julie Andrews sing the second part of "Sweet Polly Plunkit" as a bonus track.
Edit: How could I forget my other big gripe? NO LYRICS! "MasterworksBroadway," who reissued this along with a bunch of other Sondheim, decided to axe lyrics that were previously available in favor of fat, uninspired essays. I've confirmed this with my Into the Woods "Remastered" edition (treble and reverb in full effect) which lacks the lyrics the original cd had.
Free Music Review: The Best You'll Ever Hear
Hit: 5 Stars
Have listened to and loved The original stage version of Sweeney Todd with Len Cariou and Angie Lansbury for the last 25 years. This listener has yet to tire of listening to it. This is music that will be loved and listened to 100 years from now.Free Music Review: "God That's Good!"
Hit: 5 Stars
this by far, is still one of the best musicals by Stephen Sondheim ever! It is smart and witty and very dark....Fantastic!Free Music Review: Dark & Delightful Sweeney Todd
Hit: 5 Stars
If you know nothing about Sweeney Todd, you'll be pleased that this musical is like an opera - most of what happens on stage is sung. You'll be able to follow most of the story's twists and turns just from the music. The original cast can't be beat. Angela Lansbury is a hoot. This story is a tragedy, but there is so much humor. The more gruesome the lyrics, the more rollicking the the music. This 2-disk version has some super bonus tracks with "Joanna" receiving especially beautiful treatment. There was a surprise, unlisted bonus at the very end from... I believe.. Julie Andrews. Very cute. Dig in!