Customer Reviews

The Sound of Music (1959 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nowadays most people are familiar with the SOUND OF MUSIC from the wonderful 1965 motion picture starring Julie Andrews, which just received it's DVD debut this August. The DVD along with the 35TH Anniversary Edition (2 CD) Motion Picture Soundtrack, also recently released, are real winners.

But how many people have heard the 1959 Original Broadway Cast recording starring Mary Martin? Not as many, I suspect. The subject of this review is a treasure that any true SOUND OF MUSIC buff MUST own. This digitally re-mastered recording sounds so fresh and vibrant that you would think it was just recorded!

Mary Martin's singing is lovely and constrasts nicely with that of Julie Andrews. As with most Broadway musicals, there are several songs that were not in the movie: "How Can Love Survive", "No Way to Stop It", and "An Ordinary Couple", which are all great. You won't find "I Have Confidence" or "Something Good" here, since these songs were written by Richard Rodgers alone (Oscar Hammerstein had already passed away) for the motion picture. No big loss in my opinion, as these songs are rather weak anyway.

The liner notes that come with the CD are informative, complete with cast photos. Along with the soundtrack come two bonus tracks which are like icing on the cake. My favorite is a beautifully performed orchestral medley lasting 16 minutes called "The Sound of Music-A Symphonic Picture for Orchestra". The other bonus track is a lively rendition of "Do-Re-Mi" performed by the Mitch Miller choir and the Sound of Music kids. Did I mention that this CD is at a bargain price too?

With all it has going for it, this SOUND OF MUSIC is worth it's weight in gold. This is a disc that you will return to often with the greatest of pleasure. HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Julie Andrews was the definitive Eliza Doolittle (and should have played her in the movie version of "My Fair Lady"), but the role of Maria in "The Sound of Music" belongs to the Queen of the Broadway Musical, Mary Martin. What a voice! What delivery! The stage version of the *musical aspects* of "The Sound of Music" simply outshines the Hollywood version, in my opinion. Not only is this because of the stellar performances by Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel, but because for some strange reason, the producers of the movie removed some fine songs (e.g., "There's No Way To Stop It") and substituted cheesy and unmemorable ones in their place. Why? The movie was a highly entertaining presentation of the *story* of the von Trapp family, but if you want a cd that presents the best version of the *music* from this terrific show, get the Broadway version!

While I am a HUGE fan of this recording of "The Sound of Music," I fully understand why people are passionate about the film soundtrack. I have many friends who grew up watching the film, own the soundtrack and have never heard the Original Cast Album. I have never urged them to listen to this album because I know they will not enjoy it. Unfortunately, they don't know what they're missing. While Mary Martin's voice, for some, takes some getting used to, she does a wonderful job with Maria's songs. This "Do-Re-Mi" is almost exactly the same as the film version and, in my opinion, exceeds it. I prefer Theodore Bikel's Captain to Plummer's. Naturally there are also the wonderful "How Can Love Survive?" and "No Way to Stop It" to recommend this album. But the main reason for fans of the show, film and musicals in general to listen to this album is the wondrous Patricia Neway! In "Maria" and especially in the rousing rendition of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," she sings circles around the inferior Peggy Wood (Was Wood dubbed?)! Neway alone is reason enough to listen to this original, wonderful recording of one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's lesser shows that somehow became the most popular musical of all time (through its film version).

I know there is no Julie Andrews. I know some songs written for the movie are missing. I know Mary Martin is 20 years to old to play Maria. But despite all of this, the original cast recording of "The Sound of Music" is a delight, and every bit as good as the soundtrack. Wonderful songs such as "How Can Love Survive" and "No Way to Stop It" are included here, and the treatment of standards such as "My Favorite Things," "Do, Ri, Mi," and "Climb Every Mountain" are given first class treatment by the supurb cast. As I mentioned, Mary Martin is 20 years to old to play Maria, but she has an elegance, charm, and power that make her a pleasure (though not as good as Andrews). Theodor Bikel is still the definitive Captain Von Trapp. A superb recording for the whole family, and a look at an American institution in it's original format.

It is the most complete version of the original stage score. True, "How Can Love Survive" and "No Way to Stop It" would have no place in the movie, but they are enjoyable on the cast album.

R & H were probably rushed on this one. FLOWER DRUM SONG opened Dec 1, 1958..which gave them just 9 months to get SOUND OF MUSIC ready for rehearsals in August 1959. Some of the ideas Ernest Lehman came up with for the film, especially the song placements, were improvements that might have occurred to Rodgers, Hammerstein and company had they not been rushing to make an opening night.

Mary Martin maybe was too old..she looks too old in the pictures, but the warmth in her voice is unmistakable. Remember too that while starring in SOUND OF MUSIC on Broadway she taped the 3rd TV version of PETER PAN and pulled off playing a 12 year old boy! A great actress!!

Theodore Bikel was perfect as the Captain and as a folk singer himself he knew what to do with "Edelwiss." (Even though Christopher Plummer was dubbed in the movie by Bill Lee the song is better sing here by Bikel!)

I think the chief objection people may have to this cast recording is the very fact that it sounds theatrical... the kids especially seem to go for volume and enunciation. Those not used to theatrical performances might find this a little disconcerting.

One bit of trivia for opera fans: In the list of ensmble singers is the name Tatiana Troyanos who would later become a major opera star!

***Correction.. Matt Ballinger is on the RCA album from the 1998 revival with Rebecca Luker, not this album. From his picture in the booklet for that recoirding I suspect he was not even born in 1959. (Or 1969. Or 1979.) This is the recording one other reviewer says the Maria sounds too much like a soprano... No one ever said that about Mary Martin!

Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel are fabulous singers,They give it all they have. I was not that impressed with the voices of the children, and it would,ve been nice to know which child was singing which bit! Elsa and Max sing well together and sounnd like a comical couple! The nuns and Mother Abbess sing well. all in all, a must for all sound of music fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rodgers and Hammerstein's last, and probably their greatest, work is presented here. Unfortunately, most people are familiar only with the soundtrack of the immensely popular 1965 Julie Andrews-Christopher Plummer film. The film soundtrack is certainly not bad (the film is one of my favorite movies) but this is how THE SOUND OF MUSIC first sounded to audiences on Broadway in 1959.

Of course Mary Martin is not Julie Andrews, but Martin's voice has a warmth and grace all its own that makes this album superior to the soundtrack in every respect. Theodore Bikel (you may know him as Zoltan Kaparthy from the film My Fair Lady) gives a wonderful performance as the Captain, although he lacks the "edge" that C. Plummer gives to the character. The Children's voices on this album are very nice and go well together. Plus, we hear only the children's real voices, not 4 or 5 extras that were brought in to "enhance" the voices for the film.

There are three songs here that do not appear in the film: How Can Love Survive?, No Way to Stop It, and An Ordinary Couple. The first two were cut for the film because the producers of the film felt them unnecessary to the storyline. The latter was deleted because Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein didn't care much for it in the first place, but were unable to replace it during the B'way run because Hammerstein was in such poor health. An Ordinary Couple was replaced with Something Good and I Have Confidence was added as a "walking soliloquy" for Maria in the film.

The performances on this album are stellar. This album is not one to be missed!

Mary Martin is brilliant in this re-issue of the original Broadway cast recording. She created the role of Maria on the stage, and her concept of the character is deeper and more intimate than the exuberant Julie Andrews movie characterization. Theodore Bikel is wonderful as Captain von Trapp, and the other cast members are good. This version is much more a theater piece; warmer, cozier, more personal. I have always preferred this version because it draws me into the story and I feel more of a participant and not just a listener. Get it-you will love it!

This is another of those fine Columbia original cast recordings (lovingly remastered by Sony) that puts you front and centre for a performance of the show.

It is true, Mary Martin may have been too old for the free-spirited Maria (she was 47 at the time) but remember too that it was while appearing in SOUND OF MUSIC that she taped the TV version of PETER PAN where she played a 12 year old boy. She had that star quality! Theodore Bikel was a folk singer himself and knew exactly how to sell "Edelweiss."

The movie is a rare case where a stage show was improved on its transfer to screen, but for listening purposes the story and charcters come alive better on this cast recording. Get both albums... there is much to enjoy either way!

Yes, Mary Martin was a little old for Maria, but she becomes the character in this CD. The remastered version brings out a richer sound, but the original 1959 audio is a little funky (i.e. use of reverb, levels of singers microphones-especially kids) This, however is the original, and the movie version will never come close to the stage production. How can Love Survive?, and No Way to Stop It, showcase Max and Elsa's show-stealing capabilities. Theodore Bikel makes a fine Captain, especially in a very simple version of Edelweiss, not the over-produced version the movie portrayes. In all, a very fine album.