Grand Hotel: The Musical - Broadway Cast Recording [CAST RECORDING]

Robert Wright (Performer), Robert D. Renino (Performer), Allesandro Benetello (Performer), Anne Callahan (Performer), George / Wright, Robert Forrest (Composer), Randy Booth (Conductor), Perry J. Cavari (Performer), Sharon Moe (Performer), Beth Ravin (Performer), Alex Rybeck (Performer), Sande Campbell (Performer), Walter Harper (Performer), Alan Raph (Performer), Burt Collins (Performer), Greg Ruvolo (Performer), John Bova (Performer), Maxine Roach (Performer), Richard Spencer (Performer), Earle Grubb (Performer), Ethel Abelson (Performer), George Forrest (Artist), Maury Yeston (Artist)

Product Details

• Performer: Robert Wright, Robert D. Renino, Allesandro Benetello, Anne Callahan, Perry J. Cavari, et al.
• Conductor: Randy Booth
• Composer: George / Wright, Robert Forrest
• Audio CD (June 23, 1992)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: RCA Victor Broadway
• ASIN: B000003FBP
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,679 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
OK, so it's not exactly The Threepenny Opera. Still, Grand Hotel has plenty of the atmosphere of prewar Berlin in this Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune. Based on the 1932 star-studded, Oscar-winning film, the show takes place in Europe's most luxurious hotel and follows the intertwining lives and shattered dreams of both regular and once-in-a-lifetime guests. Leading the ensemble cast are Parisian follies star Liliane Montevecchi as the aging ballerina, and strong tenor Brent Barrett as the dashing but debt-saddled baron. Also appearing are Ally McBeal's Jane Krakowski as the would-be movie star, cabaret artist Karen Akers as Montevecchi's confidante, and Michael Jeter as the dying bookkeeper. The score was written by Robert Wright and George Forrest (who brought Borodin to Broadway with Kismet), with additional material by Maury Yeston (Titanic), and the highlights include the soaring romantic ballad "Love Can't Happen," the jazzy scat of "Maybe My Baby Loves Me," and the sassy Charleston number "H-A-P-P-Y." Plenty of dialogue helps capture the flow of the show, and the CD also includes a live cabaret performance of "Love Can't Happen" by the late David Carroll, who originated the baron role on Broadway. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars stunning, fabulous musical, January 30, 2004

By	Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

GRAND HOTEL is still one of the most ambitious Broadway musicals ever written. The lovely score by Maury Yeston (NINE, TITANIC) as well as Robert Wright and George Forrest is simply sublime. One of the best 'ensemble' musicals ever written.

The story concerns the various guests and employees at a well-to-do hotel in Berlin: the ageing ballerine Elizaveta (Liliane Montevecchi - NINE) and her lesbian companion Raffaela (Karen Akers - NINE); the dashing Baron Felix (Brent Barrett); the ambitious hotel typist Miss Flaemmchen (Jane Krakowski); Mr Kringelein (Michael Jeter), the dying clerk looking for one last fling; and the Doctor (John Wylie) who guides us through these various stories and relationships.

Standout numbers include the manic "Fire and Ice", the Baron's beautiful ballad "Love Can't Happen", Flaemmchen's jaunty-yet bittersweet "I Want to Go to Hollywood", "Who Couldn't Dance with You" and "Bonjour Amour".

David Carroll originated the role of Baron Felix in the Broadway production, though he was very ill, suffering from the ravages of AIDS. Carroll left the production before the cast album was recorded and died shortly after. Brent Barrett from the national tour was brought in to record the role for the cast album. Added as a bonus here is David Carroll's rendition of "Love Can't Happen", recorded live at Steve McGraw's with Wally Harper at the piano.

Highly-recommended. [RCA 09026-61327-2]

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Loved it live, January 9, 2000

By	Ann-Marie (USA) - See all my reviews

This show is very good live, but of course its kind of hard to see it live right now becuase it isnt playing anywhere, but oh well. The music is mostly wonderful. I get bored with bits of it, but i'm rarely happy with everthing. I love "roses at the station" and "The Grand Parade" most of all. You can listen to Grand Parade on this site but they didnt put on Roses, which annoys me, so you will just have to trust me that its good. For the Allie McBeal fans, "Elane" is on this CD as the second lead female (and she is wonderful). If you can imagine Les Miserables and Little Shop of Horrors combining to make a musical, you would have Grand Hotel. It's very dark and depressing, but its also funny in bits and it has a really small cast.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly haunting and glorious romp, June 6, 2000

By	Jim Jarrell (New York City) - See all my reviews

As a student of musical theatre, at least *I* have the ability to appreciate the message of such "inane" songs as "Some Have, Some Have Not." This score is, perhaps, a little uneven, if only because three different people had a hand in its creation over a 30 year period of time. Nonetheless, the most lasting impressions are the creations of Maury Yeston, who is regarded as having saved the show. "The Grand Parade" is an insightful introduction and leaves a lasting impression, as do the glorious tunes "How Can I tell Her?" and "Roses At the Station." I agree with other reviews that question the relevance of "Bonjour Amour" but it's a delightful little tune anyway. Make no bones about it, this is a dark score, with piercing and pounding rhythms, particularly in the songs featuring the scullery workers. I've seen this production mounted only a few times (and I was not fortunate enough to see it on Broadway), but I easily put it in my TOP 5 favorite musicals of all time (along with a few Sondheim shows, and a show from William Finn). In a word, Grand Hotel is...brilliant.