The Secret Garden - The Original Broadway Cast Album

Original Broadway Cast Recording | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: December 10, 1991
• Label: Columbia
• Copyright: (P) 1991 SSONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 1:16:44
• Genres:
  • Soundtracks
• ASIN: B0013D6LJ2
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,738 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent moody musical June 20, 2001

By efrex

Format:Audio CD

One of the standout broadway musicals of the last part of the 20th century, The Secret Garden boasts a great source (Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic novel), a wonderful score by Lucy Simon, and a superb cast. From the opening exotic sounds of the cholera outbreak in India which leaves young Mary Lenox orphaned to the (admittedly somewhat schmaltzy) finale of "This, my lovely child, is your garden!" the score swirls and soars in a magnificent musical tapestry. Almost universally consistent accents (an extreme rarity in Broadway theater; kudos to the dialect coach) are instrumental in helping establish the "feel" of the piece, and the dark Yorkshire moor where the majority of the action is set.

The cast features the youngest Tony winner to date, 11-year-old Daisy Eagan, who plays Mary Lennox to perfection. Rebecca Luker's glorious soaring soprano makes Lily's ghost songs heartbreakingly ethereal, and even Mandy Patinkin's usual histrionics don't detract a bit from his powerful rendition of the disfigured, disturbed, and perpetually mourning Archibald. The supporting cast is equally superb: Alison Fraser performs "Hold On" and "Fine White Horse" with warm wit and tenderness, and John Cameron Mitchell (now perhaps better known for Hedwig and the Angry Inch) has an impish tone as Dickon, with the standout solos "Winter's on the Wing" and "Wick."

The recording wisely includes a substantial amount of dialogue to supplement the score, making it possible to understand the show fully, even for those who haven't seen it (or, like me, saw it almost half a lifetime ago). Complete lyrics, and a solid, concise plot synopsis further enhance the package. A solid addition to any musical theater fan's collection.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unlock the Magic! May 9, 2000

By Ryan MacRae

Format:Audio CD

I am a huge theatre fan. I mean, theatre is my life! That's why i am so glad that my life is hitting a bright beautiful patch! Why, you ask? Simple--The Secret Garden!

I just fell head over heels in love with this magical show. The music is simply stunning! The lyrics range from dazzlingly innocent ("Show me the Key" especially) to exceptionally profound and emotional ("Lily's Eyes").

Rebecca Luker (who was so wonderful in "the Sound of Music") and Daisy Eagan shine! John Cameron Mitchell's Dickon is tons of fun, adding a splendid comic relief naivety to the production. Then, of course, there's Mandy Patinkin who at first listen sounds a bit out of place. Patinkin sounds to reserved in the beginning--a far cry from his "Evita" days. But after a few songs the voice settles into your system and you come to love him along with everyone else.

I often buy cast recordings that stay in my CD player for mere hours before I put them back in their cases and in storage. This, my friends, is not one such album! I will be surprised if I ever take it out! It's wonderful, ranking right up there with "Ragtime." You must discover "The Secret Garden."

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars heartbreaking musical October 28, 2002

By Byron Kolln HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

THE SECRET GARDEN, based on Frances Burnett's classic children's novel, opened on Broadway in musical form in 1991 to critical and audience acclaim. Most of the praise was for the amazing, eclectic score written by Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman.

The show originally starred Daisy Eagan (Mary Lennox), Mandy Patinkin (Archibald Craven), Rebecca Luker (Lily Craven), Robert Westenberg (Dr Craven), Alison Fraser (Martha) and John Cameron Mitchell (Dickon).

The score features a lush combination of haunting love songs, sweeping waltzes, Celtic-inspired chants and rock-type anthems as well as a few Broadway-style tunes.

Standout songs include the heartbreaking "How Could I Ever Know?", the jaunty "A Fine White Horse", and "A Girl in the Valley". Other great songs are "Winter's on the Wing", "The Girl I Mean to Be", "Wick", "Come To My Garden" and "Race You To the Top of the Morning".

It is one of the greatest tragedies that this musical did not run longer on Broadway, but it was later re-conceived and significantly re-written for its West End production at the Aldwych Theatre.

Highly recommended.