Kismet (1963 Studio Cast) [Import, Original recording remastered]

Mantovani | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 9, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Dutton Labs UK
• ASIN: B0002OTI8E
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,051 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Overture - Mantovani

2. Sands of Time

3. Rhymes Have I

4. Fate

5. Baubles, Bangles and Beads

6. Not Since Ninevah

7. Stranger In Paradise

8. He's In Love

9. Gesticulate

10. Night of My Nights

11. Was I Wazir?

12. Rahadlakum

13. And This Is My Beloved

14. The Olive Tree

15. Zubbediya

16. Samaris Dance

17. Act 2. Finale

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Music And A Definite Collector's Item, March 26, 2005

By 

Sir Robert "Order of the Anglophiles" (TAIWAN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kismet (1963 Studio Cast) (Audio CD)

This I think is a lesser known version of "Kismet." But why it is lesser known, I know not. The music and the singing are not bad; in fact, it's more than above average. I think this will add to a nice collection of musicals. I fell in love with this music around twelve years ago, having heard it from the radio. I requested the station to play it again, and that was how I got to record it in cassette. Years later, a kind man by the name of Mr. Art Hilgart from "Broadway Revisited" informed me that the CD is available. But alas, I was too late: I tried looking for this treasure all over Amazon, Footlite and other online retailers, only to be told that all copies had already been sold out. Fortunately, here again is Decca's re-release.
One of the strong points of this recording is that there are no miscasts, every character sounds as he or she should be. Listen to "Stranger in Paradise," and you will immediately feel that these are young people singing (Adele Leigh and Kenneth McKellar, and how they did it very very well! Bravo!!) Another strong point is that the singing has verve, and playful when it's called for. This is very essential because people need to imagine the songs, as they are not in the theatre watching the play. The third strong point is the splendid cast, they all sing magnificently. Listening to Regina Resnik's Lalume, you will imagine that if this were a real show, she'd be stealing it. Ian Wallace's Wazir is more than up to the lyrics of "Was I Wazir," sinister and comical at the same time. Now, some say that Bob Merrill's baritone (the character Hajj) comes out as syrupy and too correct. I don't think that's the case at all, and.... who cares?? Listen carefully and you will realize that the cast had fun recording this, and they all fit together nicely. The fourth strong point, as you might have guessed, is Mantovani and his orchestra. Listen to the orchestration, it's top rate!! There is nary a false note to be found anywhere. And finally, (now this may sound silly,) the music reverberates. Could this be the effect of Phase 4 Stereo? Tip: If ever you listen to this recording, turn up your bass and treble a little higher than usual.

4.0 out of 5 stars NOT SUCH A STRANGER IN PARADISE, August 24, 2011

By 

Neil Elliot "DEMYgogue" (W. Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kismet (1963 Studio Cast) (Audio CD)

The Mantovanni strings pull Borodin off of Broadway and back to the brilliant operatic origins with a sparkling cast of opera stars approaching the romantic Arabian Nights tale with the elan and authenticity that only a true talent can attain. We've been visited by MANY versions of the show, beginning with the original Broadway cast (brilliant Alfred Drake et al), the MGM film, the 1960+ revival, a few studio recordings, even an African-American version (TIMBUKTU),etc. This recording features the cascading Montavanni strings plus brilliant voices for the main cast. It was recorded 10 or so years after the original production, but it stands quite proudly in the pantheon of Borodin and Broadway.

5.0 out of 5 stars Kismet CD, March 11, 2011

By 

Kathryn Ramey - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kismet (1963 Studio Cast) (Audio CD)

I was very pleased with the time it took to receive this product, which was short. I was familiar with the songs from Kismet, and I had purchased this one because of Kenneth McKellar being one of the singers. He was the renowned Scottish tenor. I was a little disappointed that he didn't sing more of the songs than he did. That certainly isn't anyone's fault, so not a bad mark, just my disappointment. I also purchased it because the music was by Mantavani Kathryn Punton