City Center Encores! Cast –
2015 / Music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Starring: Keith Carradine, Alexandra Socha, Justin
Guarini, Nathaniel Hackmann, Jenni Barber, Robyn Hurder, William Yourmans,
Melissa Van Der Schyff, Caleb Damschroder
Rate: 9 (from 1 to 10) / Photo by Sara Krulwich and unknown
Review: When I was 13 years old (back in 1977) my
parents took me to the cinema to see PAINT YOUR WAGON (the title in Portuguese
was “Elizabeth’s Husbands”), a musical western. By that time, although I had
already seen the movie MY FAIR LADY, I wasn’t that familiar with the work of
Lerner & Loewe. The movie wasn’t great, but I fell in love with four of its
songs: “I’m On My Way”, “I Talk to the Trees”, “They Call the Wind Maria” and “A
Million Miles Away Behind the Door”. Years later, I discovered that this last
song, plus a few more, had been specially written for the movie adaptation by
André Previn and Lerner.
Although Lee Marvin and Clint
Eastwood didn’t sing very well, I always enjoyed the movie soundtrack and I was
very disappointed when I finally got the original Broadway cast recording. In
it, the score sounded a little bit boring and the cast didn’t convince me. So,
it was with caution that I approached this new recording of the score and got a
lovely surprise.
I believe this is the most
complete recording of the 1951 score and the best ever. The songs sound fresh,
the cast couldn’t be better and there’s a true western and gold fever flair in
it. The orchestrations are terrific and The Encores! Orchestra plays the music
with pleasure. Leading the cast, Keith Carradine sounds like he has just come
out of THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES; his country voice is perfect for the material
and his “Wand’rin’ Star” couldn’t be better. Justin Guarini beautifully
delivers “I Talk to the Trees”, plus the other ballads “Another Autumn” and “Carino
Mio”. Alexandra Socha is a revelation as Jennifer and gives true life to songs
like “What’s Goin’ On Here?”, “How Can I Wait” and “All for Him”. One last word
to Nathaniel Hackmann, who gives us a strong rendition of one of the best songs
of the score, “They Call the Wind Maria”. Everyone in the cast gives their best
and sound like the real thing.
Curiously, this score
sometimes reminds me of CAMELOT and has a bonus track we have the cut song
“What Do Other Folks Do?”, that I think was more than the inspiration for “What
Do the Simple Folk Do?”. I also think that “Another Autumn” is a close cousin
of “If Ever I Would Leave You”
In conclusion, this Encores!
recording deserves to be part of every musical lover music library and I just
wish someone would always record the Encores! productions. So, accept the
invitation of “I’m On My Way” and come along to a joyful ride to the old west
and rediscover this melodious score by Lerner & Loewe!
I can't wait to get my hands on this CD. The score has long been overdue for a fresh recording. The movie was atrocious and sound on the Original Broadway Cast recording is rather primitive.
ReplyDeleteI saw this production and knew the obc pretty well.
ReplyDeleteI have got to admit this cast sang the score beautifully and though I missed the huge male chorus of the movie having this cast is a must for people who love this ravishing bumptious score.