Customer Reviews

The Baker's Wife (Members of the 1976 Original Cast)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"This wonderful cast album continues to mystify listeners as to why THE BAKER'S WIFE was a huge flop." (David Barbour, "The TheaterMania Guide to Musical Theater Recordings") Was it because of Joseph Stein's book? (He had, after all, received a Tony for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF four years earlier.) The musical score? (Stephen Schwartz already had GODSPELL, PIPPIN, and THE MAGIC SHOW under his belt.) Was it the choreography? Perhaps the director? Maybe the producer? ("Producer David Merrick was continually firing people during the troubled out-of-town previews, including the two stars, the director and choreographer, and multiple revisions turned a promising show into a mess that closed before even making it to Broadway." - Michael Dale, broadwayworld.com)

After its six-month pre-Broadway tour, THE BAKER'S WIFE finally "made like a Verdi heroine" and up and died in Washington. Shortly thereafter, composer Stephen Schwartz assembled the remaining cast to make this private recording. The baker in a " . . . small Provençal town, still surprisingly provincial in the mid-1930s . . . " is now played by Paul Sorvino, who had replaced Topol on the road. Patti LuPone played Geneviève, the baker's young wife, who is seduced by the village stud (Kurt Peterson) and leaves her husband for a torrid romance with her young Lothario. Teri Ralston, as the cafe proprietor's wife, beautifully established the show's mood with her opening song.

Although each of the singers is remarkable, it is Paul Sorvino who is the revelation here. Best-known as Det. Sgt. Philip "Phil" Cerreta in TVs LAW & ORDER (1991-1992) & the 1972 Drama Desk Award winner for THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON, his ringing tenor carries the show. "His superb singing may take some fans by surprise, but he is brilliant in 'Merci, Madam,' 'Any-Day-Now-Day,' and the powerful lament 'If I Have to Live Alone.' Patti Lupone's powerful rendition of 'Meadowlark' became a cult event in itself, and Kurt Peterson is wickedly funny in 'Proud Lady.' I know many who think Teri Ralston's 'Chanson' is a jewel. " (John Kendrick, musicals101.com)

"When interest in stock and regional productions grew, as well as a London premiere, Schwartz and Stein took the opportunity to look at the show objectively and make changes without the pressures of being on the road to Broadway." (Michael Dale) Subsequent productions at the Paper Mill Playhouse (2005), the Windfall Theatre in Milwaukee, WI (2007), Seattle's Civic Light Opera (2007), and Philadelphia's Arden Theatre (2001), and others have met with both critical and popular success.

Very highly recommended. "No serious showtune collection is complete without this one. " - John Kendrick

I purchased this album years ago because I was chasing every musical that Patti LuPone was a member of; there's something about her voice.

I was surprised at the quality of the recording too. I'd warn anyone purchasing this, the recording is not in stereo and almost sounds tinny in places but I grew to love this sound because I listened to the music beneath it.

Traditional French town, a nice traditional story, what better than to have the music sound almost as if it's been lifted out of the period over a stronger version of a grammophone?

I like all the songs and it's difficult to choose my most loved one. Chanson speaks so much about life but the song I'd have to choose as my favourite: the melancholy "If I have to live alone". I find it so sad and it reminds me of how it feels to be alone and lonely; and listening to it, I want to help the baker too.

In all, it's a good CD, just judge it for what it is!

"The Baker's Wife" should have been called "Meadowlark". The sublime song says everything the show says in about six minutes. Schwartz seems to either write songs woven with beautiful metaphors and complexity [Meadowlark] or sloppy, boring, shultzy 70's crap. This is indeed one of the Great pieces in 20th century music theatre; "Meadowlark" speaks volumes about the irrational pain and complexity of love, through the metaphor of a lark, trapped in a triangle of potential betrayal. In great theatrical tradition, the lark is killed - a blatant, but nevertheless telling example of the emotions love conjures. It is sung here by Patti LuPone, in fine belting form.

Forget the "new and improved" versions of The Baker's Wife. This original cast album is simply the best. One of the most beautiful scores ever written, with astounding performances by the artists.

When one listens to this recording it becomes difficult to understand how it could not have made it to Broadway, and not been a hit. The truth is there are hundreds of shows with fantastic scores, The Grass Harp, Juno, Anyone Can Whistle, and Merrily We Roll Along come immediately to mind, that simply were lousy shows. Even the now legendary Carrie has an amount of music that is simply ravishing (soon to be revealed in the re-vamped off-Broadway production starring Marin Mazzie). The Bakers Wife had song after song that were simply gorgeous, and Meadowlark is now an audition piece standard. But if people could get their hands on a script (as I once did), they would realize how terribly thin the story and plot are, and simply put, could not support two and a half hours of a musical. It was dull, some of the songs were forced, and it did not work. People left feeling totally unsatisfied, word of mouth was bad, and though they tried desperately to improve it, they wisely cut their losses in Washington before a Broadway mounting. But the CD is a complete delight, Lupone is fantastic, and Paul Sorvino magical.

I still can't believe this has never had a shot on Broadway... Chorus numbers have been left off this since the 'soundtrack' was independently made by fans if I remember reading correctly. They approaced S Schwartz. Anyway, Patti Lupone is fantastic, as is Paul Sorvino. If you're a fan of musicals or The Baker's Wife specifically...this is a must have.

The CD arrived ahead of the approximated time for delivery, and it was in great shape. I would buy from this source again -- and recommend them.

A great album. Most of the songs are really beautiful and Patti Lupone is great as usual. Based on the classic Marcel Pagnol's "La Femme du Boulanger", this musical deserves much more attention. It is a pity that it didn't make it on Broadway. The album brings the lyrics and some photographs of the original production. The sound? Excellent.

This is an amazing CD with many great songs for men and women. This has the legendary song Meadowlark. And the men songs Proud Lady and If I Have To Live Alone, are amazing songs to listen to and sing.

I gave it 4 stars because it is an older recording which doesn't give you the full effect of these powerful and simple songs as modern day recording techniques would. But this CD is still a great buy with performers: Teri Ralston, Paul Sorvino, Patti LuPone, and Kurt Peterson.

Following the brash, vibrant score of PIPPIN, composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz proved his versatility with THE BAKER'S WIFE, a score which glitters like the rarest of jewels, and never more fetching than on the original cast album featuring divine Patti LuPone. LuPone plays the title role, a woman who leaves her predictable, homely existence with her husband (Paul Sorvino) for the handsome young rogue who turns her head (Kurt Peterson). Teri Ralson appears to sing the score's first jewel number, "Chanson", a swirling intoxicating waltz. Patti LuPone sings the thrilling "Meadowlark", almost a mini-musical in itself. Equally wonderful is her sobering "Where Is the Warmth?", where she comes to realise her folly and returns to her husband. Too bad that this particular recording has been poorly-mastered for compact disc. Analogue distortion and drop-outs litter the recording, and are extremely-distracting. Hopefully a revised remaster will appear one day, but until then, this recording of THE BAKER'S WIFE is the best we'll get.