Broadway Divas [Cast Recording]

Irving Berlin (Composer), John Harold Kander (Composer), Roy/ Ahlert, Fred E. Turk (Composer), Stephen Sondheim (Composer), Arthur Schwartz (Performer), Arthur/ Carroll, June Siegel (Performer), Mary Rodgers (Performer), Michael John LaChiusa (Performer), Stephen Flaherty (Performer), Burton Lane (Performer), Jule Styne (Performer), Ethel Merman (Performer), Liza Minnelli (Performer), Mandy Patinkin (Performer), Bernadette Peters (Performer), Mary Martin (Performer), Patti LuPone (Performer), Jeanne Lehman (Artist), Mark Jacoby (Artist), Madeline Kahn (Artist), Marin Mazzie (Artist), Barbara Cook (Artist), Angela Lansbury (Artist), Julia Murney (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Arthur Schwartz, Arthur/ Carroll, June Siegel, Mary Rodgers, Michael John LaChiusa, Stephen Flaherty, et al.
• Composer: Irving Berlin, John Harold Kander, Roy/ Ahlert, Fred E. Turk, Stephen Sondheim
• Audio CD (August 7, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: RCA Victor Broadway
• ASIN: B00005LN5V
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,373 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent sampling from some of Broadway's best broads, April 20, 2010

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Broadway Divas (Audio CD)

Even if you already own all (or most) of the albums featured on this compilation disc, no doubt you'll still get a kick of out it's excellent cross-section sampling of some of Broadway's most beloved and talented female stars.

Drawing from the large number of Broadway cast albums in the RCA-BMG catalogue, things get off to a cracking start with who else but Ethel Merman, performing "I Got the Sun in the Morning" from the 1966 Lincoln Center revival of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (still considered, all these years later, as the best-ever recording of the Irving Berlin musical).

Other great Golden Age treats to be savoured include Liza Minnelli's "Sing Happy" (from Kander and Ebb's delicious FLORA THE RED MENACE), "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from the London cast of GYPSY starring Angela Lansbury; and Barbara Harris' tour-de-force "What Did I Have?" from ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER. Kudos to RCA for also including a nice piece from the cult flop JENNIE starring Mary Martin ("Before I Kiss the World Goodbye"), though perhaps "Flaming Agnes" from I DO! I DO! might have been a better choice for Martin's inclusion.

Modern musical theatre dames showcased include Bebe Neuwirth's "All That Jazz" from CHICAGO, Sarah Jessica Parker in the revival of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS ("Shy"); and Julia Murney as Queenie in Lippa's WILD PARTY ("Raise the Roof").

Sondheim admirers will appreciate a varied wealth of his best numbers, two coming from the landmark COMPANY ("Being Alive" with Patti LuPone, and Madeline Kahn's breathtaking "Getting Married Today"). "Children and Art" comes from his fascinating SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and is performed by the original leading lady, Bernadette Peters. Another great Sondheim dame, Barbara Cook, dazzles with "Losing My Mind" from FOLLIES.

Great value.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brassy, Magnificent broadway divas!, May 14, 2009

By 

Basso Profondo (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broadway Divas (Audio CD)

The highlights of this CD for me are Patti Lupone's "Being Alive"...simply stunning...such power and emotion in her voice. "Mean to me" by Nell Carter...this was really my first time to hear Ms. Carter perform...I wish she'd made more recordings! First of all, she has a marvelous instrument, capable of great power or intimate tenderness, and she sings with such soulfulness that makes my heart melt. "Children and Art"...as usual, Bernadette demonstrates that she is a force to be reckoned with in the dramatic world...this selection is not quite so "brassy" and over the top, but it is executed with such nuance and insight and characterization as only a true master is capable of. "Getting married today"...I love Madeline Kahn in everthing that she does...this particular piece, I would imagine, is very difficult to learn and perform...just listen and you'll see why...it's a joy to listen to.

Those are just the highlights for ME, each and every track is worth listening to more than once...they are all masterful performances!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars coulda been a contender, March 15, 2006

By 

Omi Church "lets go to the movies" (Billings, MT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Broadway Divas (Audio CD)

The divas are indeed divine, but the choice of music sung left me wondering why, with so many other great music selection contenders.