Stage Heroes [Cast Recording]

Colm Wilkinson (Artist), Mike Batt (Conductor), London Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Mike Batt
• Audio CD (April 29, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: RCA Victor
• ASIN: B000003ET2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,904 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Broadway's Jean Valjean sings other Broadway standards, July 4, 2001

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Stage Heroes (Audio CD)

Colm Wilkinson opened as Jean Valjean in both the London and Broadway productions of "Les Miserables," and like Michael Crawford in "Phantom of the Opera" builds upon his successful by recording an album of selections from various musicals. Consequently, the joy of listening to "Stage Heroes" is that not only do you get to hear his memorable "Bring Him Home" from "Les Mis," but he takes a turn at "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables." Wilkinson performs a pair of songs from "Man of La Mancha," "Chess," "West Side Story," "The Phantom of the opera," "South Pacific," "Camelot" and "Porgy & Bess." If you enjoyed hearing Wilkinson's pure tenor voice singing in "Les Mis" then you will certainly find something to enjoy equally as much from this album (I especially like his performance of "Anthem" from "Chess"). The orchestrations are also spruced up more than you usually hear with these songs, which is always a nice touch. All things considered, "Stage Heroes" is one of the better collections of Broadway show tunes.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome! Simply and Truly the BEST!, December 27, 2000

By 

Kate (MI, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stage Heroes (Audio CD)

This album is definetly NOT to do without! ALL of the selections bring Wilkinson's voice to it's fullest height, versatility, and control! Colm wilkinson is simply the best. My favorite selections (if I really HAVE to name specifics) are Phantom of the Opera (of course), Music of the Night, Bring Him Home, Pity the Child, Anthem, and of course, Man of La Mancha. Why? I'll explain... Man of La Mancha is TRIUMPHANT, and POWERFUL. The Imposible Dream REALLY sounds like he's dreaming it! Pity the Child shows his VERSATILITY as him going back to his neglected and painful childhood. Anthem shows his control and power in his voice. Maria is the song that REALLY makes him sound young! (*LOL*) as well as Somewhere. The Phantom of the Opera is quite a different style than the OCC recording. It makes the song picture the Phantom more than Christine Daae. (which in this case, it makes that selection AWESOME!) It is also a faster tempo than usual, which makes the song seem longer. (don't ask me why, but it just does) Music of the night SOARS over ALL of the other role portrayals! Which was the reason WHY Andrew Lloyd Webber chose HIM to be the FIRST Phantom. (Michael was his second resort) (no offense to Michael Crawford fans) It penatrates to your up-most feelings and sences. It lifts your spirits and sends them soaring through every note! This song is SO INTENSE that you can't even describe it in a Million words! Colm really makes this song take FLIGHT! I very much like this arrangment more than the OCC recording. Bring Him Home is the best as always, do I have to say any more? Empty Chairs at Empty Tables seems to me very diferent, since we are all used to hearing Colm a Valjean, but I MUST say, it is an unspeakable arrangement (with Colm singing as Marius I mean) He is very good in that song, it just is a little different hearing him sing as Marius. South Pacific was a very good selection for him, I have ALWAYS imagined Colm singing that role, but had never heard him till now! All of the selections from Camelot are AWESOME! (even though I haven't really heard the musical Camelot, it's still good to hear Colm sing it! Porgy and Bess, I had heard of, but never really heard before, Colm portrays both of those songs wonderfully. Well, what else can I say, except Colm Wilkinson is the best performer on stage in the musical theater. The thing that makes Colm Colm, is that you can actually picture him acting through his voice! He shows THAT MUCH emotion, that you can "open up your mind, and let your fantasys un-wind" "in the Power of the Music of the Night!" "He alone can make that song take flight" Please Listen to...the Music... of the...NIGHT! Thank you, I hope you found my review helpful!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stage heroes indeed!, April 25, 2000

By 

Lee Ann,music lover "music lover" (Middletown, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stage Heroes (Audio CD)

I first found the cassette version of this recording in England about ten years ago,before it even released in this country. I now own the CD as well. I first discovered Colm Wilkinson when he was doing "Les Miserables" in 1987. The CD "Stage heroes" is Wilkinson at his best! Probably the best number on the recording is 'Anthem' from"Chess"(In fact according to legend,it was singing that particular song that won him the part of Valjean!) I also like the selections from "Porgy and Bess" and "Phantom" of course And there will never be anyone who can sing "Bring him home" the way he does.... and he never does it the same way twice! I like to put the cassette in my car stereo and crank it up! What a voice! The only song missing from this CD that should be added if it reissued or re-recording is "This is the moment" from "Jekyll and Hyde".