Customer Reviews

Take Flight (2007 London Cast Recording)

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

 

 

To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd like this show. Odd subject matter-- but I had some faith in the creators; Maltby & Shire for the great revue, "Closer than Ever" and Weidman for his work with Sondheim on 'historical' subject matter. And at least on disc I think it's largely successful. Flight takes on many aspects of the word. The subject and the characters reveal aspects that matter to the writers. So 'Take Flight' isn't strictly historically correct or strictly a narrative chronicle. The lyrics and lush orchestrations work well, and concentrating on the the 4 characters of the Wright Brs., Lindberg and Amelia Earhart (& 'minor' character of Amelia's husband George Putnam) makes sense. The darker aspects of the characters are only really hinted at (at least on disc): The Wrights' almost total lack of technical/aerodynamic expertise, Lindberg's aloofness (snobbism/shyness perhaps-- though he later was impressed with Hitler for example), & Earhart's own mysterious ambivalence about fame. Still though the themes and wonder of chance come across. Nice mix of kinds of music from almost contemporary classical to B'way pizzazz to fulsome melodic duets and ensembles. Everyone sings very well for the roles. Some may find it top heavy with 'historical' baggage; but especially I think if you like Sondheim's 'Pacific Overtures' or 'Assassins,' or Maltby/Shire as songwriters, you'll probably want to check out this album.

Actually enjoyable, the previous reviewers had some valid points about this, it does sound a second cousin of "Assassins", and at times Malby's words land with a thud..really over-declamatory lyrics..Too often the characters sing exactly what they feel, with no room then for any subtext (unlike Sondheim..)
The music has the construction of a film score - motifs, and does have plenty of soaring moments..appropriate to the stratospheric content. They manage to express the joy and exhilaration of flight, the majesty of earth meeting sky, and infinite horizons. I was reminded of Jerry Goldsmith's gorgeous flight-music for the movie -The Blue Max, not in tone but mood. And there is a lovely tint of Americana in the songs.
Considering the levels the musical has sunk to lately, Mamma Mia, Hairspray et al.. this is superior stuff.

Maltby and Shire were wise to pick John Weidman as the bookwriter for this musical about the early days of aviation. While not reaching the heights of Sondheim (and Weidman's) Assassins, this is a very nice and varied score dealing with a historical subject. While none of the British actors/singers stand out on this recording, all do a fine job.

Anyone who has ever had a pilot's license will take this CD to their heart. It's the early history of flying, overlapping Amelia's life with Charles Lindberg's, George Putnum's and Orville and Wilbur's. It's Kitty Hawk, 1903; it's Lindberg landing in Paris; it's Amelia over the pacific ocean losing radio contact; it's the thrill of the Wright Pusher flying for the first time. The music soars and strikes a cord in the soul of any aviator or aviatrix. I highly recommend it. You'll play it again and again.

I have listened to it while walking the last three days, and it is a lovely, moving score, beautifully performed. It has the Broadway sound I adore; the performers are wonderful, and the listener is powerfully reminded of how much the early pioneers had to accomplish to get to what we take for granted today.
I find the songs memorable and delightful.

I really enjoyed this soundtrack, it's not what I expected but it has some very funny songs, although each track is very long with dialouge, it still is very good, and if your looking for something new to listen too this would be a great show to get.

Take Flight may have been an ambitious project, but it is clearly a dissappointing one from a musical point of view. The performers work hard with very little musical material. There isn't a song that leaves you humming or a melody to haunt the listener. The show simply doesn't have wings.