 |  | Nostalgia and Romance--We Can Use a Bit of it These Days |  |
Remarkable how the voices of the Broadway stars and the songs of one's childhood continue to comfort and entertain in a world so vastly different from and often antagonistic toward the romantic, fantasy-like scripts and lyrics of these two decades-ago written operettas. They have as much relationship to current Broadway musicals as Brad Pitt to Robert Taylor, and yet even those unfamiliar with the composers and the entire genre will find themselves "humming that tune", melody after melody. There is, despite a period of the greatest cultural changes in the history of man, a praiseworthy timelessness to the contents of this CD.
June 12, 2008 | | Great Album, But About Those Alternate Takes... | |
it would have been nice if the "Powers That Be", whoever they are, had also put the original album cuts of "In Marsovia", "Down In Dear Marsovia" and "Vilia" on this CD and not just the alternate takes of these 3 songs. The absence of the album cuts of these 3 removes 2 stars from an otherwise great CD.
August 31, 2006 | | MERRY WIDOW Broadway style | |
Decca's old 78 RPM album of THE MERRY WIDOW was recorded shortly after their phenomonally successful OKLAHOMA! set and sounds like a cast album of a Broadway production. Well, why now? After all THE MERRY WIDOW made her North American premiere at the New Amsterdam theatre for 416 performances begining October 21, 1907.
Though this recording is not directly taken from any specific production, two of the male leads Felix Knight and Wilbur Evans had appeared in a 1942 staging at Carnegie Hall which may explain why both men sound so comfortable in their roles. Kitty Carlisle makes a delightful widow, a role she too had played on stage many times. She sings with a straightforward, unforced voice and enunciates the lyrics clearly. The whole performance made for an enjoyable listen when the set was new and the only problem is the occasional bit of surface noise from Decca's well worn master discs.
The 1950 set of highlights from THE STUDENT PRINCE (6 selections plus and Overture and Finale) shows what happens when singers go overboard: Though the rest of the cast is fine, Lauritz Melchior oversings the role to the point where it sounds as if he is mimicing Ezio Pinza in SOUTH PACIFIC.
In short, get this disc for THE MERRY WIDOW but go elsewhere for STUDENT PRINCE. February 3, 2004
| | | A (new) old Merry Widow . . . | |
This album was available on 12" DECCA Lps for years under two separate editions. However, this time the powers that be, used the alternate and expanded takes of at least two of the best cuts. These were too lenthy for the 78's but they pack a wollop and add to the reality of the show. Vilia is expanded and the rousing "In Marsovia". This is the first time these two have seen the light of day since they were recorded . . . so I bet Kitty was surprised when she heard them.
The supporting cast is supperb with Lisette Verea being a standout. The sound is excellent . . . in fact it is such a nice treat to the ears . . .real authentic sound just the way you hear it naturally without hearing the tongue clicks and sibilants that "modern" recordings give you. This is sound as you would naturally hear it. Today's sound is more about technology than music . . . like looking at a painting and seeing all the brush strokes instead of the picture. Great CD. The other side, Student Prince is good except for Lauritz Melchior who is God awful. February 16, 2003
| | | A Nostalgic Visit With the Merry Widow | |
My ancient 78 rpm album of acetate records of this version of The Merry Widow is worn with age and over-use. So am I.
However, this reissue "digitally remastered" on a CD is like a joyous finding of an old treasure. There are many English translations of the orginal German lyrics this fine operetta and, perhaps, each listener has his or her own favorite. This performance happens to be mine. I happen to like Kitty Carlisle in the title role because I've been listening to her sing it for 60 years! I'm delighted this came out digitally remastered as it is. I wish someone could figure out how I can be digitally remastered -- just to keep up with things the way they are.
-o0o- February 6, 2003
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