The Sound of Music: 1999 Live Australian Cast Recording [Import]

John Waters, Lisa McCune, Rodgers & Hammerstein, The Sound Of Music (Related Recordings) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 6, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Bmg Int'l
• ASIN: B00004SAN7
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #704,747 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Preludium

2. Sound Of Music

3. Maria

4. I Have Confidence

5. Do-Re-Mi

6. Sixteen Going On Seventeen

7. My Favorite Things

8. How Can Love Survive-

9. Reprise- The Sound Of Music

10. Laendler

11. So Long, Farewell

12. Climb Ev'ry Mountain

13. Opening Act Ii

14. No Way To Stop It

15. Something Good

16. Wedding Processional

17. Reprise- Sixteen Going On Seventeen

18. Lonely Goatherd

19. Edelweiss

20. Reprise- So Long, Farewell

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars LIVE CAST ALBUM IS DEFINITELY "ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC", May 31, 2011

By 

DEWEY M. "MOVIE & MUSICAL THEATRE MAN" (ELLENSBURG, WA,) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Sound of Music: 1999 Live Australian Cast Recording (Audio CD)

This is the second "live" recording from an Australian Cast production I have purchased. The first was the 2010 "Live Australian Cast Recording" of the stage version of "Mary Poppins." I had heard of this recording but, until I recently did a search on Amazon, I had no idea it was a "live" recording. The fact that it is a "live recording" convinced me to buy it. Live recordings truly capture the magic of theatre. Having heard "The Sound Of Music" in various versions starring such diverse ladies as Mary Martin, Julie Andrews, Fredricka Von Stade, and Petula Clark, I was anxious to hear this Australian Cast Album. Overall, I am delighted with it and think this CD is a real "find."
Lisa McCune plays the celebrated role of Maria. I found McCune's performance to be very nice (she is definitely "in character") but not spectacular. McCune won't make you forget Mary Martin or Julie Andrews (McCune sounds a lot like Julie Andrews without being a carbon copy of her), and I definitely prefer McCune as Maria to Rebecca Luker (1998 Broadway Revival) and the "pop diva" interpretation of Petulia Clark (1981 London Revival). As is usually the case with recordings of this show, McCune truly comes alive singing "My Favorite Things" and "Do Re Mi" with the children. The recording gains strength in the supporting roles. John Waters finds hidden depths in the role of Captain Von Trapp. There is a lot of emotion and melancholy in his Reprise of "The Sound Of Music" with the Children, and "Edelweiss." Bert Newton and Anne Wood sing "How Can Love Survive?" and "No Way To Stop It", two songs from the play that were cut from the 1965 film version. These two cynical songs, extremely atypical for lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, give the characters of Max and Elsa more edge and definition, and also provide a nice balance and contrast with the sentimental aspects of the plot. This recording also includes "I Have Confidence" and "Something Good" from the film version.
Other reviewers feel that Eilene Hannan is not vocally "up" to the demands of a huge number like "Climb Every Mountain." I disagree. True, nobody will ever top the mighty, definitive "diva power" version delivered by Patricia Neway on the 1959 Broadway Cast Album. Hannan's version is closer to the version that Harper McKay dubbed for Peggy Wood in the film version. Hannan's version is subtle; inspirational without knocking you out. And Hannan's version is definitely superior to the god-awful version performed by the screaching June Bromhill on the 1981 London Cast Album.
The biggest surprise here is Tim Drexl as Rolfe, the telegram boy crush of naive Liesel (Pia Morley) who joins the Nazis. Rolfe may be 17 going on 18, but Drexl is no babe in the woods. Drexl sings his "16 Going On 17" duet with Morley as a slightly dangerous, sexual come-on. And who knew sex could be found in such a seemingly innocent song, in such an otherwise chaste musical classic? Drexl's sexy spin on the song is brilliant.
I disagree with the reviewer who felt that this recording is lackluster. I think there is a nice balance between the actors, the orchestra and the audience. The sound is coming from the stage, not the audience. I hate those "live" recordings that are so obviously recorded from the audience. I hate that "bootleg" sound; and this recording definitely sounds "alive with the sound of music" to me.
With the exception of the Children giggling a bit too much in their songs with Maria, this production overall takes a more realistic, instead of an overtly sentimental, approach, to "The Sound Of Music." I appreciate that and find it especially refreshing. This live recording should be a welcome addition in the collection of any fan of "The Sound Of Music."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Sound of Music" pure genius, May 9, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Sound of Music: 1999 Live Australian Cast Recording (Audio CD)

This recording of the Sound of Music is the best that I have ever heard. I was fortunate enough to play the role of Friedrich von Trapp in the Australian production and am featured on this live recording. However I still honestly believe that this is the best Australian version you will ever get.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Musical Survives Lackluster Recording, May 17, 2000

By 

Greg Gibson (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sound of Music: 1999 Live Australian Cast Recording (Audio CD)

As a musical theatre performer and addict, I must say I was excited by the idea of a "live" recording of my favorite musical, "The Sound of Music". The anticipation grew upon realizing it was the same revival production that graced the Broadway stage two years ago -- orchestrations and all. Where Rebecca Luker's (one of the great performers on Broadway today) performance, though wonderful, suffered on the cast recording because we were unable to fully appreciate her performance of Maria, the live recording allowed for much more opportunity for the acting aspect of the role to shine through. Lisa McCune does her best Julie Andrews impression, shining vocally in a role difficult not to associate with the film star. You can hear in her voice the sheer energy and "girlishness" needed for the part, and it shows as well in the children whenever they're together. Her counterpart, John Waters, plays Captain von Trapp with great poise and melancholy, making it difficult for the audience to dislike him (although most people already know his true motivation throughout the play). His rendition of "Edelweiss" is simply beautiful. The supporting roles are also wonderfully played. Max, Elsa, Leisl, Rolf (whom Tim Draxl plays perfectly as the young lover), the children, and the nuns are all wonderfully sung -- a difficult feat for a difficult score. The only weakness is that of the Mother Abbess, whose voice sounds too old (is that possible) and too shaky for the part. It's hard not to be distracted by this when "Climb Every Mountain", the big Act I closer, is butchered. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is with the recording itself. I understand it is a live recording, but that's the point... Shouldn't part of the joy of this recording be the sound of the applause? While it's there, it sounds like about 75 unenthusiastic patrons are clapping on cue... Better miking of the audience would have inspired much of the applause often heard on other live recordings.... The kind that gives you goosebumps. As well, there is an odd balance between orchestra and voices... It seems very voice heavy, where the orchestra falls into the background. The orchestra, for this score anyway, is just as important in the performance of the classic songs as the voices. I would have appreciate a stronger sound from the orchestra side, if only to compensate for the lack of sufficient audience response. When you hear this recording, you will appreciate the performances and reminisce back to the first time you saw the movie... That's what happened to me. But you'll also have this weird sense that "something was missing"... Perhaps it's the "live" part of the "Live Australian Cast Recording."