10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The great American pop opera, September 2, 2003
This review is from: The Human Comedy [Original Broadway Cast Recording] (Audio CD)
I purchased this CD on a whim, after reading a book about Broadway flops. This was one of the few shows picked out for praise, so I thought I'd give it a try. With some trepidation, I popped it into the CD player.
What emerged from the speakers is undenaibly one of the great, if mostly unheard, scores from American theater. This is definately in the "pop opera" vein, such as Les Miserables, etc., but this sounds nothing like the British scores that seemed to take over Broadway during the mid-80s.
This was written by the same man who gave us the music for the 60s musical "Hair," and the careful listener can make this connection. However, the blend of distinctly American styles of music -- country, gospel, "bubblegum pop," etc -- mesh into an exquisite experience.
The cast was in fine form. The mother's voice sounds amazingly like Joan Baez to me, though the liner notes assures me it's not. The young boy playing a 4 year old has an amazingly powerful voice -- one wonders whatever happened to him. The ensemble, in general, is exceptional.
True, the lyrics are sometimes heavy-handed, and there is the occasional grating passage in the music. However, with 2 full-length CDs to fill, these minor and rare occasions are no reason to lower my rating.
If you can get your hands on this, I highly urge you give it a listen. It is well worth it.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
At Long Last: "THE HUMAN COMEDY" on CD, June 16, 2000
This review is from: The Human Comedy [Original Broadway Cast Recording] (Audio CD)
It's been too many years since this overlooked musical gem was available to fans. Based on the William Saroyan novella of the same name, MacDermot's score is, quite simply, glorious. His music soars, yet remains as Earth-bound as it's young hero and his family and friends. It's such a shame (and a great loss) that MacDermot didn't write more for the theatre, as few theatre composers (in my opinion) are able to match his gift for unpretentious melody. The songs, fragments, musical scenes, even the recitative are many steps above most of todays Sondheim-clones. THE HUMAN COMEDY is a must-have for any lover of American musical theatre.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Forgotten Gem, January 21, 2002
This review is from: The Human Comedy [Original Broadway Cast Recording] (Audio CD)
When I first heard this recording I was blown away. It is one of the most exciting musical pieces that I have stumbled upon in recent years. MacDermot has managed to create his own and very unique musical landscape. This musical, if you can call it that, deserves a much wider audience and, perhaps, one day to be a hit.
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