Customer Reviews

Live at the Donmar

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

 

 

"Live at the Donmar" by Philip Quast is exactly what you would expect from a man with a theater background. I would have been surprised at a more serious album. Both vocal quality and song selection are entertaining, lighthearted and enjoyable. As a mother I will say that the most risque parts (which are very few) are not noticed by the younger kids and rather enjoyed by teens who think they are part of a secret joke. We purchased this cd over the internet at the beginning of the school break. It has played in our car for most of the summer. Having spent three months driving kids through the countryside, I not only know my opinion of this album but their's as well. My college bound daughter considers "Color and Light" the best song by far, but has been sure all of her friends have heard "I'm on fire" at least once. Take that as you will. She does plan on stealing the cd when she leaves for school. The two little girls insist the above mentioned "I'm on fire" medley is played over and over and over. My young teen son loves "The King's New Clothes" and "And They're Off". Where as my other teen son keeps putting in "Secret Garden" soundtrack, which is a definite step up from last summer. My husband also considers "And They're Off" the best song on the CD and enjoys "Happy Anniversary", maybe too much. And myself, you ask: "Life on Earth", "Face of a Stranger" and "I Was Here" are sweet songs that have a nice platform to show them off. The point being, this CD has something to offer a wide range of ages and tastes. I almost didn't purchase this music because of reviews, and as a family, we would have missed out on a great selection of music from a wonderful performer. We will not hesitate to purchase Mr. Quast's next album.

...he sings other songs too! I would give it 4 to 4 1/2 stars. A previous reviewer is reacting awfully strongly to a basically good CD. Or at least I liked it. Just because Quast isn't playing Javert from Les Mis doesn't mean the material and performance isn't good. It seems he's been pigeon-holed into that one character, and people don't realize he does other things also, so it's nice to see he's more than Cameron Mackentosh's designated Javert. As for the actual CD...

Interestingly, several of the songs on the album were written specifically for this performance, giving the album a uniquely personal touch (standouts among these songs are "Four Faded Walls" and "My Father's Hands"). As for pre-existing material, I particularly liked the two songs from Sunday in the Park with George which showcase his acting ability as well as his singing. Okay, I may question the choice of one or two songs (mainly, "Every Breath You Take"), but Quast does an excellent cover of Springsteen's "The River." Several of the selections are quite funny ("The King's New Clothes" and "Color and Light" from Sunday in the Park, which Quast adapted a little to reflect his own experiences during the production). Another winner is "And They're Off."

Overall, this captures an enjoyable evening with a skilled, versitile performer. There are few people who can sell a song (any song) as well as Quast, and he switches from nostalgia to whimsy and points inbetween with skill. (As for foul-language, the Donmar performance was in a cabaret style, which usually entails a little more "letting down the hair" than at an orthodox showtunes concert. The foulness consists of one, rather funny, really, explative that I didn't catch on the first listen.)

...Honestly, I first thought that the CD is average. It doesnt have the "big" Broadway or musical sound. The selection is also quite eclectic. However, credit should be given where credit is due. On constant listening to the CD, the music would grow on you. In fact, it proves the versatility of Jason Robert Brown as a musical director. The orchestration proves to be very helpful to Philip Quast's style. With regard to Philip Quast, the interpretation is very simple, and understated. He could have chosen to be safe, selecting known pieces that wouldnt "alienate" people and their expectations. However, true to his desire to really offer something he truly likes, he selected novel songs from various composers.

The elegance of his interpretations, particularly on Face of a Stranger, Four Faded Walls, and Letting Go are very good. It is very bare but enjoyable. The orchestrations are not distracting.

With regard to the Sunday in the Park songs, the puns and jokes should be taken with a grain of salt. It is a very intimate recording at Donwar. No offense should be taken.

As a fan of Philip Quast with his stunning voice and acting ability, I found I could order this album from England and am so glad I did. Actually, I was afraid I might not like it what with my attachment to some of his famous performance things. Oh, silly me. I was busy when it arrived and it was getting dark. I had things to do outside and fully intended to put it on `Import' and get on with my chores. Didn't happen. I sat right there listening, unable to leave. I laughed; I cried; I was completely mesmerized. The music is so personal and touching, I could barely breathe. I didn't want to miss a word. Quast's heavenly voice is there, of course, to enchant, but what he adds of himself goes to your core. I just had no idea. I've listened to it a dozen times already.

There is one Springsteen/Sting combo number that doesn't much appeal to me, but might to others who like those songs. All the rest crawled inside me on first hearing and now live there. His rendition of Some Enchanted Evening is so much more appealing than the formal version done in the musical and I delighted in The King's New Clothes, remembering the Danny Kaye version from many years ago, but the others were unfamiliar to me. Most are new and some seemed to be about his own life. I loved Color and Light--his story of getting the role in `Sunday in the Park with Georges' and what was going on in his life at that time. I'll swear, the man is amazing. He sings every song as though it is completely his, as though he's sharing his soul, but then that's how he acts, which is why he wins so many awards. I'm getting on this train pretty late and am just catching up on Philip's many accomplishments and recordings and this seems to be his gift to his fans--a gift of himself--and what a gift it is. I highly recommend it. I ordered it from Dress Circle in the UK.

So, probably not the best choice of the songs for the first album. But, one has to give Mr. Quast credit for the incredible voice that makes the album all worth it for those who love his rendition as Javert in Les Mis or as Grahame Chandler in The Fix. One only hopes that more albums are to come from Mr. Quast (albeit with a better choice of music).

What a disappointment. After hoping for more than just another version of "Stars" from the best Javert ever, I find out he is basically a one-trick pony. The choice of music is totally wrong, the orchestra and arrangements are cheesy, and, what's more, he's having a bad voice day. Also, his use of (very) foul language referring to the baby he and his wife were expecting during the rehearsal of Sunday in the Park is unexpected and unsettling. Add the most unflattering album cover ever and you have a sense of this misguided and mean-spirited mess. After buying this, I feel like the CD's listless live audience sounds: Miserable!