A Little Night Music
Stephen Sondheim
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Customer Reviews
Not up to original
The major problem with this recording is that the cheap producers decided to use a ten piece band instead of the 26 piece orchestra as orignally done. It's the same Jonathan Tunick arrangements, but they sound tinny and thin. This is perhaps Sondheim's greatest score. It's melodies are sweeping and soaring. It NEEDS a full orchestra to compliment it's beauty. True, Catherine Zeta Jones can't sing operatically, but, the song was written for Glynis Johns who has less of a range (to this day it is still the best version of the song ever recorded ) so I don't care of Zeta Jones has a soaring voice. The major problem on the singing front is Alexander Hanson (brought in from London ) who doesn't seem to understand Sondheim's musicalty. He's plain dull. On the other hand, Angela Lansbury is, as always fabulous, and what a joy to hear more of her dialogue than has been recorded before. Aaron Lazar and Erin Davis have extroadinary voices, as do the entire rest of the ensemble. For Sondheim lovers, this is a must have, but for others it might not be the case. They should stick to the original.
Nothing can beat the original company or cast recording
I was rather disappointed by this production on Broadway. I was fortunate enough to see the original production, and it remains one of the highlights of my theatre-going life. I was really looking forward to this version, but there were a few things that marred the experience for me. The most jarring was Zeta-Jones. She is simply wrong for the role. She comes off extremely shrewish and classless, especially in You Must Meet My Wife (I thought she'd pull back for the recording but no such luck). Glynis Johns, the original Desiree, was the epitome of class and style, heartbreaking and funny at the same time. The overall direction was off also; Trevor Nunn directed with a heavy hand that turned a really funny and life-affirming show into a Night Music as written by Henrik Ibsen. The opening segment is painfully slow, everyone in Act I dressed in black and in shadows. The second act is, thankfully, somewhat better. The good: Alexander Hanson is terrific as Fredrik, and Angela Lansbury steals the show and rolls off with it in her wheelchair. She's a lesson in less is more; she is a treasure and the whole show (and recording) is worth it for her. It's nice having more music on this recording, but the lushness of the original orchestrations is sorely missed. A mixed effort at best.
WOW!!!!
Saw the show a few months ago and loved it. Love this music. Great buy!
Biography
Born: March 22, 1930 in New York, NY
Genre: Soundtrack
Years Active: '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s
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