Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast - Highlights) [Cast Recording]

Claire Moore, Simon Bowman, Keith Burns, Peter Polycarpou, Claude-Michel Schonberg, Jonathan Pryce, Alain Boublil, Miss Saigon (Related Recordings), Lea Salonga | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 7, 1993)
• Original Release Date: December 7, 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Decca U.S.
• ASIN: B000000OTN
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,133 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The highlights version of the two-disc set of Miss Saigon's 1989 London cast gives you 58 minutes (out of the original 107) and most of the best moments of the score. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's setting of Madame Butterfly in the Vietnam War includes beautiful and passionate music, most notably the bawdy opener "The Heat Is on in Saigon," "Why God Why," the romantic duet "The Last Night of the World," the female duet "I Still Believe," the male chorus number "Bui-Doi," and the Engineer's mocking "The American Dream." Time constraints, though, forced the elimination of "The Movie in My Mind," the wedding ceremony ("Dju Vui Vai"), and the revealing "Now That I've Seen Her," as well as much of the music that carries the plot forward. Casual listeners, therefore, might be satisfied with these highlights, while those who want to relive the show will need the complete recording. The booklet includes production photos and full lyrics. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good recording that would be better if it had more, March 13, 2000

By 

Steven Sauke "Steven Sauke" (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast - Highlights) (Audio CD)

This is an excellent recording; however, I have a couple reservations about it. (1) Jonathan Pryce (the Engineer), though not that bad, is not as great as Kevin Gray on the Symphonic recording. (incidentally, Kevin Gray is the only singer I like better in the Symphonic recording) (2) There is not very much of the musical on this CD. Most of the songs I like are there, but due to its large gaps, and especially the lack of the finale, it doesn't pull me in emotionally and leave me in tears like the more complete version does.

However, I think that Lea Salonga and Claire Moore make this recording. They are by far the best Kim and Ellen I have ever heard! Their duet in "I Still Believe" is phenomenal! Peter Polycarpou is also excellent as John, and Simon Bowman is great as Chris. If they could combine the Kim (Lea Salonga), Ellen (Claire Moore) and John (Peter Polycarpou) from this recording with the Engineer (Kevin Gray) from the Symphonic version, I think that would be ideal. I like both Chrises (Simon Bowman & Peter Cousens).

This is an excellent CD, but I'd recommend getting the more complete recording with this cast. Except for the Engineer, this cast is far superior to that of the Symphonic recording.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lea Salonga- the one and only true Kim, June 13, 2002

By 

Irina Slutskaya fan (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast - Highlights) (Audio CD)

Lea Salonga is the the single most amazing Kim Miss Saigon will ever have. Even though she is Filipino, she captures the sporit of the tormented Vietnamese woman. Miss Saigon is an underated play. In my opinion, much better than Les Misrables. The story line is similar to Puccini's Tosca or Madame Butterfly where the heroine kills her self. This is such a wonderful musical that deserve more. Miss Saigon is the best musical ever.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Heat Is On In Saigon!, August 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast - Highlights) (Audio CD)

This is the most wonderful CD I have heard in a long time. Unfortunetely, I have never watched Miss Saigon live. The story of Miss Saigon is just wonderful and to put Lea Salonga in the role of "Kim" .... what can i say?! Also, Lea Salonga's voice and Simon Bowman's just combine so smoothly in "The Last Night Of The World" Lea Salonga's voice is just so magical! As in "I'd Give My Life For You", her voice becomes so powerful and in "Sun and Moon", she can sound really emotional and expressive. I reccomend this CD to any musical lovers because this CD will be at the top of your list of CDs!!