Customer Reviews

Heading East (Premiere Cast Recording)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I ordered this recording because Paolo Montalban was one of the lead vocalist and I wasn't disappointed. I think it's great production and my only complaint is there wasn't a larger information sheet on this CD. I would love to introduce this CD to the public at large, so they can enjoy this for not only the musical content but the actual information on the asian american experiences of chinese, but other asian groups!!! I highly recommend this to everyone!

When I first heard this CD, I found it surprisingly refeshing. It gave a history of the Asians' struggles during the gold-rush years, yet it was light-hearted enough to make it enjoyable for the listener. It's a history lesson and a sound track that should eventually lead to a Broadway play! Everyone did a wonderful job, but I have to say that Paolo Montalban was outstanding. His voice was clear with just the right amout of fluctuation to communicate the feel of each situation. I would advise anyone interested in this type of music to try it.

I thoroughly enjoy this new musical. If you want to hear Paolo Montalban sing again, this is the album to buy. His voice is absolutely amazing: sexy and powerful. I listen to the duet 'Much like You' by Paolo and Fay Ann Lee over and over again and never get tired of it. The mother(Ching Valdes/Aran)'s unique voice in 'Only Home' is refreshing too. I look forward to seeing this on stage. It will be a lot of fun.

This musical tells the experiences of Asians moving to America. It describes the struggle of maintaining one's culture while trying to fit in to a new one. It would be great to see this produced on stage or as a TV movie (PBS or A & E - are you listening?). The singing on this CD is excellent - the story comes to life and you can feel their pain and triumph! Particularly noteworthy is the performance by Paolo Montalban - his voice is clear, melodic, and powerful. I'm looking forward to hearing more from this young talent!

I really enjoyed the music and the story line. I also learned a lot about the history of asians who came to the U.S.A. I hope to see this show in Broadway someday! Kudos to all the artists who made this possible.

This musical has some of the best singers you can find. The vocals are absolutely amazing. Paolo Montalban (Timothy/Siu Yee) Does an outsanding vocal performance. If your not already a fan of the Mortal Kombat Conquest: the series star, who also portrayed Prince Charming in the 1997 "Cinderella" with Whintey Houston and Brandy, then you will be now. Paolo has an above the mark vocal talent. The music is very new, which is in itself refreshing. Musicals seem to be droning the same sounds lately, but this is a breath of fresh air. The storyline is wonderful. Its about time someone brought notice to the Asian community. Its light-hearted, and touching, sometimes humorous...This is definately a must buy!

I bought this CD on a whim and it remains one of my most satisfying purchases. This musical traces the journey of Asians into the American fabric; consider it an AA history primer if you will. The story follows Tong Siu Yee who leaves an impoverished China in 1848 to make his Gold Mountain fortune in California. In grand, post-modern fashion, his life unfolds at pivotal moments along a 150 year timeline. He eventually makes a living peddling goods to the miners ("Gold"), marries the widow of a Transcontinental Railroad worker ("A Long, Long Way Back Home"), and, before long, embarks on a quasi-religious quest to raise a true American son. His life intersects with a number of people, including Michiko, a Japanese picture bride, Carlos Bulosan, a Filipino writer, and Dr. Pak, a Korean man who delivered Siu Yee's son.

The tension between Asian ethnicities fails to come through as strongly in the music as is suggested in the liner notes, but the intensity of each confrontation remains. The last track ("This is How a World is Made"), and my favorite on the recording, stands as a culmination of lifetimes trying to achieve a sense of peace and, ultimately, a place in American history. It is in some ways a reconciliation of and with all parties. The music resonates tremendously because of its willingness to open wounds without romanticizing or disregarding them. (Michiko's haunting remembrance of internment provoked by reparations in "All We Can Do is Remember" and Siu Yee's hard fought conclusion that "Anyone can be a citizen. Who can tell anyway?") Since this isn't an open forum I won't indulge in the every storyline and character, but I will honestly say that there is always something to discover and questions to ask; you will find a bit of yourself, your family, or friends in every character.

As for the artists, this is as close to an AA all-star cast as you'll get, and do they deliver! This labor of love can't escape their passionate voices. Paolo Montalban makes the most of his name recognition and embraces his role as Siu Yee. But in true ensemble form, each actor commands his or her performance. Writer Robert Lee's lyrics find full depth with this cast. I also enjoyed composer Leon Ko's integration of Asian folk refrains with traditional American tunes which gave a cohesive effect to the entire production.