Customer Reviews

The Scarlet Pimpernel (1991 Concept Cast)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I originally got this album from the library just to hear the deleted single "I'll Forget you" but I was very surprised to find that I adored a lot more of this music than I thought. While singers and songs alike (with the exception of Terrance Mann) did not exactly click in the Broadway recording, I was immensely pleased to hear Linda Eder as Margurite, though I was nervous about the other actors.
First of all, though Terry Mann remains my favorite Chauvelin by far, I was surprised to find Dave Clemmons pull in a VERY close second. His duet "The Riddle" with Marguerite was wonderful and "Marguerite", now suceeded by "Where's the girl" (an equally wonderful piece), was haunting and beautiful.
Eder's role as Marguerite was perfectly placed and the songs compliment her voice and range very well.
Finally, Wagner completes the trio with wonderful reditions of "The Creation of Man" (hilariously funny) and "There Never was a time".
However, I wasn't exactly thrilled with the particular recording of "You are my home". While it is a good song, under these circumstances, I must say I prefer the broadway armand and that particular rendition.
Songs like "they seek him here" and "the scarlet pimpernel" were a little stuffy, though I now adore "Madame Guillotine".
Overall, a very worthwhile buy for many of the deleted songs, though I was disappointed this album didn't carry "falcon in the dive". However, fans of Wildhorn's works, such as Jekyll and Hyde, will enjoy this addition to their collection.

This recording is incredible. I do not own the OSV but I know it's can't possibly be beter than this one. The entire cast is remarkable. Linda has a beautiful voice and I never tier of hearing it. Chuck Wagner is just phenomenal. He has the amazing ability to make you feel so many emotions with his beautiful voice. The song "Into the Fire" really shows his incredible talents. This is definitely a CD not to miss!

The Scarlet Pimpernel is one of my favorite shows, and I'd had the fabulous OBC recording for months before I got the concept recording. Both are great recordings, and the OBC is superior in my opinion, but the concept recording is also absolutely amazing. Linda Eder, who does such a fabulous job in Jekyll & Hyde, is an amazing Marguerite. From the beautiful "Home Again" to the lively "Storybook" Linda's gorgeous strong voice shines through. Chuck Wagner is no Douglas Sills- his Percy is much less foppish, although he does have his moments. Wagner does have a very nice voice, his version of "Into the Fire" is great! Dave Clemmons' Chauvelin is my favorite thing about this recording. Although I adore Terry Mann on the OBC, Dave's Chauvelin is still so great to me; very seductive in "Marguerite," a beautiful song that was cut from the later show. Although he doesn't have maybe as much strength as Terry, he is very talented and has a fabulously seductive voice. The songs which were later cut from the show are all very beautiful, and although the ones that stayed are not nearly up to what they eventually became, they also are great. It's very interesting to note the lyrical changes in some, especially "The Scarlet Pimpernel" which has almost entirely different lyrics, and I do prefer the ones on the concept! A lot of this recording has a very Latin feel to it, especially "Our Separate Ways," a Chauvelin/Marguerite duet. There are songs for everyone, from the cheerful "They Seek Him Here" to the tearjerker "Now When the Rain Falls." This CD is a must for any Scarlet Pimpernel fan, and any other fans of musical theatre!

No matter what else may be said about this album- and it is a good one- its worth getting for "Marguerite Prelude" and "Marguerite", two astonishingly haunting pieces not on the OBC recording. Given that this is a concept album, it's still rather wonderful.

This SP recording is good, but not as good as the OBC one. Get this for the deleted songs, which are great: "Home Again," "Marguerite," "Now When the Rain Falls," "Our Seperate Ways," and "There Never Was A Time." These all are great songs, especially "Marguerite," "Our Seperate Ways," and "There Never Was A Time." There is a different version of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," which is quite amusing, as is the slightly altered version of "The Creation of Man." "Storybook" sounds more French on this recording, and is quite good. "Into the Fire" is quite different, and I can't say that I particularly like it, compared to the one on the OBC recording. However, standing alone, it is pretty good. The little version of "They Seek Him Here" is just over a minute long, but is pretty good. Linda Eder's version of "When I Look at You" is not very good at all, but might appeal more to people who like a more modern feel. The same goes for "You Are My Home." "Madame Guillotine" is sung with more emotion, but otherwise it can't compare with the OBC one. I rather liked the Chauvelin/Marguerite duet version of "The Riddle-" I thought it was terrible at first, but it grew on me and now I think it's pretty good. I didn't particularly like the jazz in "I'll Forget You," but it was pretty good otherwise, although it dosen't live up to the one on the Encore recording. As for the instrumental songs, "Marguerite Prelude" is a short musical preview of "Marguerite," and although quite pretty, not needed. "Scarlet Interlude" is a song that is themusic which the overeture(on the OBC recording)plays just until the exciting part comes. It is quite useless, really. "Pimpernel Fanfare" is a.k.a. the overeture on the OBC recording, with slightly different instruments.
One other thing: PERCY NEEDS MORE SONGS!!! He dosen't even have an entirely solo song, something that Chauvelin has. He sings in "Into the Fire," which is mostly solo, but not quite, the first part of "They Seek Him Here" is solo, a solo/duet with the Prince of Wales in "The Creation of Man," and a solo/duet with Marguerite in "There Never Was A Time." So, in all he sings in four songs, none of which are completly solo.(He also has a few solo lines in "The Scarelt Pimpernel," but that can hardly be counted.)Marguerite, on the other hand, has way to many songs. She sings in a total of nine songs, five of which are completley solo. I think it is quite unfair to poor Percy. :>(
Over all, this is split 75/25 with good to bad, and is quite worth getting if you already have theOBC or Encore recordings. However, DO NOT get this if you do not already have a SP album. The songs are all out of order, and this one can't compare to the others anyway. But over all, I like this one, and it is worth buying.

Lizzie Blakeney :^)

The first song I heard from this album by accident was, Home again. It gave me a flash, and this was the reason, why I wanted to find out more about the story and the record.

"I'll forget you" is another very good song! But in my opinion the Encore-version creates a different, not to say better, atmosphere, because Marguerite is more conscious about her situation, and although Linda Eder has a WONDERFUL voice, I think, the other version is more authentic, cause Linda's voice is too strong for this kind of song.

Another point of view is the role of Marguerite itself, Linda doesn't represent the typical French woman. So I'm of the opinion, that on the Concept Album there is no sign of acting, but just interpreting songs (which isn't necessarily bad!)
In some other parts I'd say Linda on of the best singers anyway, because SHE knows how to work with her voice. But here it is simply a way of presenting a new work by Frank Wildhorn. So the value of acting is not that important.

Frank Wildhorn is a great composer, and I'm often surprised in which ways he gives one songs two "styles". One significant example is "Only love" which is NOT on this record, but still a part of this musical (Whoever is interested in a version sung by Linda Eder just look at her albums)
Or another good example is "I'll forget you" as mentioned above. On the one hand there is the song that tells a story, and tries to create a certain mood (Encore-version) and on the other hand, we have a wonderful ballad (concept).
I'm not sure, whether there can be distinguished between a first place song or a second rate one... you have to decide which style you prefer.
But I think all versions of Scarlet Pimpernel are a MUST for every Pimp-fan.

One thing I really pity is, that they cut out "Marguerite"... or "Our separate ways" (the latter one has some Spanish style- nice to listen to!!!)

But the most important aspect of the Concept version is that everything sounds full. The choir and the orchestra sound bigger (and in my opinion better) than on the other versions, which makes this record more special.

The last thing I can tell you is to do your thing and buy this record ;)

A great start, but (very understandably) a little lightweight next to the OCR, so my advice would be to get the latter first. The Concept & the Encore CDs will complete your Scarlet Pimpernel 'experience', but I think you would missing more & doing the show a disservice not to listen to Terrance Mann's "Where's the Girl", or Douglas Sills singing "Into the Fire". I think the first stage version also gives you a good frame of reference to listen to where it went (Encore) and where it came from (this CD). The very pop version of "You are My Home" is beautiful & very much in character with this version. A great listen.

The Original Broadway Cast recording is a terrific album and this album has it's moments as well....but some of the artists don't quite match up to their counterparts in the later recording. Still.....you're probably asking - is it worth paying $15 to hear. Most definitely....it allows you to hear the songs as they were first crafted and done by different artists. If you're a Scarlet Pimpernel fan....it's worth the money. And it has "I'll Forget You"...which is NOT on the Original Broadway Recording.

This CD is good and it's a nice preview for the actual show. This is only the CONCEPT ALBUM NOT THE ORIGINAL B'WAY CAST! The B'way cast has Terrance Mann (original Beast out of Beauty & the Beast-B'way musical), Christine Andreas, and Douglas Sills as Percy. I love the music on this CD, BUT the vocalists (Linda Eder, etc.) are not near the caliber of the B'way cast. Linda Eder's rendition of "When I Look at You" doesn't have the emotional range of Christine Andreas' version on stage. Linda Eder may have the vocal power to top the high notes, but volume doesn't always equal emotion. Also, while "Marguerite" is a seductive tune, it doesn't leave me weak in the knees like Terrance Mann singing "Where's the Girl?" on the true B'way recording. When Mann sings this song in his deep baritone - it is truly arousing. Also, with the B'way recording, I really got the idea that Chauvelin DID love Margeurite - an idea that seems to be missing here. And, Douglas Sills is the best Percy I've seen or heard ever! He made me laugh, cry, yearn, and can sing like a dream! Unlike the Concept Album's Percy, Doug Sills really expresses his emotions through his voice. His reprise of "When I Look at You" makes me cry no matter how many times I've heard it. In "Prayer" you can tell how he loves Marguerite although he thinks she betrayed him, and how loving her so much is hurting him. You hear the mental conflict of "I love her, but I can't trust her, what do I do?" in Sills' performance. One last general note, the Concept Album's orchestrations/supporting cast sound weak & thin when compared to the B'way recording.

This is a concept recording of what is now a fantastic musical playing on Broadway. As such, it must be forgiven its faults, seeing as how concept albums are for the composer to try out new ideas and test the waters. The singing talent on this CD is never in question; my reservations have to do with the performance of the songs more than anything else. While technically well done, they lack the character of the OBC recording with Douglas Sills, Christine Andreas and Terence Mann. Chuck Wagner has a lovely baritone, but is quite inappropriate for the role of Percy, a role which Sills will truly define for all time. And while Linda Eder has a beautiful voice, she doesn't emote very well in the role of Marguerite for some reason. She was much better in the studio recording of Jekyll and Hyde as Lucy. My advice? If you want to hear the musical as it really is, a most enjoyable work, get the OBC. It's worth it for Douglas Sills alone! The ensemble is much better, and, being the OBC rather than a concept recording, its orchestration is excellent. But if you have money left over after that, get this recording for the songs that didn't make the final cut.