Customer Reviews

Jesus Christ Superstar (The New Stage Production Soundtrack)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Unlike others who have reviewed this,I'm very fond of Jerome Pradon's Judas-maybe it's because I viewed the video first-a great performance.The real unfortunate thing(and a reason why I almost DIDN'T purchase the disc)is that a number of key songs are missing.Surely Sony could've forked up the extra four tunes for this release?The missing "This Jesus Must Die" ,the pivotal show moment of "Damned For All Time/Blood Money",and the wrenching "Peter's Denial" are TOTALLY inexcusable.I'd have rather missed out on "Could We Start Again Please". I certainly hope a COMPLETE version of this cast on cd will be made available.Definitely buy the extraordinary video performance,then maybe this as a nice side piece,but until a complete version comes out,devotees should pass on this disc.

I have been waiting for quite awhile to get my hands on the new CD, DVD and VHS of this great show since seeing it retooled for the new millennium. As soon as they became available I grabbed all 3 of them. I was shocked and disappointed to find that several of my favorite songs from the film/stage performance were missing from the CD. Songs such as "This Jesus Must Die", "Damned For All Time", "Blood Money", "The Arrest", "Peter's Denial", and even the confrontation between "Pilate & Christ"... They should have made this a 2 disc CD set and included ALL the great music from this classic production! Other than the missing songs from this CD, I am greatly satisfied... I look forward to a possible "Part 2" CD with the remaining songs... Thanks! :)

The best next to the 1996 London Cast with Zubin Varla and Steve Balsamo. Although this soundtrack doesn't have all of the songs (most noticable are "This Jesus Must Die" and "Damned For All Time"), this is still worthy of the price. Glenn Carter's Jesus is pure excellence while Jerome Pardon's Judas is very whiny but convincing and priceless. Frederick Owens as Caiaphas is excellent although all of his major songs are not on this CD. :( Renee Castle is the best Mary Magdalene ever portrayed. Tony Vincent steals the shows though as Simon Zealotes, he is just too good. Buy or don't buy the soundtrack but make sure to get the new movie.

This recording, with Glenn Carter in the title role, is a dissapointing choice if you want to hear the magnificent lyrics and orchestrations written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Carter has a little, dry voice that sounds boring and that do not capture the shape of the role.Jerome Pradon, in the other hand, it's an acceptable Judas Iscariot, with a good voice and a sensitive interpretation of the apostle.Tony Vincent, it's probably the best singer and the greatest character in the recording as Simon. Rick Mayall it's simply awful.As Herod, he only speaks or whispers instead of singing. So, do not take this, you should better choose the 1996 London Cast Recording (featuring Steve Balsamo and Zubin Varla) if you want a really really good one cd recording of Jesus Christ Superstar.

This is a wonderful production of JCS, much as I remember it when I saw it during its limited run on Broadway in 2000. The singing of Glenn Carter raises this among the best versions available, and in my opinion Renee Castle's Mary is the best since Yvonne Elliman fine film soundtrack performance. The musical accompaniment is first rate and the sound is nothing short of excellent and I heard several details in the score I had never noticed before. One small doubt remains: I wasn't crazy about Jerome Pradon's Judas, whose voice was a little whiney in spots (it is a pity they didn't choose Tony Vincent to play Judas since he played this role on Broadway to great acclaim, but in this recording he plays Simon). Also, as other reviewers have mentioned, the lack of a few key songs is really inexcusable. Hopefully this will be remedied in the future. Overall, I'm very pleased with this purchase.

When I saw the original play 30 years ago, it was like seeing and hearing the story of Christ for the 1st time. It started me on my spiritual journey that continues to this day. I got a copy of the movie with Ted Neeley and have watched it many times. When I saw this updated version on PBS, I was astounded; I thought nothing could beat the original, but this version makes it relevant for today's, yesterday's and tomorrow's audience. The voices are so incredibly expressive that you are taken in and transformed. All of the title actors - indeed, ALL of the voices heard - were truly blessed by God to deliver in their roles. Pilot was the most sinister role I've seen; Herod is a complete weasle, the Pharisees so evil, the Apostles so sadly missing the point, but most of all - Judas made me weep with sadness, Mary made me feel the love and confusion she felt, and Jesus his humanity and humaness. That's the best compliment I can give all of them.

I won't go on and on about what makes this such a great recording but I will say it ranks as one of the best I have heard. Besides the 1996 London cast recording, this is a definet keeper. Jerome Pradon as Judas was on the mark and possibly the best I have heard. Glenn Carter was just as wonderful. If you are a fan of this show go out and get the cd (and the dvd) as soon as possible. You will not be dissapointed!!! The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is they left off 2 very important songs. "This Jesus Must Die" and "Damned For All Time/Bllod Money (again, jerome Pradon did a great job on his performance of this song). Maybe they'll eventually release a full copy of this version. One can hope!

This recording Is NOT A ROCK OPERA , it sounds like a backstreetboys Superstar I Have some BIG complaints on the parts of Jesus Christ (peace be on him), Judas Iscariot, and Pontious Pilate.

Glenn Carter (though he cant touch Ian Gillian ) is a listenable jesus but has little 'Jesus" emotion in his voice! (maby thats why the crowd shouts CRUCIFY HIM with soo much passion i agree with them ) he also has a weak falsetto. now dont you get me wrong, in the video Carters stage presence makes up for all vocal flaws.

jEROME PRADON IS SO WHINEY WAAAAAA I CANT STAND HIM AS JUDAS HE SINGS THE ROLE NASAL, HE IS TOO OLD 2 HE LOOKS TO BE ABOUT 20 YEARS OLDER THAN THE REST OF THE CAST (SEE THE VIDEO) but he does put emotion in his voice , i think he would be better in a recording of cats , but like carter stage presence makes up for his tonedeafness.

Fred Jhonson IS TERRIBLE as pilate she does not give the role the slighitist emotion at all he is also to high pilate needs to be a Baritone .. not a Tenor.

But all other roles are GREAT especailly Mary (played by renne castle SHE IS AMAZING her 'i dont know how to love him' is astounding!

so get the video, and if u want get the soundtrack of the video , but still i think that this one is not essential but a good recording nonetheless.

one final word, this recording is INCOMPLETE they leave out many essential songs including a big chunk of judas's death.

so i would recomed to get this if u want highlights if u want the complete score then get the video and the original concept album.

I am a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals, because they are simply beautifully composed and the lyrics are like-wise depth-filled. But, true enjoyment from these musicals can only be obtained if the singers themselves are also of the same caliber. With a well picked cast, Lord Webber's musicals reaches the heights they truly deserve. Donny Osmond as Joseph was superb, Sarah Brightman as Christine Daae was absolutely perfect...however, Glenn Carter singing the role of Jesus - MISTAKE. This version of Superstar has its merits of course, Mary Magdalene and the villains were excellent, and in truth the entire cast did a fairly good job. And yet, when you come down to the center role, the name sake of this piece of art, it falls short. Everytime Glenn Carter shrieks, I cringe. If you haven't heard Superstar before, I think it will make a good time. But if you've already seen or heard the musical performed by another cast then you'll find it slightly short of good (If you ever get the chance listen to Michael Ball sing Gethsemane, then listen to Glenn Carter - you'll hear what I mean by shrieking) . In essence, it rates an "okay" and is adequate for "entertainment." But if you want to hear a true masterpiece, listen to Superstar by another cast.

This updated version of the transcendant 1973 rock opera has deep, glaring flaws as well as at least one bright spot- Fred Johanson's powerful performance as the cruel, conflicted and bureaucratic Pilate. Johanson's ripping low vocals are a refreshing take on the earlier reedy interpretations of this role.

Unfortunately, most of the other performers cannot hope to match the technical prowess or emotional power of the 1973 cast. Glenn Carter, as Christ, has a limited range and a thin voice. He can hit the notes and that's about it. The agonized skyrocketing power of Gillian's 1973 vocals in Gethsemane as he accepted his cup of poison is nowhere to be found in this version, as Carter mails in a technically correct version of this iconic piece without touching the raw humanity delivered by the former Deep Purple singer.

Pradon has been roundly criticized for his portrayal of Judas, but Owens' portrayal of the basso profundo villian Caiaphas is worse. Owens had great stage presence in the DVD as the towering malevolent priest, but he really cannot sing, and he certainly cannot sing deep bass. It is embarrassing to listen to him try to go downstairs on the richest and deepest notes of the score. He has to go an octave up, then try to roughen his voice so it's still sufficiently evil, and it simply doesn't work. We need Victor Brox back. Or Johanson should have sung both parts.

The other bright spot of this production in this adaptation on film was the cruel alien wierdness of Michael Shaeffer's Annas and his work with the other priests in "This Jesus Must Die" and "Blood Money," yet these integral songs are unforgiveably missing from the soundtrack. Superstar already has throwaway songs built into it, like "Could We Start Again, Please" that should have been cut long before the numbers that symbolized the gathering menace of the priests and an essential plot line in the Judas story thread. Cutting those numbers, which have some great electric guitar riffs attached to them (something else missing this gutless, synthesizedm, homogenized soundtrack arrangement- an electric guitar) is one more bad decision by the producers of this CD.