Customer Reviews

Irving Berlin's White Christmas: The Musical

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Using songs from the 1954 film, and a few other gems and even unknown treasures from the Berlin cannon, the show creators have put together a very strong, enjoyable score that out-performs anything offered on Broadway in recent memory. The orchestrations are lush, the cast seems very well suited for the material, and the interpretaion both pays homage to the classic film, and finds new life for itself. All in all-- an EXCELLENT project.

Irving Berlin's White Christmas: White Christmas is one of the best musicals ever made - make that one of the best movies ever made. I absolutely adore it. This CD is the soundtrack to the stage version of the film. I so want to see this show. If the music is any indication, the show is an absolute blast. It's chock-full of the classic Irving Berlin songs from the movie, with the addition of other Berlin classics such as "Happy Holiday," "Blue Skies," "How Deep Is the Ocean," and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm." The arrangements positively hum with energy - the music has a full, big-band flavor. And the principal vocalists, led by Brian d'Arcy James and Jeffrey Denman, are terrific - they don't try to imitate their filmic predecessors Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. If they had, that would've equaled disaster. What makes this album work is that you are given top-notch Broadway singers performing timeless Berlin tunes with life and energy. They're not trying to present a carbon copy of the film onstage - the show is more of a love letter to the film, if you will. The story's been tweaked, some of the movie's songs eliminated ("Choreography" is no great loss IMO) or rearranged, but the nostalgic heart of the film's story is vibrantly present.

The cast album (the San Francisco production with Karen Morrow added) of the touring production of Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS is delightful from start to finish. Full Broadway-style arrangements and orchestrations of the film tunes supplemented by Berlin catalog songs are razzmatazz vintage 1950s style, which makes this set engaging and spirited. Especially when it's as well sung as this is by Broadway pros young and old - not to denigrate Karen Morrow's age in any way, she's a great addition to this set as the show-biz vet housekeeper. The whole score is full of sparkle and memories, bolstered by some terrific production numbers - first-act finale "Blue Skies" and second-act showstopper "I Love a Piano" are supreme - and new takes on faves "Happy Holidays", "Snow" and "What Can You Do with A General?". Morrow delivers in socko fashion on her solo "Let Me Sing a Happy Song" and provides superb support on the interpolated charm song trio "Falling Out of Love Can Be Fun". Everyone gives themselves to the spirit and style of this songstack, it's a fantastic souvenir of the show and a welcome addition to anyone's original cast album collection. Lots of good feelings all the way round and you'll listen to this one over and over again, whether it's holiday time or not!

The orchestrations for this very delightful cast recording are superb, and more than do justice to such great Irving Berlin songs as It Only Happens When You're Dancing, Blue Skies and the title song. Karen Morrow has never been in better voice in belting out Let Me Sing and I'm Happy.
This is a must for every collector of Broadway cast albums.

I love this album -- I saw the show in SF twice and recently in Detroit -- the album captures all of the wonderful score and the cast on the album is super -- although they made one curious recording faux pas as far as I am concerned -- why records a Randy Skinner tap dance show without including any of the tap on the recording? Still -- I listen to it constantly in the car -- it feels like Christmas year round!

Oh my Lord! Who would think you could beat Bing Crosby and the rest of the original cast for this musical. I saw it in the theater, when I was seven years old and have my whole family addicted! We watch it every Christmas and in between. It's a family tradition. This album is absolutely fantastic. I hesitated getting it. I was afraid I would not like it compared to the movie track, (which is non existent, actually). To make a long story short, you will NOT be disappointed! The extra Irving Berlin songs are incredible. The theatrical renditions of these time-honored tunes is wonderful and inspiring! It you are a fan of Irving Berlin, you enjoy great vocals, and you love Broadway, you will love this album. It couldn't be better! (... Not the same as Bing and company, of course, but equally wonderful to listen to!)

White Christmas is a show that is just pure fun. The plot is similar to the movie, but changed just enough to make it interesting for anyone who has seen the movie multiple times. While the CD cannot capture the beautiful sets, costumes, and visual effects that I saw in the Detroit production of the show, it completely captures the spirit and fun of the show with many wonderful and recognizable Irving Berlin tunes. You can listen to it any time of year, but it would get Scrooge into Christmas spirit.

We bought this CD after seeing the stage production. The songs are quite different from the ones we grew up with in the Bing Crosby tv movie version. Lively and fun from a by-gone era. This is one of our most-listened-to CDs, as most of the songs are not "Christmas-y" at all.

This CD is a faithful rendition of a musical served up with familiar and "sing-along" melodies. Some nostalgia yes, but very appropriate for the Holidays. Anyone who doesn't smile hearing "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"really is a "scrouge"! I purchased this CD for my grand-daughter after we saw the musical together; a great way to build memories....

A great concept album. This show features so many well known songs... The performances are excellent and the updated orchestrations have given this classic film musical a new future as an entertaining theatre piece.... Loved it!