Customer Reviews

Marguerite (Original London Cast Recording)

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

 

 

Marguerite is a beautiful new musical with a story from the creators of Miss Saigon - Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Jonathan Kent, and music by the triple oscar winner, Michel Legrand. The story is a retelling of Dumas' "La Dame aux Camélias," set in Paris, during World War II. Marguerite, is a 40 year old ex-singer, who is living with a Nazi officer. She falls in love with a young pianist half her age, and they have an affair, which is doomed from the start. The cast is fantastic with Ruthie Henshall playing an absolutely brilliant Marguerite, the super talented Julian Ovenden as Armand, her young lover, and Alexander Hanson as Otto, the Nazi general.

The score features gorgeous, haunting music with such unforgettable ballads as China Doll, The Face I See and How did I Get to Where I Am - all sung by the multi-talented Ruthie Henshall. There are passionate duets and great commentary by the chorus. Julian Ovenden as Armand isn't only a wonderful actor and singer - he is also a brilliant jazz piano player rousing the audience with his jazz trills in Jazz Time, and his sensitive accompaniment in China Doll.

This amazing musical brought tears to many an audience member's eyes with the highly charged, emotional performances from all the cast members. This recording does a great job of capturing that feeling!

"Marguerite" is the first Boublil and Schonberg musical to have, well, little to do with Boublil and Schonberg. Despite the attachment of the creators of "Les Miserables" (they came up with the idea and worked on the book), the score of "Marguerite" is by French composer Michel Legrand and the English Lyrics are by Herbert Kretzmer. Still, there is a similarity in the sweeping theatricality here to the best of Schonberg's music. This is a lavishly melodic, frequently ravishing score.

The musical takes place in the 40's, in Nazi-occupied Paris, and details the affair of a 40-year-old former singer, Marguerite (Ruthie Henshall) with a much younger man, Armand (Julian Ovenden). The French setting, and the age difference of the principals, are sort of reminiscent of Lloyd Webber's "Aspects of Love," and indeed both scores share the same kind of lushly romantic tunes. But while "Aspects" sort of lags in its meandering soap-operatic plotlines, "Marguerite," based on this recording, feels a lot more focused and urgent in the storytelling. You see, Marguerite is the mistress of a Nazi, and Armand is a member of the Resistance. Awkward! And interesting.

The music is of high caliber-- songs like "China Doll," "Waiting," and "I Am Here" are some of the most melodically satisfying show tunes I've heard in some time. At times the score feels operatic, with fantastic orchestrations and the impressively soaring voices of Henshall and Ovenden leading the way through what's got to be an incredible vocal challenge. As is sometimes the case with this kind of unabashedly romantic score, there are times where it skirts corniness, and one could, if he wanted, point out that Kretzmer's lyrics tend towards the simplistic. But there is so much right on this recording, including a transporting sense of time and place (there's also a nifty jazz song, and a recurring marching motif emphasizing the war), effective bits of dialogue, and fine supporting performances, that exceptions can most certainly be made. At its best, "Marguerite" is downright spine-tingling. Don't skip this one.

I love this cast recording. The music is breathtaking. I wish it was coming to broadway. I highly reccomend this if you like les miserables.

Discovering Julian Ovenden was an amazing piano player and singer was astounding! I only knew him as Michael Kitchen's son on Foyles War. He's talented beyond all expectations. Of course I was familiar with Ruthie Henshall who is always impecible (I strongly recommend "Putting It Together" a DVD where Ruthie shines!) This show "Marguerite" is truly lovely. Michel Legrand's music is lush, and the performers are stunning. It's a fine addition to any musical production lover's collection.

I was lucky enough to be in London last year to wittness the premiere season of Legrand's MARGUERITE at the Theatre Royal with a star cast Ruthie Henshall and Julian Ovenden. Brilliantly produced. The CD, appr. 80 min. long, will bring a vivid picture of the actual performance to all who were fortunate enough to have seen it. The music, though not really memorable is extremely effective and grows on you after several listening to it. The short three months season does not reflect on the quality of the show. A must for the connosseur.

The most boring musical I have heard in a long time. The team that brought Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre missed the boat on this one. No memorable songs and no drama. The special effects are the only interesting aspect of this downer.

Dull and uninspired - and LaGrand's music is very unmelodic and worn. It makes one care even less about the French.