Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific (The New Broadway Cast)

The landmark musical's first-ever Broadway revival! The curtain rang down on Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific in 1954 after five years of extraordinary acclaim and countless awards including nine Tonys and a Pulitzer. Based on James Michener's Pulitzer Prize winning book Tales of the South Pacific, the musical is set on a tropical island during World War II and tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples - U.S. Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and French plantation owner Emile de Becque and Marine Joe Cable and a young local native girl Liat - and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of the war and by their own prejudices. Considered by many the finest musical ever written, the score's songs include such musical theater classics as "Some Enchanted Evening," "Younger Than Springtime," "Bali Ha'i," "There is Nothin' Like a Dame" and "A Wonderful Guy." Album Description

Old Classic Given Facelift

Before going to NYC in the spring I was least excited to see the musical South Pacific. Remembering only the low-quality film version I had seen as a child I thought the musical would be dull. I could not have been more wrong. The musical echoes of classic Broadway with an outstanding pit orchestra dressed to the nines in tuxedos and black dresses, it was a welcome change from the lax behavior often seen in orchestras with the tubas doing crossword puzzles and absentmindedly listening to the show. The voices of the two leads were absolutely amazing, especially Kelli O'Hara's crystal clear voice. The CD remarkably captures her clarity as well as the beauty of the original sweeping orchestrations. The CD also has a few numbers not included in other cast recordings, songs like "My Girl Back Home" especially show off the voice of Matthew Morrison, previously seen in the "Light in the Piazza." This recording is differs from prior recordings in tone and sound quality. The quality really brings a lot of energy to the CD that had been lost in the other CD's. The cast and orchestra are extraordinary and no matter how many of the other recordings you already own or how jaded you are by Broadways somewhat drift from classical musicals you should purchase this recording. November 11, 2008

Rodgers and Hammerstein

Rodgers and Hammerstein forever. There music never gets old or dated. New voices with new interpretations provide a wonderful ride down memory trail. You have to force yourself not to sing along, you know the words to all of the songs; however,you cannot do justice to these performances. October 30, 2008

South Pacific

Item came on time. However, title would not show up on the computer and did not import properly. October 24, 2008

South Pacific CD

We felt as if we were in the theater again. Fine sound, and even some connecting dialog. So enjoyable that I am going to buy another one! October 13, 2008

There Ain't Nothin Like the Real Thing

As smooth a production as this current version is, even the Tony award winning Paulo Szot and perfect technique of Kelly O'Hara can't match the vocal beauty and excitement of the original cast. Of course the music is timelessly great but the woman who sings Bloody Mary doesn't capture the native sounding joy of the original. Ho-hum. I'm afraid broadway singing has gone the way of the rest of American culture - into mediocrity. October 9, 2008

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