The New Moon (2003 Encores! Revival Concert Cast) [CAST RECORDING]

Sigmund Romberg, Christiane Noll

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 2004)
• Original Release Date: November 16, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Ghostlight
• ASIN: B000640XRA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,390 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
If you want an introduction to Broadway-style operetta, this recording of the 2003 Encores! production of The New Moon is an excellent place to start; if you're already a fan, the CD is an essential purchase. Set in late-18th-century New Orleans, the action-packed plot features revolutionaries and their adversaries, star-crossed lovers and of course disputes based on false assumptions. But the show, originally a hit in 1928, is all about the loveliest tunes from Sigmund Romberg, king of Viennese-syle operetta. As the romantic leads (i.e., the Jeanette McDonald/Nelson Eddy roles), versatile soprano Christiane Noll and classically trained baritone Rodney Gilfry are perfectly paired. (Noll's "Lover, Come Back to Me" is particularly vibrant.) Also of note are spectacular contributions from the booming chorus. This album is the first complete recording of The New Moon; barring a surprise operetta revival, it could also be the last for a long, long time. Good thing it's so scrumptious. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Product Description
Songs Include: Opening, Marianne, The Girl on the Prow, Gorgeous Alexander, Interrupted Trio, Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise, Stouthearted Men, One Kiss, The Trial, Finaletto, Wanting You, Finale, Act One, Overture, Intermezzo, Funny Little Sailor Men, Lover, Come Back to Me, Reprise: Stouthearted Men, Try Her Out at Dances, Reprise: Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise/Never for You, Reprise: Lover, Come Back to Me, Finale Ultimo.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here at last!!! Rejoice!!!, December 6, 2004

By	Stephen H. Orel (NYC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been waiting for this disc ever since I saw the Encores! production -- twice! -- back in March '03, and it was worth the wait. This is the only full-length recording of this wonderful operetta available. I just got it today and I've played it twice through already. It just about captures the excitement of the live event -- imagine an audience clapping along to the overture when the tune to "Stouthearted Men" comes along. The performance was the same week as the big anti-war rally here in NYC, and there was a line in the second act that literally stopped the show: "One can be loyal to one's country without being loyal to its king." That's not on the disc, but it happened before the Stouthearted Men reprise.

Unlike many in the audience, I didn't know the music before I saw the Encores! production. I walked -- or, perhaps marched -- out singing "Stouthearted Men", trying to remember "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise" and "Lover Come Back to Me," and I couldn't quite, so I went back the next day to see it again. I've been to all but two of the Encores! to date and this is one of the best, in my opinion, right up there with Pal Joey, Chicago and Wonderful Town (the latter two transferred full time to Broadway and are still there).

The recording is bright and full. The chorus comes through loud and clear. The voices are wonderful. A total joy.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Operetta : Lush and romantic, May 30, 2005

By	Mark Andrew Lawrence "Theatre Reviewer" (Toronto) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I suppose THE NEW MOON with its lush melodies and simplistic lyrics will baffle younger listeners - the ones who are just now discovering Broadway through shows like WICKED and AVENUE Q.

But THE NEW MOON was as big a hit in 1928 as PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was 60 years later and PHANTOM has equally lush melodies and even more simplistic lyrics and it has run for 17 years, so perhaps there is still a market for old fashioned operetta.

Older listeners are probably already familiar with many of the hits songs in Romberg's score: "Marianne", "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise", "One Kiss", "Lover Come Back to me" and "Stouthearted Men" have been frequently recorded over the years. But until now the complete score of NEW MOON has never gotten a full recording.

It almost didn't this time when plans to record the 2003 Encores Concert staging fell through, but thanks to the perseverance of Joel Moss, Kurt Deutsch, Ted Chapin and Jack Viertel the cast was re-assembled and the tracks laid down in July 2004 and the resulting CD is a pure delight.

As the heroine, Marianne, Christine Noll has a glorious voice that is perfectly suited to Sigmund Romberg's romantic melodies. She is paired with a robust Rodney Gilroy as Robert and their duets are passionate indeed. The rest of the cast is filled out with some of today's top musical theater performers handling the light comedy and offering full choral support to the grand finales. Rob Fisher does his usual masterful job conducting the Encores orchestra, respecting the original tempos as they play the original orchestrations.

Previous highlights recordings have concentrated on the love songs and duets, but here you also get a taste of the 1920s musical comedy style invading the operetta with a comic scene titled "An interrupted Love Song" in which the hero attempts to woo the lady fair only to be constantly interrupted.

The booklet includes a detailed synopsis and offers a link to a website where one can download the lyrics but the cast sing with such crisp precision that it is hardly necessary.

This is a terrific CD and a chance to explore an authentic operetta from a time when this type of music and theatre defined Broadway.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An American Classic preserved for posterity, October 3, 2005

By	Craig J. Poff (Beaufort, South Carolina United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had been "hooked" on The New Moon, ever since seeing the NY City Opera do it in the early '80s; while over the top, it still is musically thrilling, and while corny, you can not help but be "hooked" when the corps of men line up along the stage for "Stouthearted Men".

I don't think there had been a full score recording available (lots of extracts) until now and the music crackles from the opening bar of the Overture.

I withheld the 5th star, not from the recording, but that in including everything, there are a few dead spots in the operetta (often cut out), but I would rather have too much of a good thing than not enough.

All singers are remarkable, the pacing is good, and the sonic qualities are to die for.

Best of all, this virtually entire score, has been preserved now for generations to come. Bravo!!