Customer Reviews

Kismet (1989 London Studio Cast)

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

 

 

You can't go wrong with this studio cast recording of excerpts from the 2-CD "complete" recording of the entire show - recorded in 1990 by a cast of British opera and Broadway stars. Donald Maxwell as Hajj has the same fine voice and bravura comic acting talent as Alfred Drake and shines beautifully in the role. Valerie Masterson is vocally and dramatically as fine as her prececessors in the role as is David Rendall a superbly voiced Caliph. Judy Kaye makes Lalume a comic and vocal treat as did her predecessors. This excerpt recording does not include BAZAAR OF THE CARAVANS, HE'S IN LOVE, ZUBBEDIYA, SAMARIS' DANCE or the FINALE, but you can't beat the price and the quality is outstanding vocally, musically and sound-wise. A welcome addition to the catalogue.

"Kismet" is one of those scores that I love, even though I know how silly it. It is nice to have this complete recording, but the performance has some serious problems. Donald Maxwell has the voice for Hajj, but not the acting skill. Perhaps no one can ever match Alfred Drake's two recordings of this role, but Maxwell just doesn't seem to know how to phrase this music, and he's hopeless in the dialogue that has been recorded, though he tries. In supporting roles, David Rendall and Richard Van Allan give correct but not very interesting performances. Valerie Masterson as Marsinah does a bit better. Judy Kaye is a fabulous Lalume. She is especially good on one of the bonus tracks, "Bored," cut from the original production, but restored for the film and the Lincoln Center production. The conducting is good, and so are the chorus and the soloists in the bit roles. And it's nice to have some of the new music that was included in "Timbuktu," the revised revival of the show, which was set in Africa. In the end, however, this set is probably only for "Kismet" lovers who want a note-complete recording, although Judy Kaye's contributions almost make it worthwhile for others. But first choice remains the original Broadway cast, with the Lincoln Center cast offering other good performances and some interesting variants, including a completely different overture - a sort of Borodin potpourri.

I LOVE THIS RECORDING!!!!!!

Kismet is one of my favorite Broadway shows. It is one of those shows that has the excellent combination of music, lyrics, and story that we will love forever and boy does this recording do it justice! All of the main performers are excellent. Don Maxwell, a personal favorite of mine(Giving a very comical performance of Hajj), the beautiful Valerie Masterson is wonderful as always, David Rendall(who is also one of my favorites) is Magnificent as Caliph, and Judy Kaye is,of course, great as Lalume. The show is beautifully and lavishly orchestrated by John Owen Edwards and the fact that songs from "Timbuktu" are included on this recording also is just icing on and already delicious cake. If you can clear your mind of the Alfred Drake version and truly listen to this one, you will agree that it will be money well spent.

As a bonus, this recommended cd includes songs from "Timbuktu", Geoffrey Holder's African version of this show, and a song from the 1953 movie version called "Bored." My only quibble is brash Broadway belter Judy Kaye as Lalume, who sticks out from the more operatic voices. Still, this cd is a very good buy!

Another gem of a Broadway score recorded with a London cast. The complete show is available on CD with this excerpt album wonderful for those who want just the songs (only two are not present here). The above reviewer speaks of songs from TIMBUKTU being present on this recording but she must be thinking of another recording - this has only the songs from the original production. An excellent buy too.

Years after falling in love with this musical at a London performance, I bought this CD to bring back the memories. Unfortunately, it only tainted them. The recording sounds flat, the performances are operatically overblown, and the choral arrangements quickly become annoying. Maybe I just remembered the original stage performance as being better than it was.