Customer Reviews

Jekyll & Hyde: The Complete Work - The Gothic Musical Thriller (1994 Concept Cast)

5 star:		(118)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My introduction to Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll & Hyde was the Broadway cast recording. It was impressive enough with so many terrific songs to motivate me to see the stage play on Broadway. That was something of a disappointment, as the plot seemed a bit incongruous and poorly conceived. Finally hearing the concept recording that resulted in the original Houston play explained a lot. Plainly the producers had to condense and truncate in order to get financing to get the play to Broadway, making numerous compromises along the way. The original concept recording contains enough to indicate that the earlier version of the play was much better organized and well explained, and much closer to Stevenson's story as well.

An additional pleasant surprise was the heightened richness in Wildhorn's original concept recording. Many of the songs have more subtlety and imagination in the orchestrations, and some have extra verses, as well as several songs entirely absent from the Broadway production. The pacing is much better, slowing down some of the songs, and in comparison revealing the Broadway version as rushed to fit it into a time frame. Only the tale end of In His Eyes seems to have been improved for Broadway.

My conclusion is that the original version of the stage play must be superior to the Broadway effort. I will keep my eyes open to find it being performed somewhere so that I can finally see it as Wildhorn and company intended it to be.

While I liked the Broadway cast recording a great deal, this version is even better. I heartily recommend it to all aficionados of Jekyll & Hyde.

'Jekyll & Hyde' is, in my opinion, Frank Wildhorn's best work to date. But you wouldn't know it if you listened to the 1997 Original Broadway Cast Recording. The first 'Jekyll & Hyde' recording I ever owned was the Second Concept Cast (1994) starring Anthony Warlow. The composer, Wildhorn, and the lyricist, Leslie Bricusse, wrote an absolutely powerful score in this album; it was perfect. Then they messed with perfection and created the repetitive, and even monotonous, Broadway Cast score. If the creators of "Jekyll & Hyde" wanted to entertain and appeal to the audience, then the score on the Second Concept Cast recording should have been used! Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, 'Jekyll & Hyde' follows the story of a doctor's, Henry Jekyll, struggle to create a world without evil, but when using himself as an experiment he transforms into the epitomy of evil itself, Edward Hyde, and embarks on a creating chaos within London, whilst Jekyll does all he can to stop the villain. Wildhorn's music assists in creating a sombre, mysterious atmosphere, which fascinates the dark side of humanity.

The dual role of Jekyll and Hyde is a difficult one to play well. Anthony Warlow's, who I have been a fan of for years, portrayal of the eccentric Doctor Jekyll and the villainous Mr Hyde is distinct and brilliantly realistic. Warlow's voice is just so powerful no one can compare. Colm Wilkinson's, who I am also a big fan of, portrayal of Jekyll and Hyde in the First Concept Cast (1990) was good, but not outstanding or even powerful. Robert Cuccioli's voice is not powerful or emotive, at all, and I was very disappointed with his performance on the Original Broadway Cast, simply because his voice is not good. Warlow stands out over all of them. In his solo performances as Jekyll, the listeners are subject to his beautiful high baritone voice which provides some strength of character for the character especially in; "I Need To Know", "Streak of Madness", "The World Has Gone Insane", "No One Must Ever Know", "Once Upon A Dream" and the brilliant "This is the Moment", Warlow coerces the listeners to pity his character, and thus appeals to their emotions and senses. The song "This is the Moment" is truly awe-inspiring! As Hyde, Warlow's voice becomes deeper and husky, which serves to terrify the audience, as well as create significant distinctions between the characters of Jekyll and Hyde. The solo song, "Alive" sung by Hyde, is truly horrific, yet powerful simultaneously. Warlow performs splendidly and I can't see anyone else in the lead roles. Two outstanding performances in which both Jekyll and Hyde are involved are the "Transformation" and "Confrontation". Warlow's transformation is very realistic and, consequently, listeners feel anguish for Jekyll as he suffers during the transformation. But it is the "Confrontation" that I believe is one of the most powerful songs of the musical. In this duet between Jekyll and Hyde, the listeners are subject to sudden transformations between Jekyll and Hyde as Jekyll tries to escape the evil presence of Hyde, and Hyde attempts to prevent him from escaping: "I'll live inside you forever! With Satan, himself, by my side, I know that now and forever, They'll never be able to seperate Jekyll from Hyde!"

Linda Eder plays the character of Lucy; a prostitute who Hyde is infatuated with (so much so that he ends up slitting her throat). Linda Eder gives a stellar performance, as she has done in all three of the "Jekyll & Hyde" recordings. Eder is another cast member with a powerful voice. Her portrayal of Lucy is very well done. Her solo performances; "Someone Like You", as well as her duets with Lisa (Jekyll's love interest; played by Carolee Carmello) and Hyde are very emotive; "In His Eyes", and "It's A Dangerous Game".

Carolee Carmello performs the character of Lisa well enough, but Christiane Noll in the Original Broadway Cast portrays the character better, in my opinion. Although Carmello's duets of "Letting Go", "In His Eyes", "Take Me As I Am", and her solo performance of "Once Upon A Dream", are beautiful.

The Full Company numbers; "Facade", "Murder, Murder!" and "Board of Governors" are all very powerful, especially the latter.

This is the "Jekyll & Hyde" recording to buy. Anthony Warlow's performance in the lead roles are absolutely astounding. The amount of passion he puts into the works of Wildhorn and Bricusse is intense, and his voice and the emotion he conveys to listeners is just so powerful. Warlow is Power!!!!!

I have to admit-- getting ahold of this recording was no easy task, and at first I had to settle for the Broadway recording to tide me over till this one came. Mind you, the Broadway recording is good in its own right-- but this one is simply... phenomenal! It's been said before, I know, but Anthony Warlow's performance on this recording is AMAZING! If anyone has created the dual role of Jekyll & Hyde, it's him... just listen to "Transformation" or "Confrontation" to hear the stark contrast! Admittedly, one or two songs are skip-worthy... but what amazes me is that they're songs that were KEPT in the broadway version, while some of the best ones ("The World Has Gone Insane" and "I Need to Know".. both give me chills..) were cut. Linda Eder sounds as good on this recording as on the Broadway one, and Carolee Carmello's performance is solid as well-- she has some particularly good acting in the final number on disc two, despite the lack of much singing in that one. If I were to rave about all my favorite songs and what I like about them, this review would probably be several pages long-- so I'll simply say that there's not a fault to be found on this CD set.. Admittedly, Anthony Warlow's performance is what truly carries this album, but that's to be expected, given his amazing talent. I intend to invest in some of his solo CDs ASAP now... but this one will be sitting in my CD player for a long, long time to come!

I got this CD, without having heard any of the songs, on the recommendation from a friend. My friend was right - it's great music. In fact, it's downright sensational. I've since listened to the 1990 Concept Cast and the 1997 Broadway recordings, and neither surpassed the quality and raw talent that this recording boasts. The music and lyrics by Wildhorn and Briscusse are genius to begin with, and the talent of Linda Eder and Anthony Warlow make this CD set perfect.
Eder's voice is beautiful, making songs like "Sympathy, Tenderness", "No One Knows Who I Am", and especially "A New Life" a treat to listen to. She brings the character of Lucy to life with the perfect mix of innocence and boldness that carry though in her singing.
Warlow's performance defies adjectives one could use to describe it. Excellent does not even begin to describe it. His voice is incredible, and he gives contrast between Jekyll and Hyde that is very evident in his voice whenever he sings between the two characters. Just listening to the second track, "I Need To Know" is enough to put any doubts to rest on the quality of this recording or of Warlow's talent, and he carries this same faultlessness through the entirety of both CDs. In "I Need To Know", "Alive", and "Transformation" you can hear the energy that Warlow has through the magnitude of emotion he conveys with his voice.
I cannot recommend it enough, and just words do not do it justice, it has to be heard.

I first decided to listen to this CD when a co-worker of mine absent-mindedly started singing "Murder Murder." I asked her where on earth that song was from, and she lent me the CD.

After listening to the first three tracks, I IMMEDIATELY went and bought it! I was hooked instantaneously, I had never heard music so stunning in my life. Much of it is fun, much MORE of it is haunting in its beauty -- songs like "Dangerous Game" (my favorite track) and "Girls of the Night" and "No One Knows Who I Am." In 35 tracks, there was amazingly only ONE song that I didn't find to be brilliant and sumptuous ("Letting Go," which I found fairly boring).

Anthony Warlow is wonderful as Jekyll/Hyde, but the crown jewel in this is Linda Eder. Eder's voice is sensual and evocative, not to mention simply thrilling. I love listening to her sing! She's incredible.

I wish that they had made this "concept CD" into the real thing; I don't understand why they changed it so much when they finally put it onstage! These songs were perfect, rich and glorious, and it would have made an incredible show as is.

I listen to this soundtrack all the time, and I love it just as much now as I ever did. Songs like these are why I love music, and musicals, in the first place.

I have seen Jekyll & Hyde and have both recordings. This is a great show and both recordings are good, but this is the better of the two. Why? Well, for one thing, it includes some great songs that were cut from the show and then restored, especially "Bring on the Men," which is a much stronger song than "Good and Evil" from the other CD. It also includes "I Need to Know," which gives me chills when I listen to it. Some extra material helps explain the plot for those who haven't been lucky enough to see the show, since it is drastically different from the RLS story. I also felt that Linda Eder (Lucy), who did both recordings, tried harder on this one.

Secondly, Anthony Warlow as the two title characters is simply brilliant. You never question which man he is playing at the moment; he never breaks character, and his range is amazing. Listen to "Confrontation" and you'll see what I mean. Although Robert Cuccioli, from the other CD, is good, there is no real comparison.

Thirdly, this recording has less of a contemporary feel to it; it feels more Victorian, especially in the ensemble songs. Some of the soloists on the other CD didn't even try to use English accents, while others did, and it sounds peculiar. This may be a quibble to some people, but for me, when a story is set in Victorian London, I expect the people to sound like that's where they are.

Buy this CD. If you enjoy Broadway musicals, you will not be disappointed.

The string-heavy music and over-the-top sentimentality is a bit maudlin, but you won't find a showcase for two better voices anywhere - theatre or otherwise. The male (Anthony Warlow) and female (Linda Eder) leads have rich, expressive, crystalline voices that soar into positively unearthly sounds and take you along for the ride.

Eder's silky, sing-song tone shifts easily from lilting ballads to expressive power notes. She has a voice would make Mariah blush; smooth pop perfection and positively chilling at times.

Yet Warlow is clearly the star of the show. Not many singers could steal the spotlight from Eder, but from the first track it's clear that this performer is something special. He's a former teen-age opera prodigy and is peerless in terms of range and breath control. This is the perfect stage to show it off. On one track, he's a rich tenor, belting out schmaltz with such intensity that it borders on a spiritual experience. On the next, he gives the potentially cheesy Hyde an edge as a roaring, rock baritone. Want a 19-second vibrato-free money note? It's in here. Want to hear a man dueting with himself both as a tenor and as a baritone? Just wait a few tracks. And it's all effortless, and all gorgeous.

Through the dialogue segments and the duets, the love songs and the final confrontation, Warlow is the towering vocal pillar that keeps the whole piece together. His talent lends dignity to the premise and carries the cast.

It's not a recording without flaws. There are a few weak spots in the ensemble - notably Carolee Carmello as Jekyll's fiancee - and the parade of ballads can become tiresome.

Still, this is a worthy investment for anyone who appreciates great voices. Poor, besieged Bob Cuccioli (the underwhelming lead in the Broadway Cast Recording) had an impossible task in trying to follow this incredible performance. But he can take solace in the fact that Warlow's work here may never be equaled by another theatre artist.

When the whole show is ended on a plaintive entreat from Jykell/Hyde for being set free, I was left there, totally in awe. This was the moment that I felt the intangible power of music, the power that shakes out the demon and darkness so mercilessly, the power that unveils the good and evil human nature so vividly.

This is a Gothic thriller, dark and haunted, and yet, filled with soul-stirring tunes and heart-wrenching melodies. With the juxtaposition of so many wonderful songs, it almost feels plethoric. However, considering it a concept album of the musical, casting aside the staging and all that kind of stuff, this double CD album is an excellent display of Frank Wildhorn's genius of song writing and the great voices that make the words and tunes alive. Might as well call it "the most complete" album of J&H as it includes some great songs that did not have a chance to be shown in the Broadway production, such as "I Need to Know", "Bring on the Man", and "Girls of the Night", etc.

There are several cast albums of J&H out there. You can have the music and story from other cast albums, but you won't have Anthony Warlow's voice, which makes this album an absolute must. Anthony Warlow's success in creating the dual role Jekyll and Hyde is beyond wording. Besides his superb vocal quality, he demonstrates the strong ability to task his voice in transforming emotions into words and melodies. His clear and pure voice in the opening song "I Need to Know" will tighten the grip on the listeners immediately. Jekyll's centerpiece "This is the Moment" does so much justice to his soaring tenor. The spine-chilling "Transformation" shows the dramatics of his vocal delivery. And "The confrontation", representing the battle between good and evil, is an emotional roller-coaster as his voice is swiftly changed back-and-forth from bright and resounding (Jekyll) to low and vicious (Hyde). Anthony Warlow's powerful and virile side is well balanced by Linda Eder's sensational voice, a voice that's very feminine and yet very strong. In her voice, there is a unique element of wildness and seduction, which is exactly what character Lucy would have. Compare to the other female character Lisa (or Emma in the Broadway production) in the play, Lucy is more lovable and truer to life. "Bring on the Man" and "No One Knows Who I am" are two songs that distinguish the dual-side of Lucy. Linda Eder gives herself thoroughly into the songs and brings out an indelible Lucy.

If, along the loose story line of this concept album, there is a thread connecting the three main characters (Henry Jekyll, Lisa, and Lucy), that would be the identity of each human being, exactly "who I am", "what I am", and "why I am". If, from the tragic ending of the story, there is some truth about human nature, that would be the non-separateness of the primitive duality, good and evil. They co-exist in our body, fighting with each other all along. It's simply a matter of which overcomes which, at where and when.

Jekyll & Hyde is a great modern musical. A personal favourite of mine this musical contains amazing show stoppers and great characters. This recording is the musical in its best form.

Anthony Warlow. Australian Musical Theatre and Opera star truly takes the role of Jekyll & Hyde and makes it his own. The power in his voice is amazing. And considered as a Baritone his range will also impress. He handles both parts very well. Jekyll and Hyde can be easily told apart due to Warlow's impressive character skills. An example of this impressive change can be seen in 'Confrontation'. His power is made apparent in the beginning of the musical with 'I Need to Know'. Other great solos from Warlow include 'Alive' (where he sings a triumphant A on the last note), the ever so popular 'This is the Moment', 'Transformation' and 'No One Must Ever Know'. Anthony Warlow is a truly brilliant male vocalist. His skill is really shown in this recording.

The two female parts of Lucy and Lisa (later changed to Emma) are played by Linda Eder and Carolee Carmello. Both parts are always impressive. Linda Eder however as Lucy gets some quite impressive songs to sing. Her 'Bring on the Men' is amusing as well as vocally impressive as well as 'Someone Like You'. Carolee Camello compliments Warlow impressively in the heartfelt duet 'Take Me As I Am'. The women in this play are just as strong as the male lead and hold a significant part in making this recording great.

The supporting parts are also quite impressive. Special mention must go to the vocalist that played Simon Stryde. He truly took this role and made it incredibly sinister and vengeful. 'The Board of Governors' is quite an impressive ensemble piece that displays the talent involved in this recording. Also 'His Work and Nothing More' is quite an interesting vocal quartet piece that is highly underrated and worthy of a listen.

When nobody is singing there is some great orchestral phrases. Frank Wildhorn never ceases to impress. An example of his talent can be heard during 'Transformation' after Hyde breaks through. Frank Wildhorn has written some brilliant songs as well as an amazing score.

This musical is a modern masterpiece. This recording is the way it should be heard. Until another complete recording is made with the new material I will not purchase another. Anthony Warlow is amazing and really makes the part of Jekyll & Hyde his own. Avoid any other recording, this is the one to get.

Well I've watched david hasselhoffs production of this musical and although he is a brilliant stage actor. He's not a touch on Anthony warlow. Just listening to Anthony sing his part in the c.d He really makes the part his own, and what he does with hyde is just amazing,truly a great achievement. Well worth the listening.