Customer Reviews

Hallelujah Broadway

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

 

 

I bought the DVD and CD set of Hallelujah Broadway last week and I just haven't been able to get enough of it. The DVD showing the full performance in a beautiful church in Prague is just breathtaking (see my separate review) and the CD compliments it perfectly. The vocal arrangements are stunning and truly moving. This is not a case of familiar songs being performed in a familiar way - it is refreshingly original and the selection of songs is a perfect mix.

The trio performances by Anthony Kearns, Rodrick Dixon and Alfreda Burke are unlike anything I have heard before. Their voices blend seemlessly and overall effect is one of spine-tingling passion and energy. Linda Eder, as always, shines and I will admit to being moved to tears by her performance of Electricity.

I really couldn't recommend this highly enough.

As a 'die hard' fan of Anthony Kearns who has to have eveything he records, this is a great item to have. He only sings two solos but they are so worth the cost.
Item in good condition and as advertised. This was a good transaction.

I received the Hallelujah Broadway album, along with the DVD, a couple of weeks ago and it hasn't left my car since. Im addicted! The power in Rodrick Dixon's voice on the opening track "Somewhere" certainly blows the cobwebs off in the morning! Anthony Kearns "I'll Be Seeing You" is just plain beautiful. Alfreda Burke's rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" still sends shivers up my spine, and Linda Eder's voice is soaring on "What I Did for Love". My favourite track has to be Anthony, Rodrick and Alfreda on "Seasons of Love" - it's a great way to start the day! I highly recommend it!

Every performer in this production is magnificent! The opening number, "Prepare Ye the Way of The Lord" sets the tone and can send shivers up and down your spine. The Music Director/Conductor is a genius. Not only did he have excellent orchestra members, he also scored electrifying arrangements. This would make a great holiday gift for friends and family.

This was an uplifting, inspiring and spiritual show .. start to end. I am a compulsive sort of person, so I found myself doing the rewind maneouvre several times on various of the songs. My top tracks were: 1, 2, 5,7,8,10 and 11. Track 1 personally, penetrated me, with Rodrick's voice being a powerhouse and yet being delicate. Linda was fantastic, while the medley numbers were passed seemlessly and fluently being the artists.

The setting, the orhcestra and the unique atmosphere was contibuted greatly by an audience that were obviously full enagaged with the performers, just added to my viewing enjoyment at home.

Great show!

David

This is the companion CD to the PBS show that aired this summer and was simultaneously issued on DVD. (See my separate review of the DVD under that title). The concert was performed in Prague in February 2010 in a small church. (If you've ever been to Prague you know that the churches are the venues for concerts, dance and even theatre. )

The cast consists of three main singers - an Irish tenor, an African American bass and an African American soprano. I am not familiar with any of these performers and not sure that they have Broadway credentials. But they do sing well. The known performer is "special guest" Linda Eder, best known for her role in Jekyll & Hyde and The Scarlet Pimpernel, both written by her husband Frank Wildhorn. The "orchestra" is the Prague Filharmonic (note the spelling of the name!). They are adequate.

The theme of the concert program is "uplifting songs" from Broadway. Some are well known like those from The Sound of Music, Carousel and Les Miz, but there were lesser-known songs from Camille Claudel and a wonderful medley from Stephen Schwartz's Godspell. Even though the whole DVD concert is only 77 minutes -so the music, with edits for introductions, would easily fit on a single CD - quite a few songs (including everything from Godspell!) do not appear on the CD.

Some highlights that DO appear on the CD are "Anthem" ( a rarely performed song from Tim Rice's Chess) and "Seasons of Love" (Rent). It was an interesting creative choice to have the two male singers duet on "For Good" (from Schwartz's mega-hit Wicked), a number usually preformed by the two witches in the show.

Eder has the most star power and she does get to sing one song she originated on Broadway on the DVD . It's "Someone Like You" from J&H. But don't look for it here. It's not on the CD version. The producers commissioned for the show (though I can't imagine why) a song called "Hallelujah Broadway". It's a throwaway and I doubt that you will ever hear it again outside this concert. BUT it is here on the CD!

Go figure!

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"