Louise

CD is very good and I have been using it only in my auto but it has started to skip randomly to different tracks after a song.

I was very pleased with the ease and the timely delivery of this item. I will order from Amazon in the future.

I saw the show in Chicago and loved it. They were selling this same CD in the lobby for $25. I'm glad I resisted and bought it on amazon instead. Great oldies with excellent sound quality.

That Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons songbook is filled with recognizable, melodic and popular harmonies is a well known fact. The art of making a play based on an artists songbook is not new and has met with varying degrees of success, proving one thing, to really play well, there must be written a strong book to go with the music.

In the case of Jersey Boys, the book is excellent. So good, that it elicits in the observer the emotions of a first rate melodrama; laughs, interesting characterizations and yes, a few tears here and there. The playwrights found enough drama in the true (ok, mostly true) story of the "Boys" to use it as their book. It is a fairly typical story of the rise to fame, complete with egos run amok, vanity on parade, jealousies and financial scandal. Another classic story of failures leavened by redemption.

Though the basic storyline is not really new, the performances are strong, so good that you end up caring for each of the main characters. And that is what good stage performances are ultimately about, making you care. Well worth seeing...and listening.

This CD is great! I saw the show in Vegas and it brought me right back to the history of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. "Oh What A Show"!

I absolutely love this CD and have played it many times. I thoroughly enjoyed the music. I also have the soundtrack from the movie, but this CD is much better. This one also includes "Thank you for the music" as a separate piece. And that is my favorite from the whole play.

That particular song was just sung during the credits in the movie and it's not even listed on the play list, so you really can't access it separately. It's just part of the last song, "I have a dream" on the movie CD. And there is a very long pause before you even get to it on the movie version. You could miss it if you didn't know it was there.
It was worth buying the Broadway sound track for that song alone.

Two years ago I had the opportunity to attend Mamma Mia on Broadway in NYC with a couple of friends. It was great! Immediately after, we went to a music store and my friend purchased the CD. Driving home from Minneapolis for 4 hours, we put in the CD and sang our heart out. The music is wonderful, the movie is great! I soon purchased my own copy and have all the songs memorized. At our memorial day program this past spring, our friend sang "Thank You for the Music" dedicated to all the fallen comrades and friends and family that had recently passed on. It was very touching. Yes, I love it!

If you've only seen the movie version of Mamma Mia, you're in for a treat, as this recording features 24 songs (much more than was featured in the film) all sung beautifully by the 1999 London cast.

I was very disappointed when I first played the CD because I realized that I had ordered the wrong CD. It is the English version rather than the movie version. i find it to be annoying. I didn't think that I could exchange it so I am stuck. Next time I will read the fine print more carefully.

Product was in good shape and arrived promptly. However, I did not care for the CD.

I didn't see this movie until several years after it had been released, but I immediately fell in love with it. And one reason was the songs. But by the time I went looking for the soundtrack, it was long out of print and therefore very expensive. But when Disney rereleased it, I bought it as soon as I could.

There are two main reasons I wanted to get it - "One More Sleep 'til Christmas" as sung by Kermit and "It Feels Like Christmas" by the Ghost of Christmas Present. Both songs are warm and rich as they share about the joys of Christmas. Frankly, either work outside of the movie. I'm surprised I haven't seen more people covering them.

And there are a couple of songs that work well in the context of the movie, too. "Scrooge" is a wonderful introduction to the character. As sung by the cast, it tells us exactly what we need to know about the main character. "Marley and Marley" is surprisingly funny considering it's one of the scarier moments of the traditional story. But it gets the point across with some humor.

And, like all soundtracks, there are several instrumental pieces. I count 6 of the 18 tracks. Scattered throughout, they really do invoke the feel of the movie even if you aren't watching it.

Two of the tracks, "Room in Your Heart" and "Chairman of the Board" were cut by the time I saw the movie. Frankly, they are my least favorite tracks here, probably because I never saw them in any context.

This will be yet another honored part of my Christmas music collection for years to come. If you like the movie, get it before it disappears again.

This is a great product and almost impossible to find anywhere else. I grew up watching this movie, and have been looking for the soundtrack for years and haven't been able to find it in any stores, so when I found it here it was great.

This has become a Christmas favorite in my home as well as it making a great gift to give. Love it

Happy with the product when it arrived, but it arrived a week after the scheduled time.

If you enjoyed the soundtrack while watching "A Muppet Christmas Carol" then you will love this and is a cute addition to anyone's holiday music collection..

Never have I cherished an original cast recording of a musical like I do this one. Grey Gardens - The Musical caused my to take action in my life and travel to New York to see Christine Ebersole and company live on Broadway. That performance was a matinee near the closing date and after they won the Tony so most of the wind had been taken from their sails but still I had nothing but admiration for them anyway. This show has one of the most beautiful and inventive musical scores ever written for the stage.Ms. Ebersole and co. are beyond brilliant. You all must have it!

I am sorry to fans of the aforementioned show, but I thoroughly fail to see why the American Theatre Wing chose Spring Awakening as Best Musical and thought it deserved the Tony for Best Score. Spring Awakening isn't a Broadway score - its '90s pop/punk with profanity-laced lyrics. Grey Gardens, with its hummable melodies, quirky lyrics, and history-making performances by Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson is an infinitely better show - I challenge any listener to successfully get "The Five-Fifteen" or "The Revolutionary Costume For Today" out of their heads. Like many good shows, however, it was above many NYC tourists' and young theatre-goers heads, but happily, the critics "got" it. It reminds me of Sunday in the Park With George in that way: both lost the Tony to musicals that were popular, yes, good even, but not better. Both shows also have two chronologically different acts and both originated off-Broadway at Playwright's Horizons. Anyway, this show is suberb, with a thought-provoking and somewhat tragic story about a mother and daughter's relationship and why we make the decisions that we do. Listen and be taken in by Grey Gardens!

After seeing the DVD (documentary) of Grey Gardens the musical more than met my expectations. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

This is a real original treat. It's incredible that they've come out with a musical based in such a (real) story. And it certainly works wonderfully! Beautiful - and sometimes very funny - songs, fascinating story and originality at its very best. "The Revolutionary Custome for Today" is hilarious. Donçt miss it.

The score is nigh perfect in evolving from a Cole Porter, Irving Berlin pastiche in Act One to a Stephen Sondheim, neo Phillip Glass tone in Act Two. The song, "Will You," so brilliantly acted by Christine Ebersoll, never fails to bring me to tears. I was thrilled to see Grey Gardens on Broadway and shocked to learn it closed in late July 2007. In a half-century of theatre going around the globe, this show remains an all-time highlight for me...up there with Gypsy, West Side Story, Follies, Candide, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd and Billy Eliot. Thank God for this wonderful CD.

First off, this show is awe inspiring and the music is just as memorable. So after seeing the show I picked up the soundtrack.

The music is just not of good quality on the disc, sounds very grainy if you will. It sounds like they blared the music in the theater and recorded it all on one mic. Im really disappointed because if you listen to it at any loud volume at all it becomes really noticeable. There are also a few audible hicupps.

Considering all the money they make on this show, you would think they could afford a decent transfer, this is not CD quality music, its casette at best, maybe 8-track...

By viewing this DVD before you actually see Ka (I saw it in Vegas) and you'll have even more appreciation for the show... and DO see the show! Holy cow!!!

I bought this CD after seeing the Las Vegas production of Ka, Cirque de Soleil's story about twins who get separated and have to undergo trials to find each other again. I found the best part of the show to be the music, so I wanted a lasting copy and found one here. I would highly recommend this album for anyone who has liked Cirque de Soleil soundtracks in the past; this one has a different quality than the others, but still retains the Cirque's signature sound.

I loved the show when I first watched it, and the soundtrack was a huge part of the experience. If you've already seen the show, you already know what you're getting on this CD. If not, expect a mix of dramatic music that sounds like it could have come from numerous cultures (just as the characters from the show). If you're ever in Vegas, the show is a must see (especially for the final battle). The only reason I knocked off one star was because the CD would not play in iTunes and that I had to use other software to listen to it.

KÀ was my first ever look at the critically acclaimed troupe of Cirque Du Soleil. There could be no better way to start listening to Cirque than to start with KÀ, Cirque's finest album to date. Out of all the CDs I have ever owned, none have never brought me as much delight to listen to as KÀ, Cirque Du Soleil's finest moment in it's musical history. René Dupéré, the composer of Cirque Du Soleil's earlier productions - including Alegría, Cirque's best selling album ever, crafts the music of KÀ, which portrays many various, powerful emotions that the listener can indulge into.

I cannot say anything on this CD than what has already been said. The music of KÀ is just extremely enjoyable to listen too. While all the music on this album is outstanding, my favorites include the wonderful voice and choir arrangements of 'O Makunde', the ethnic instrumentation and (once-again) outstanding vocals in 'Forest', to the heart-throbbing emotion from the strings of 'Love Dance'. I find that all the pieces have distinct scenes they are trying to show. Unlike in other Cirque albums, the music of KÀ does not always require a voice to make a perfect piece. The solo cello in 'Deep' is a notable masterpiece that is thoroughly enjoyable, as is the outstanding orchestral arrangment of 'Shadowplay'.

The choir that is featured on the album is also outstanding, featuring powerful and essential backing in the explosive and exhilarating song 'Pagent', the tedious environments of 'Pursuit', 'Battlefield' and 'Storm', the tragic emotion of 'Aftermath' and serene candour of 'O Makunde/If I Could Reach Your Heart", 'Forest' and 'Love Dance'.

I would also like to take the time to say that the artwork for this album is just sublime. The cover is one of the most beautiful conceptual designs I have ever seen - Cirque really has outdone themselves with this product.

I have enjoyed this music from the day I received it, to right up to the time when I amm listening to it now, and will continue to adore it for years to come. I applaud all who were involved in the recording of this unique and wonderful soundtrack. This music I believe to be one of the finest ever produced, and I really do recommend it to all!!

Back in the late 1980s, I watched the Houston Grand Opera's production of John Adams' opera "Nixon in China" on public television. I was blown away, not just by the performances, but by the music, which is absolutely gorgeous.

Unfortunately, we may never get to see that performance again. Why, I'm not sure. It is apparently not available, period.

But the recording is still one of my favorites. I have it on audiocassette from all those years ago. It's on my iPod too.

Adams' "Nixon In China" does what real art is supposed to do: it focuses attention on matters and details we'd overlooked and refines our maps of reality. The portrayal of the Nixons comes across as poignant and surprisingly plausible. The libretto takes skillful advantage of the impressions we'd previously formed of the pair through the press. And the music is of course alternately adrenal and hypnotic.

Gray Temple (the Rev. Canon)

I love the opera, although the beginning is more lyrical than the end.

When Nixon arrived in Beijing, he did not even know if he would meet Mao. Then, when the Spirit of 76 sets down and Chou meets him, Nixon's excitement over his presence on the stage of world history takes over. He explodes into song: "It's primetime in the USA. It's yesterday night. It's yesterday night." At his hotel, worry returns. Nixon's paranoid self takes over; no one appreciates what he does. But then, Mao calls. Right on his arrival he is to meet Mao.

Mao and Nixon hit it off. Nixon wants to talk politics; Mao prefers philosophy. Each anticipates the moves of the other. They praise each other's books. Mao gets blunt. China is sick of poverty. He "wants to hear the sound of industry blown on the wind." Dams, textile factories, construction cranes. Sometimes, Mao says, the left-wingers are fascist. The gang of four, you mean? says Nixon. No. Mao is speaking generally; he just likes right-wingers. Mao's song, oddly predicting world history after the opera is written, is entitled "Founders Come First, Then Profiteers."

Then Nixon and Chou meet at the Great Hall of the People for the banquet. Chou begins his toast, one of the more lyrical moments of the opera. "From Vision to Inheritance" -- the legacy of the Maoists! We have united the land and brought peace to our land, and we are at peace with the world. Now, we wish to join hands with the Americans and build a rich powerful China. Then the drinking begins! An ecstasis! This drinking song is better than the ones in Wozzeck or Carmina Burana.

And that is just Act 1.

Act 2 brings us modern housewife Pat Nixon and flamboyent Chiang Ching. Mrs. Nixon is taken by the Chinese peasantry. She gets to see the pigs. She reminisces about her farm life. She sees rural China as a beautiful place for a picnic. She understands that this is the beginning of peace, that the trip is a massive success. Chiang Ching stages her competing Red Ballet. The martial music from the overture returns. Is the play history or reality?

Finally, Act 3 brings us 'the morning after.' History is finished with our men and women leaders of America and China. They are passing from the world stage. They have lived for that moment. Romantic moments there have been -- cooking burgers for pilots in the South Pacific, life in the Yenan caves, making it in a Washington apartment on a military paycheck, the Long March, being strafed by a zero in the midst of a rain storm, making revolution.

With Nixon in China, you get great music, great biography and great history. Our entire present era of world prosperity is a result of the events surrounding Nixon's visit to China, opening up the Generation of Peace about which he spoke. Mao's vision of a modern China, where Confucious is dead and where the sounds of industry are borne on the winds. has come true.

An mythmaking moment turned in to Great Opera, with a killer academic, well-researched libretto. A world-uniting opera with Chiang Ching's 'opera within an opera.' (And give that third act some time to grow on you.)
Great art work on the jewel box.

Even though I am quite familiar with a lot of "classical" orchestral works and some chamber music, I am just beginning to explore the world of opera. So far, the only other operas I have to compare are Monteverdi's "Orfeo" and Mozart's "Magic Flute".

The composer, John C. Adams, uses the "minimalist" approach to which I am also somewhat unfamiliar. The only minimalist works I've heard proir to "Nixon in China" are Gorecki's beautiful and sad, "Symphony of Sorrow" and "The Photographer" by Philip Glass.

This opera seems to sound a lot like what little of the music of Philip Glass I have heard. It also sounds a bit like Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" at times. There are really no "songs" that one can sieze, as the entire 2 1/2 hours has the same unending feel to it.

I would say that the music style makes "Nixon in China" a piece of moods and feelings rather than "beautiful melodies". These moods and feelings are dependent on the well-crafted liberetto (collection of lyrics) and expressive singing. At times, the opera becomes very intense and urgent. In this sense, "Nixon in China" is more akin to "Orfeo" than "The Magic Flute".

Through it all, "Nixon in China" is a very intriguing opera. It is a truly modern work, unlike anything by Beethoven through Stravinsky or Schoenberg. The setting and subject matter are also something new: not mythological or based on some great novel or play; but rather a diplomatic mission between two of the most important nations on the geo-political stage in our modern age: China and the USA.

The inner psychological and philosopical questions of power are also explored through the complex characterizations of Nixon, Mao, Kissenger and Cho En-lai. As a student of music, psychology and history; I found the very idea of "Nixon in China" quite interesting.

John Adams never was any better than on this fantastic opera. It is absolutely spectacular. I even went to see it played in Paris I think 15 years ago. He manages to integrate his minimalist approach into this masterpiece of modern music.

Of course there should have been much more. I remember there been a Metropolian Opera series called CAST ALBUMS- 100 YEARS that was put out for a limited time only and had like five volumes.
As Peter Filichia noted they left out SHE LOVES ME, BRIGADOON and SWEENEY TODD. Also nothing from PACIFIC OVERTURES, BIG RIVER, CHESS, CRAZY FOR YOU, JEKYLL & HYDE, TITANIC, THE SCARLET
PIMPERNEL, FOOTLOOSE- THE MUSICAL, THE FULL MONTY, URINTOWN...
But they couldn't have put it all. I would have done without Lee Remick's
"Anyone Can Whistle", because the show was a flop. I guess because it was Sondheim's first "serious" show...

The first three discs were only OK. I had forgotten how much better the later Broadway musical recordings were. The last two discs were very good, maybe because I could relate better to the shows or perhaps the productions were better.

Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.

This is THE definitive collection of Broadway hits. I have other collections, and none of them measure up. A great deal of care was obviously taken in compiling and presenting this box set. It covers a lot of ground, starting with some long-forgotten but still very enjoyable hits from the days of yore, and finishing with present-day favorites. To the best of my knowledge, the recordings are by those who made them famous. You won't be disappointed.

THESE BROADWAY MUSICALS CD'S ARE A BROADWAY LOVERS DREAM. WITH EACH SONG, MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK. BOTH THE FAMILIAR AND THE FORGOTTEN SONGS ARE A TRUE LISTENING PLEASURE. IF YOU LIKE BROADWAY, YOU'LL LOVE THIS SET.

When this CD was first released my partner and I listened to it every night and sometimes twice. We thought what a perfect vehicle for Patti and you could tell it was written for her vocal range. All the characters were fabulous and George Hearn as Max was cast in stone.~~~~~New Year's Eve and Glenn Close stopped into Andrew Loyd Weber's party where all were celebrating the success of Sunset Blvd. Close got up on the piano, cleavage showing, and sang one of Patti's songs. ~~~~~~~ Patti was replaced, handsomely, but with a slap from a girl who should have never left her side of the tracks. ~~~~~~~ So here we are with Patti soaring as she did from the start. She made this show. It was stolen. All that remains is her voice as Norma Desmond. ~~~~~ Webber, go pet your cats!Sweeney Todd in Concert

this is an exellent product!! has exellent qualaty and very good singers. its has diologue so it's like having the "thearter play" right in your own cd player!!

Sadly, I haven't seen the show on stage. I found it quite enjoyable on CD. Enough of the dialogue is included to follow the story. Plus both versions include printed lyrics and dialogue.

This is a terrific dramatic musical. I give 4 stars to Lloyd Webber, et al, for songs and lyrics. I would have gone 5 stars, but there are a few songs where they get a good angsty mood going, then suddenly turn to a softer, sweeter mood. I felt they could hold the angst longer. Example: Joe singing to Betty in the final scene (after the phone call).

I purchased both London and Los Angeles CDs. I listened to each carefully and tried not to imprint on one version. Result: I favor the Los Angeles cast, because they do a better job of conveying the emotion. I also recommend L.A. if you like a darker, angsty tale. London is good if you prefer a younger, more innocent Joe & Betty.

** London (4 stars)
1. Patti LuPone (Norma) has a better voice than Glenn Close.
2. Kevin Anderson (Joe) has a sweeter, younger, higher voice.
3. Meredith Braun (Betty) has a sweeter, higher voice.

** Los Angeles (5 stars)
1. Glenn Close (Norma) does a fabulous job of conveying emotion through her voice. Because she plays a "fading" 50-something, her less perfect voice didn't detract.
2. Alan Campbell (Joe) has a deeper, darker, smoother, more adult voice. He sings most of the songs and he's better at carrying the show.

Technical note: A Windows Media Player v 11.0 bug affects the London version: you can't easily rip all the songs into Media Player, because several have the same title. There may be a work-around, but I didn't find it.

Los Angeles Version Link:
Sunset Boulevard (1994 Los Angeles Cast)

Of the two cast recordings of Sunset Boulevard available, this original version got it right the first time. There is a perfect flow and rhythm. In particular, "The Lady's Paying" is much tighter here than in the Glenn Close recording, which screws with the momentum by adding a couple of humor changes that are unnecessary and do not add to the enjoyment of the song. Patti LuPone is spectacular, sad and maddening. The first act CD is cut just perfect. A perfect blend of song, lyric, and book.

Great cd. just a shame it took so long to get to me....however when i wrote in, amazon customer services did rectify this and get the product to me in a matter of days.... thanks Amazon.

I think this was a great soundtrack, I mean most music composed by Mark Isham is. It had some very cool old songs on it too. I myself am mostly into instrumental but all in all it was a great cd.

I basically love the movie, because it's poetic along with Montana wilderness and I am a fly-fisherman. I have just bought this CD as my background music while I am tying flies. And it works very very well. Each track reminds me of each moment of the movie, especially, tracks from Track 25 "Yes, Quite a Day" to Track 31 "Hauted by Waters" just make me poignant. An exclusive interview with the composer is also very unique and worth to hear about the background of the movie. "The Moment That Could Not Last" last only 1:24, how about in our real life? Is it gonna be like Paul's? I am hautend by this soundtrack.

Personally, this is one of the absolute BEST soundtracks I have ever listened to. The music is calming, soothing, and truly wonderful. The music is so well put together and nicely coordinated and I feel like I am watching the movie again...it also makes great to read the Laura Ingalls Wilder books too. Try it...you might be suprised how well it fits. :)

Like another reviewer of this soundtrack, I own over a thousand CDs. This is one of the most outstanding musical compositions I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. In fact, in my opinion, Mark Isham's composition is a movie score for the ages! I enjoy listening to this CD as much today as I did when it was released in 1992.
This is a moving and beautiful soundtrack with eclectic styles of music included in the score. Although it is not necessary to have seen the movie to enjoy the music, I strongly recommend doing so. I further suggest that you read Norman Maclean's beautiful book that made the movie and this score possible and that you visit Montana to see for yourself one of the most beautiful parts of our country and the inspiration for all three. ENJOY! --- Mountain Man Dan.

Mark Isham's score for the motion picture A River Runs Through It is one of the most memorable and emotionally captivating film scores of all time. The arrangements of strings, piano, woodwinds create a meditative and reflective range of music throughout the film capturing all the emotions of this powerful drama about an American family in rural Montana. It is at once deeply haunting, moving, nostalgic and sentimental and captures the innocence and beauty of nature and childhood, as well as darker themes of rebellion and tragedy. There is a profound sense of emotion that is embedded within the music that sweeps over me every time I hear it. A combination of happiness, sadness, excitement, and reflection. There is something simply sweeping and majestic within his music. I couldn't think of anything else that would better compliment the film. Highly recommended.