Sweeney Todd Live at the New York Philharmonic [Soundtrack]

Davis Gaines, Stephen Sondheim, George Hearn, Audra McDonald, Heidi Grant Murphy, Sweeney Todd (Related Recordings), Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone, Paul Plishka | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 18, 2000)
• Original Release Date: October 18, 2000
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Soundtrack
• ASIN: B00005TQ11
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,898 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #88 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Contemporary Musicals

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Prelude

2. The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (George Hearn, Company)

3. No Place Like London (Davis Gaines, George Hearn, Audra McDonald)

4. The Worst Pies in London (Patti LuPone)

5. Poor Thing (Patti LuPone)

6. Dialogue

7. My Friends (George Hearn, Patti LuPone)

8. Green Finch and Linnet Bird (Heidi Grant Murphy)

9. Ah, Miss (Davis Gaines, Heidi Grant Murphy, Audra McDonald)

10. Johanna (Davis Gaines)

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. God, That's Good! (Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone, George Hearn, Company)

2. Johanna (Davis Gaines, George Hearn, Audra McDonald, Heidi Grant Murphy)

3. By The Sea (Patti LuPone, George Hearn)

4. Wigmaker Sequesnce (George Hearn, Davis Gaines)

5. The Letter (Quintet: Tania Batson, Jacqueline Pierce, James Bassi, Lewis White. Frank Barr)

6. Not While I'm Around (Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone)

7. Dialogue

8. Parlor Songs (John Aler, Patti LuPone, Neil Patrick Harris)

9. Fogg's Asylum (Company)

10. City on Fire (Company)

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concert "Sweeney" with vivid sonics, November 17, 2003

By 

Bruce Hodges (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sweeney Todd Live at the New York Philharmonic (Audio CD)

There is a lot to enjoy in this spectacular live recording, which captures the overflowing excitement of these performances. For those who were initially disappointed when Bryn Terfel bowed out of the title role, George Hearn stepped in and triumphed. If his voice isn't quite the powerhouse of Terfel's, Hearn is an equally commanding stage presence, and brings a lifetime of acting expertise to the fore.

As the slightly dotty Mrs. Lovett, Patti LuPone is excellent, and actually sings the difficult songs such as the dazzling "A Little Priest." As the flood of words cascades down, she catches every rhyme, shapes each phrase with expert comic timing, and further, nails all the notes. (No slight intended, in the least, to Angela Lansbury and her by now legendary work in this show.) The other cast members are also wonderful (including the marvelous Audra McDonald), and the entire evening is conducted with extravagant sweep and polish by Andrew Litton. The New York Philharmonic also sounds terrific, and again, their accuracy reveals the subtleties and complexities of Sondheim's score. Harmonically, there is a lot packed in here, and while the original cast recording had an excellent orchestra, the Philharmonic's musicians cope with the cascading rhythms with even more confidence.

The sound is very good, recorded from live performances. Now and then a cast member will be a bit too far from the microphones, or too close, but frankly this only adds to the spontaneous, "you are there" feeling.

Although the original cast recording has power and character to spare, this new one is a must for those who love the music itself. With the adrenalin running high (including the audience fairly roaring its approval), this is a great addition to the Sondheim canon and should give even a jaded listener much pleasure.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Both recordings are a must!, January 9, 2002

By 

"mjhinsf" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweeney Todd Live at the New York Philharmonic (Audio CD)

Although I am an enthusiastic fan of Mr. Sondheim's work, and a lover of the musical "Sweeney Todd", I had decided not to purchase the very pricey live recording of the NY Philharmonic concert version. (I find that these "concert performances" of great works usually leave much to be desired; particularly since they are always gravely under-rehearsed.) Happily, however, I received the CD as a Christmas gift: It is terrific.

It appears that most Sondheim fans loathe George Hearn's Sweeney. I, however, believe that his is the definitive interpretation of the role. I did see Len Cariou perform Sweeney (with Angela Lansbury) in the original Broadway run, and Cariou's Sweeney was very good; he was quiet, big, powerful and very scary. But what Hearn understands is what Cariou never got: Sweeney is, as Mrs. Lovett says, a bleeding little nobody. I recall wondering, throughout Cariou's performance, why doesn't this powerful and scary Sweeney just go to the judge's house at night and kill him; or get him on the street; why does he wait? Hearn, with his hand wringing and desperate emotional outbursts, understands why. Hearn also understands that Sweeney Todd is a melodrama, and what many see as "excesses" in Hearn's portrayal, I see as perfectly appropriate emotional levels for the character, and for the 19th Century operetta form.

I now own BOTH versions of Sweeney Todd, and am very glad about that.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars get the Sweeney Todd in Concert DVD instead, January 25, 2008

By 

qmechanic (New Haven, CT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sweeney Todd Live at the New York Philharmonic (Audio CD)

I ordered this CD with great anticipation since I so ardently admire George Hearn's performance as Sweeney Todd. Unfortunately, the CD is marred by Patti Lupone's over-acting. Maybe it was too much for her to do Mrs. Lovett after only 3-4 days of frantic rehearsal (according to the included CD booklet). In particular, if you listen to songs like "The Worst Pies in London" and "A Little Priest", her voice jumps from singing to screeching. It's almost like she doesn't have control of her voice. Fortunately, Patti Lupone is much better on the DVD with the San Francisco Symphony (a year after the New York Philharmonic concerts). She sounds more comfortable with the role and tones down the acting. Both the New York Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony concerts have pretty much the same cast, so get the DVD and if you want, you can rip the audio off the DVD. I feel like I wasted my money on this recording, but at least I got a nice booklet (130+ pages) with commentary, full libretto, and comments from the cast and production staff.