STAGE ON DISC by Peter Pinne - June / July
Kritzerland, the small U.S. boutique label, has recently dusted off two Broadway cast recordings from the 60s that were originally issued by United Artists on LP. Illya Darling (KR20012-4) is a 1967 musical version of Jules Dassen’s 1960 movie hit Never On Sunday, which starred his wife, the sultry Melina Mercouri. With direction and book by Dassen, Mercouri as Illya, a score by Manos Hadjidakis (who also did the movie) and lyrics by Joe Darion (Man Of La Mancha), it’s a buoyant and happy version of the story about an earthy prostitute and the American academic who tries to make her a cultured woman, set on a Greek island. The score, which includes the Oscar-winning title song from the movie, is heavy on bouzoukis’ and doesn’t make too many vocal demands on Mercouri, who sounds appropriately sexy. Critics carped at the time that the hit from the movie was the only decent song in the show, but this reissue proves otherwise. “After Love,” “Love, Love, Love,” “Illya Darling,” and the exuberant “Ya Chara,” are all worth a listen. ***
The second show is Anya (KR20012-3). On paper it must have seemed like a good idea to librettists Robert Wright and George Forrest to marry the music of Russian composer Rachmaninoff to Anastasia, the story where a girl surfaces in Berlin in 1926 claiming to be the sole surviving daughter of Czar Nicholas’ murdered family. They’d successfully plundered the musical vaults of Grieg for Song Of Norway (1944), and Borodin for Kismet (1953), so Rachmaninoff and Anastasia seemed a perfect match. But, alas it wasn’t, running a mere 16 performances. It’s more an operetta than a musical, but lacks that genre’s sparkle – rather like a glass of champagne without the bubbles. Still, top starred Constance Towers and Michael Kermoyan sing very well. Their “This Is My Kind Of Love” and “If This Is Goodbye” are highlights. Irra Petina lends solid support with “Lieben Sie Wohl” and “On That Day,” and for novelty value there’s former silent movie star Lillian Gish as the dowager Duchess talk-singing her way through “Little Hands.” Overall there’s good choral work throughout, and Don Walker’s orchestrations are continually thrilling. ***
Christine Andreas and Brent Barrett are just two of the top stars Scott Siegel has assembled for The Broadway Musicals of 1956 (OC), the latest recording in this glorious series that salutes the Great White Way, and it’s one of the best. With songs from My Fair Lady, The Most Happy Fella, Bells Are Ringing, Li’l Abner, Mr. Wonderful, Happy Hunting and Candide, could it be anything but wonderful. Highlights include Christine Andreas’ lovely “Somebody Somewhere” (The Most Happy Fella), Brent Barrett’s heart-wrenching version of “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face” (My Fair Lady) and two terrific duets from Li’l Abner; Ashley Brown and John Treacy Egan with “Past My Prime, and Marc Kudisch and Ashley Brown with “If I Had My Druthers.” ****
You’ll Never Walk Alone (ABC 4763284) is a new CD by popular tenor David Hobson and baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, released to coincide with their recent Australian tour. It’s an eclectic mix of show tunes (“You’ll Never Walk Alone”/”I’ll Walk With God”), religious (“The Lord’s Prayer”/”Ave Maria”) and pop (“Morning Has Broken”/”Go, Tell It On The Mountain”). With sterling accompaniment by Sinfonia Australis conducted by Guy Noble, Hobson and Rhodes blend well and are in top form as they sail through this material with professional ease. One of the best tracks is Rhodes’ “I’ll Walk With God,” with it’s simple piano arrangement by Sally Whitwell. ****
Rating
*Only for the enthusiast ** Borderline *** Worth buying **** Must have ***** Kill for it.
Middle Eight Music Top 10
Next To Normal - 2009 Original Broadway Cast
West Side Story - 2009 Broadway Revival Cast
Hair - 2009 Broadway Revival Cast
Allegro - 2008 Studio Cast (2CD)
Napoleon - 1994 Original Canadian Cast - limited edition CD
House Of Flowers - 1968 Off-Broadway Revival Cast - limited edition CD
The Story Of My Life - 2009 Original Broadway Cast
The Toxic Avenger Musical - 2008 Original Off-Broadway Cast
Stephanie J. Block - This Place I Know
Hayden Tee - Generation WhY? Live
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