Kismet (1991 Studio Cast) [CAST RECORDING]

Robert Wright (Composer), George Forrest (Composer), Paul Gemignani (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Ambrosian Singers (Performer), Beverly Myers (Performer), Daniel Egan (Performer), Dom DeLuise (Performer), Gale Limansky (Performer), James Bassi (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Ambrosian Singers, Beverly Myers, Daniel Egan, Dom DeLuise, Gale Limansky, et al.
• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Paul Gemignani
• Composer: Robert Wright, George Forrest
• Audio CD (November 15, 1991)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000279M
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #65,458 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Listening to this high-powered 1991 studio recording may forever spoil your enjoyment of the mostly tepid voices in the 1955 movie version of Kismet. Producer Thomas Shepard and music director Paul Gemignani enlisted some of opera's best voices to record this quite operatic musical, called "a musical Arabian night" and based on the themes of 19th-century Russian composer Alexander Borodin. Samuel Ramey is a bit turgid as the Poet. Luckily, Julia Migenes as Lalume is sensational and Jerry Hadley as the Caliph and Ruth Ann Swenson as Marsinah are simply glorious. Less successful are a hysterical Mandy Patinkin (in only one number) and a braying Dom Deluise (in a vocally undemanding role as the Wazir). Thankfully, the singers are at their best in the most challenging numbers, which include some all-time favorites: "Stranger in Paradise," "Not Since Nineveh," "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads," "And This Is My Beloved," and "Night of My Nights." This CD clocks in at a generous 68 minutes, but you'll probably find yourself listening to the "hits" over and over. The same cast also recorded Man of La Mancha with Placido Domingo. Full lyrics are included. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars MOMENTS SO BEAUTIFUL THAT WILL BRING TEARS TO YOUR EYES, BUT . . . . . , July 29, 2006

By	J. T Waldmann "yaakov98" (Carmel, IN, located just north of Indianapolis in Hamilton County.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This KISMET has its moments. Some of them will take your breath away, and others will make you cringe. Overall, it's a recording that you might want to include in your library, primarily because of the marvelous singing by Jerry Hadley.

"Stranger in Paradise," sung by Hadley & Ruth Ann Swenson, is so ravishingly beautiful that it will bring tears to your eyes. That moment alone is worth the price of this album. Additionally, Hadley's "Night of My Nights" will absolutely give you goose bumps. In fact, I doubt if there has ever been a better sung "Caliph" anywhere. Listen to the way he pops off high A-flats & B-flats. Wow!

Ruth Ann Swenson is a lovely "Marsinah," although she doesn't seem as comfortable in the role as either Doretta Morrow on the 1953 Original Cast recording or Lee Venora in the 1965 Lincoln Center Revival. Julia Migenes (Have you seen her CARMEN?) is in great voice as "Lalume," playing her more subtly than either Joan Diener or Anne Jeffreys. I prefer broad. Dom DeLuise is a wretched "Wazir" and sticks out like a sore thumb among the trained voices. But most wretched of all is Mandy Patinkin singing "Zubbediya," usually sung by the "Widow Yussef." What was producer Thomas Z. Shepard smoking?

Of course, the overall success of any KISMET depends on the actor/singer who play "Hajj, the Poet," and let's face it, Alfred Drake owns the part. Samuel Ramey has the voice and the looks but, unfortunately, limited acting ability. He sings all the right notes, but appears more concerned with producing a gorgeous tone than with interpreting the song. His best moment is "The Olive Tree."

Paul Gemignani leads the London Symphony Orchestra and the combined forces of the Ambrosian Singers and the Concert Chorale of New York, and how welcome they are in lieu of today's synthesized pit bands and scaled-back corps of singer/dancers. However, at times the shear mass of musicians tends to bog down the show.

In spite of its flaws, this is still a valuable recording and deserves a place in your library along with the 1953 Broadway Cast and the Lincoln Center recording - if Sony/BMG ever gets around to remastering it.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PERFECT!, July 9, 2001

By	Sean "jjpeachum" (LOOK) - See all my reviews

This album was my introduction to KISMET, and what a treat it was! I loved every minute of this album! Cast with amazing singers the score is interpreted with breath-taking beauty and brilliance.

Where to begin? Well, Samuel Ramey as the Poet (and later Hajj), sings wonderfully and expressively. His amazing, rich bass-baritone voice is perfect for the role, and equally perfect is his rendition of "Fate" and "Gesticulate." This man acts with his voice! As does tenor Jerry Hadely as the Caliph. He sings "Night of My Nights" beautifully, and does a magnificent, breath-taking "Stranger in Paradise" with Ruth Ann Swenson. All it can leave you to do is sigh with contentment. (Hadely and Ramey also make good matches on Erato's release of THE RAKE'S PROGRESS, with another "thinking man's singer," soprano Dawn Upshaw.) Swenson sings everything assigned to her simply and sweetly ("My Magic Lamp" and "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads" to note), and she is absoultely lovely in the role of the Poet's daughter Marsinah. She and Ramey also give the album a strong beginning with their take on "Rhymes Have I."

Dom DeLuise was a *perfect* choice for the Wazir! This was a brilliant stroke of casting! His "Was I Wazir? I Was!" will leave you chuckling. He got a lot of belly-laughs from me. Julia Migenes is a sexy, vocally-strong, absolutely brilliant Lalume! This stroke of casting was equally perfect. Her reading of "Not Since Nineveh" is my favorite track on the album. And she and Ramey are also a delight on "Rahadlakum." She steals the show, just like she did with Sony's unworthy release of MAN OF LA MANCHA.

Rodne Brown (one of my dad's old friends from his summer stock days) is very touching on "The Sands of Time," singing purely and brilliantly. Ramey, Swenson, Hadely, and DeLuise tackle "And This Is My Beloved" with a vengence, and make it a memorable and perfect rendition of this beautiful piece. And Mandy Patinkin, while still annoying, is only very briefly on the album (THANK GOD!) and sings his one song ("Zubbediya") in some non-sense language (I honestly doubt it's a real language). But his irritating "characterizations" fit the on-crack role of the marriage arranger, so he is, at least, bearable--if still not great.

And since this album has been cast with opera singers that don't really act (with the exception of Migenes and Patinkin--and he only thinks he acts), the lack of dialogue is really a service to the album as a whole! A major plus!

The Ambrosian Singers and Concert Chorale of New York sing fully and powerfully, particularly on "He's in Love" and "Bazaar of the Caravans." The London Symphony Orchestra plays meticulously, especially as lead by the masterful maestro Paul Gemignani, a brilliant force in the music world, that we are lucky to have.

I RECCOMEND THIS ALBUM TO ALL!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OH MY!, March 7, 2005

By	Good Stuff "noreasonableofferrefused" - See all my reviews

This is magic. Don't miss Jerry Hadley here. This remarkable artist is simply phenomenal, as is just about everyone else. Yes, Mr. Patinkin is actually a bit of a Potemkin here! But isn't he always? I think his popularity is a New York thing. But he comes and goes quickly, allowing us to revel in the voluptuousness of the rest of the cast and the dazzling music they have to sing.

OH MY!!