Customer Reviews

Pirates of Penzance (Broadway Cast Album)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

It is very difficult to understand the words of practically everything sung by the chorus of a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company recording of Gilbert & Sullivan. Not so with this brilliant Broadway cast album of The Pirates of Penzance. You can listen to this one without the printed copy of the book and lyrics in hand. The individual cast performances are fresh and give the feeling that this musical is being performed for the first time. This is not the pro-forma, ritual performance that sounds like everyone is just going through the motions. You will want this on your portable player for a long time.

Classic Gilbert and Sullivan comedy, with young Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt. What's not to love?? Libretto (lyrics) included with CD (but teeny tiny print) so you'll know the next line after "I am the very model of a modern Major General..." Buy it, play it, love it. Even young kids like the story, when you explain the fast words in simple terms. (Apprentace to a pirate, not a pilot? That's silly!)

This movie changed my life. I first recall seeing the movie on cable in the early 80's. I was around 6 or 7 at the time, and the one thing I remembeer was ....how 'darn' sexy Rex Smith was!!!!
Granted, I did like the music and I thought the whole thing was funny and a bit cartoonish, so I appreciated it on that level as a kid..but the key ingredient for me was Rex Smith. Now , I was too young to remember him as a teen-idol, so this film was my first introduction to him. And I think at that age not only was I struck by his angelic good looks-(ladies, admit it..the man can wear a pair of tight pants)- but by the sheer beauty of his tenor voice, and his pure and perfect (in my opinion) vibrato. Its his voice that made me fall in love with music and with beautiful singing in particular..to this day I consider a great even vibrato a key requirement to a great singing voice. Years later in highschool, I found this recording on tape in my public library and fell in love all over again. Sigh...this a bit sad to admit, but..I listened to this tape walking to school in the mornings and on weekends when as Id clean the house..The play itslef is a classic, the dialouge is superb, the comedy , though a bit hammy, is undeniable ..and in this recording we have three gems, Rex and Rondstadt's voices and Klines over the top Pirate king..and lets not forget the late great George Rose as the major general...to this day I cant keep up when he goes into double time during his opening solo. Its this recording also that made delve deeper into the G&S repertoire. I have many comp and operretta recordings of G&S...but sadly for me..there is only one version of Pirates of Penzance that will do...and only one Frederic.

This version of Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance is properly placed under "Popular Music" -- it's style is not operatic, and thus those seeking an operatic performance would be best served by another version. But as far as entertainment goes, this Broadway soundtrack (minus Angela Lansbury, though a remarkably similar voice sings her part) is tops , and the CD offers cleaner articulation than the tapes.

This version of a classic show takes a funny show and transforms it into a side-splittingly funny masterpiece. Linda Ronstadt's vocal range and the nuances of her performance amazes me every time I hear it; Rex Smith brings a stunningly beautiful and lyric tenor to the role of Frederick; as the Pirate King, Kevin Kline rates a hysterical and absolute A+. This show is a delight and not to be missed. Not just for Gilbert and Sullivan fans, nor for fans of operetta in general, this Pirates of Penzance truly swashbuckles its way into the realm of the classics - accessible and enjoyable for all.

Finally the Broadway version of Gilbert & Sullivan's masterpiece is in CD form! Last summer, I played Mabel in a summer stock production of the Broadway version and grew to love the music. Unlike the film version of "Pirates", the CD does not have Angela Lansbury in the role of Ruth:( The CD does include all of the original music, including "Sorry Her Lot" which was borrowed from "that infernal nonsense Pinafore". Truly Gilbert & Sullivan at its best!

The entire "Pirates" score plus much of the dialogue is found in this recording. The voices are extremely appropriate to each of the characters, and the comedy of the score is apparent. The energy is extremely high, which, in turn, excites the listener. I never tire of listening to it.

I have loved this movie since it first came out twenty years ago or so. I was delighted when the CD was finally released. The production is superb and the music is wonderful. G & S themselves would be pleased with Papp's presentations.

One only needs to witness the production of "The Pirates of Penzance" to have those wonderfully crafted images and tunes remain within that special place where these things reside. The CD provides yet another medium for G&S enjoyment. We fear that we shall wear out the disc in short order! Great fun!

Tom & Carol Weber Chesterfield, Missouri, USA

I don't care about how the purists squealed when the Broadway show re-orchestrated Sullivan's score to give it a bright & shiny toy-chest tone color. I don't care that they interpolated two songs from other G&S operas. I think it all works wonderfully, and makes a lively and delightful show even more so. Would that somebody would do the same with THE GONDOLIERS.