Customer Reviews

The Sound of Music (1998 Broadway Revival Cast)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This 1998 recording of The Sound of Music is as near to a definitive recording as we could hope for. Taken from the lavish 1998 Tony-worthy Susan Schulman revival, it combines many of the best hallmarks of the original Broadway and film soundtrack albums, while adding some of its own. The cast is strong all-round, and they sing with an instinctive feel for the music, and enables the score to be served as well as by the sumptuous orchestra under Michael Rafter. And this digital recording, though lacking in ideal balance, brilliance and ambient warmth, brings out the clarity and crispness of the vocal and orchestral textures perfectly.

Rebecca Luker shines as Maria in a Tony-worthy performance and captures many of the hallmarks associated with the Marias of Mary Martin and Julie Andrews, while adding some others of her own. Her sublime and angelic voice has just the right amounts of youthful vigour, warmth and efferverscence, and achieves a very strong rapport with the well-cast children. Holding as high a calibre as Luker is Michael Siberry in his performance of Captain von Trapp. As what I consider the finest recorded performance of the Captain, he explores the depth of the character more than I've known from Theodore Bikel. (Perhaps this could be due to an improvement in his character here over the original stage version. This has been done by overturning the stereotype of a more passive and dull character in favour of a more active and motivated chacter, as shown here.) He transfixes you with a likeable and believable portrayal with poise and motivation, and he caps it off with a heart-wrenching rendition of Edelweiss where he really empathises with the meaning of the words. Patti Cohenour adds strength to the principal cast as Mother Abbess. She may not be able to really give a powerhouse performance of Climb Every Mountain as Patricia Neway did, but her voice depicts a wisdom that she imbuses with her concern for Maria. The sparkling children, the Nuns, Max, Elisa and the slightly less seductive Rolf all sing their roles well, and help the score achieve the difficult feat of having all parts sung well for 99.9% of the time.

I can sense that this recording is as near-perfect and near-definitive as can be wished. But I would like to point out that the orchestra may be slightly weak because of its size, and that the recording acoustic needs more warmth (as displayed on the 1994 Broadway Carousel). Still, despite some slow tempi in places (which work for most of the time depending on the context), Michael Rafter keeps the music going with his expert baton, and lovingly helps the cast and orchestra to breathe new life into a much-loved score (dare I call this Broadway score a warhorse?). In this, he is helped by the responsive orchestra, and characterful but not obtrusive new orchestral decorations (by Bruce Coughlin) to compliment the original Robert Russell Bennett arrangements.

This recording is noteworthy in including the two songs written directly for the film, to compliment the songs of Max and Elisa. This is particularly so when the more melodious Something Good is allowed to replace the laborious Ordinary Couple of the original stage production. (I daren't say that these songs are weak, as a number of others have said, but I daresay that the inclusion of the two songs for the film actually helps those who have so far encountered the show through the film only appreciate this recording more.) Here, and elsewhere throughout this recording, you get the feeling of a definitive Sound of Music for the 21st century that ideally combines the elements of its original stage and screen productions yet achieving a consistent feel. And, of course, the shifting of My Favourite Things to the thunderstorm scene from Mother Abbess's office, and also Lonely Goatherd from the thunderstorm sequence to the Salzburg Festival concert scene only serves to help make the scenes more effective, while working pretty well in them.

To top it off, this Sound of Music recording is as near-perfect a recording of the score as could be hoped for. I know that the older recordings need some respect and that the film soundtrack needs to be bought along with this new version, but I'm sure that this recording can grow on the listener rather quickly. So it leaves me with great confidence to recommend it very strongly, even to those who have yet to become Sound of Music converts.

This recording is wonderful, but sometimes the tempo is too first, I think. The performers, especially Rebecca Luker, are very good. CLIMB EV'RY MOUNTAIN on this disc is not so good. I like THE LONELY GOATHERD the best. Rebecca Luker's singing sometimes too operatic, but her singing is wonderful as well as Julie Andrews and Mary Martin. This CD is a must buy for all the fans who loves THE SOUND OF MUSIC!

This is definitely a must buy for any Sound of Music fan. It contains two songs that are not in the film plus all the songs that are in the film as well, so it has more songs than any other previosly released Sound of Music soundtrack. I have seen the Richard Chamberlain version and although I enjoyed it overall, I was disappointed with several of the key performances. This CD has refreshingly better performances by Rebecca Lurker and Michael Shelley. "Climb Every Mountain" and "Finale Ultimo" are well performed and awfully moving. The final scene of the musical was my favorite scene by far and this CD captures the emotions of that moment well. "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" was a tad weak by comparison, but "Do Re Mi" and "Favorite Things" are delightful. "Sound of Music" was also another wonderful track, especially because it includes a prelude to the song that is absent from the film. Overall, a terrific CD to add to Musical collection.

It must be a real challenge to make a revival of a musical that is so known by its movie version. This recording really accomplish an excellent performance of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, presenting a more complete score than the movie soundtrack. The nuns and the children are very good. The supporting cast is good also. But it is mostly Rebecca Luker as Maria who is the heart of this CD. Luker passes the challenge with honors, creating a Maria Von Trapp as lovely as Julie Andrews in the movie version. She is specially good in the title song, Do,RE,Mi and My Favorite Things. A must have for fans of the Sound of Music.

This is truly a beautiful CD. All of the songs are lovely and it's a great revival of the musical. Rebecca Luker makes a wonderful Maria. It truly deserves all of the stars it can get.

Who would have thought that anyone could match the Maria of Julie Andrews. Rebecca Luker does.... and then some! This is a must for any fan of The Sound of Music.

This is an excellent revival! I have not actually listened to it, but I saw the musical four times on broadway. Rebecca Luker is wonderful as Maria. In fact, I enjoyed Luker's performance so much, I then went to see her in The Music Man. If you enjoyed the movie, this is definitely the right thing for you!

I absolutley love this CD. It is great. Rebecca Luker gives an outstanding performance, along with an all-star cast of Michael Siberry, Fred Applegate and Jan Maxwell and others. The music is superb (of course, it's Rodgers & Hammerstein). My favorite songs are: Sixteen Going on Seventeen, Maria, Edelwiess, No Way to Stop It and The Sound of Music. Get this CD ! ! ! I love the musical SO MUCH I want to direct it next year ! ! !

I have the movie soundtrack with Julie Andrews, a version with Mary Martin, but this is my favorite because it includes songs not heard in the movie: How Can Love Survive, No Way to Stop It, and Something Good.

I've grown up with this musical, as i'm sure the greater part of our population. This new recording adds a freshness to an old classic. I've always loved Rebecca Luker's voice, (i.e. "The Secret Garden," "Aria," "The Music Man.") and this recording shows off her acting ability as well. The controversal issue of this album seems to be Patti Cohenour's interpretation of the Mother Abbess. First of all, let me just say, that while the movie's Rev. Mother was great, I really appreciated this new rendition. We're used to a matriarchal, plump woman who can bellow out high notes. However, Patti's light, almost sensual voice gives the impression that she empathizes with Maria--she's been there before. It makes me wonder what in her past made her become a nun in the first place, and what turning over a new leaf did she do to become the Mother Abbess? She's seen more of the world and therefore more wise. Personally, I think this new rendition better fits the part.