Man of La Mancha (Original Cast 2000 Covent Garden Music Festival) [Cast Recording]

Mitch Leigh (Artist), Joe Darion (Artist), Ron Raines (Artist), Kim Criswell (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 6, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Jay Records
• ASIN: B00005A0B9
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,768 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Overture

2. Prison Scene

3. Man of La Mancha

4. The Enchanter

5. Fight of the Windmill

6. Scene: What did I tell you?...

7. It's All the Same

8. Scene: Payment before delivery?...

9. Dulcinea

10. Scene

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Scene: Your friends have departed...

2. To Each His Dulcinea

3. Scene: Now I must consider how sages of the future...

4. The Impossible Dream

5. Scene: Once, just once would you look at me as I really am?...

6. The Combat

7. Scene: Victory! Victory! Victory!...

8. The Dubbing

9. Hail Knight of the Woeful Countenance

10. The Abduction

See all 46 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want more than just the music?, September 29, 2001

By 

L. Jackson (Alamogordo, NM United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Man of La Mancha (Original Cast 2000 Covent Garden Music Festival) (Audio CD)

This is a great CD - but not for everyone. When I bought it, I had no idea that it was really the COMPLETE show - including ALL of the dialogue, the dance music, and even the bows and exit music! If you love the show; if you're a student of the show; if you want to hear a very good production of the complete show - then this is the CD for you! (What a great way to pass the time on a long boring drive!) But if you want to pop in a CD and just listen to the wonderful music of "Man of La Mancha," you would be better off with the Original Broadway Cast recording.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New Recording Is a Mixed Affair, March 7, 2002

By 

Michael Shayne (Boca Raton, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Man of La Mancha (Original Cast 2000 Covent Garden Music Festival) (Audio CD)

The new recording of Man of La Mancha is a mixed affair. The songs are beautifully sung with the exception of Kim Criswell. Which was a surprise.

I felt that Criswell under played her role of Aldonza. Although her performance was technically very good, I felt that her characterization of Aldonza was lacking in other performances of the the role that I had heard or seen. I was wondering if she was directed this way. I have her two solo albums and in my opinion she is much better on those two recordings.

Ron Raines is at the top of his game and it is a shame that there is no place for a performer of his stature on Broadway these days. He gives a stunning version of The Impossible Dream.

The other quibble I have is the spoken dialogue. I found the readings to be flat, dull and uninspired. I wonder if the cast was in the studio at one time. The spoken dialogue lacked spark and characterization. I had no idea at times who was speaking as there was no real distinction in the speaking voices.

Thankfully one can program out the dialogue and just lisen to the music. Always critized as a one song show (The Impossible Dream) the score has a lot to recommend. It's a shame the composer and lyricist were never able to follow up with a successful show.

I recommend this recording with 4 stars for its technical excellence, the complete score and for most of the performances. I normally find Jay's complete recordings to be at the top of their game and an important part of any collection. I have nothing but high praises for 110 in the Shade, Cabaret, Nine and Lady in the Dark which are part of my collection. This recording of Man of La Mancha just misses the mark of being perfection.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best recording of La Mancha, October 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Man of La Mancha (Original Cast 2000 Covent Garden Music Festival) (Audio CD)

Thanks to this complete recording, with all the music and dialogue, the full impact of this amazing work is now fully realised. The production of this recording is one of the best I have ever heard in any cast recordings. It is like you are in the theatre listening to a great performance of Man Of La Mancha by the wonderful cast of Ron Raines, Kim Criswell and the rest. I used to have the old London cast recording which purports to be complete but it was not the case because a lot of the music and scenes were not recorded and are missing from the recording. If you want a truly complete and best recording of La Mancha, this is the only recording to get. 5 stars and no less.