my_daroga: Mucha's "Dance" (kitty-kate)
my_daroga ([personal profile] my_daroga) wrote2007-06-04 08:28 am
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Evita, take 3

I'm currently listening to Evita, the 2006 London Cast Recording. A being I'd never heard of, actually, until it showed up for cataloging. It's probably my familiarity with the original recording, but I'm only three tracks in and already feel a need to complain.

Now, I am ready and willing to admit that Mandy Patinkin got a bit excessive, vocally. But in 1979, he was pretty much untrained and I love his performance as Che. He's just the right amount of angry and energetic. This guy, Matt Rawle (who according to his website has been in all three Boublil & Schonberg shows) enunciates way too much. Though listening to the rest of it, that seems epidemic. Come to think of it, modern (as in, the past fifteen years or so) musical theater has over-enunciated everything to death. In my opinion. I love words, I love lyrics, but I never had trouble understanding them before; I hate hearing everything bitten off. I've noticed this live, too, which maybe makes more sense but on a record it shouldn't be necessary to spit every syllable out.

I haven't gotten to the big torch numbers, but I do like that this Eva (Elena Roger) is an Argentinian import; even though it gives her an accent no one else in the production has.

Also, according to the liner notes, "Andrew Lloyd Webber has given the orchestrations a more authentic Argentinean flavour." Which might very well be, but the first difference I've noticed is some really wanky, 80's style electric guitars. Couple that with their presence in the movie version of Phantom, I think ALW is stuck in the past as regards guitar advances.

Has anyone else listened to this? Any thoughts?
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[identity profile] phantoms-siren.livejournal.com 2007-06-04 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I haven't heard the new version, only own the original and the movie recordings, I just wanted to comment to say - Mandy Patinkin was in Evita?!? Seriously??? *attempts to fit this information into brain* *fail*

Even though I got the movie recording first, I always thought David Essex in the original was better... then again he was dreamy in those days (those days being 5 years before I was born :p)
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[identity profile] phantoms-siren.livejournal.com 2007-06-05 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
hehe Well I generally only count the Broadway recordings as original if they are in fact chronologically first :p

[identity profile] glamtron.livejournal.com 2007-06-04 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
jeez! i didnt even know of the existence of this!

must check that out.

Yep........

[identity profile] dracschick.livejournal.com 2007-06-04 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I have a review somewhere back on my LJ. Basically, didn't like Matt Rawle (bad voice IMO), Elena Roger isn't very passionate (or passion doesn't show up on cd), love Quast (well, I am a fan:)

PS--Best Evita album is original cast with Colm Wilkinson as Che. Good stuff:)

guess we'll have to agree to disagree then.......

[identity profile] dracschick.livejournal.com 2007-06-04 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I thought Patinkin was annoying on the CD:(
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Re: Yep........

[identity profile] phantoms-siren.livejournal.com 2007-06-05 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
Colm Wilkinson, at least doesn't over enunciate, rather slurs and destroys the words :p personally his voice makes my skin crawl :p