Kismet: A Musical Arabian Night (1965 Music Theater Of Lincoln Center Cast) [Cast Recording]

Robert Wright, Anne Jeffreys, George Forrest, Lee Venora, Richard Banke, Alfred Drake, Kismet (Related Recordings) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 14, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003FTL
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,761 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Overture

2. Sands of Time

3. Rhymes Have I

4. Fate

5. Not Since Nineveh

6. Baubles, Bangles and Beads

7. Stranger in Paradise

8. He's in Love!

9. Gesticulate

10. Bored

11. Night of My Nights

12. Was I Wazir?

13. Rahadlakum

14. And This Is My Beloved

15. The Olive Tree

16. Zubbediya

17. Finale

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sumptuous stereo sound- almost as good as original cast., August 30, 1998

By 

A. Andersen (Bellows Falls, VT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kismet: A Musical Arabian Night (1965 Music Theater Of Lincoln Center Cast) (Audio CD)

It is extremely rare that a revival of a classic show is within five percent of being as exceptional as the original, but this 1965 Lincoln Center revival is just that - superbly vibrant stereo sound enhances the original orchestrations, Alfred Drake recreating his finest role as Hajj, and a cast as musically and dramatically superb as the original. For collectors, it's a toss-up. This version omits the original overture (using a suite of tunes from the Polovetsian Dances instead) and two dance numbers, BAZAAR OF THE CARAVANS and SAMARIS' DANCE. However, it does have a song written for the 1955 film version, BORED, interpolated and sung by Anne Jeffreys (the only tainted bit as her voice really isn't up to those high notes). Lee Venora, Richard Banke and Jeffreys do wonderfully in their recreated roles - good acting, good singing. Drake is again superb, even more finely honed a performance than in the original. Henry Calvin recreates his role as the Wazir. A superb package very finely done.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Performances, June 20, 2005

By 

DRB - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kismet: A Musical Arabian Night (1965 Music Theater Of Lincoln Center Cast) (Audio CD)

I have listened to the four main recordings of this gorgeous music. The original cast recording is a good but old recording. The movie has the wrong cast. The most recent staging has some beautiful voices but is hurt by how Dom DeLuise's voice blends with them, particularly in the "This is My Beloved" quartet. This 1964 Lincoln Center revival has great performances. I am particularly thrilled by Lee Venora's voice and musicianship. Listen to her scale down at the end of "Baubles" - the best performance I have heard of that beautiful song. The quartet is beautiful. It would be great for this recording to be remastered and re-released, since the post 1960 era recordings have often come out really great when the remastering work is done well. Hope that happens.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkling, January 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Kismet: A Musical Arabian Night (1965 Music Theater Of Lincoln Center Cast) (Audio CD)

Wonderful that this recording is available on CD at last! Outstanding performances from the principals, in particular Anne Jeffreys, who combines operatic power and control with a comedienne's timing. "Bored", written for this production, is a delight. Alfred Drake is in top form and Henry Calvin, as the evil Wazir, shines blackly.