Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice - Evita: The Complete Motion Picture Music Soundtrack

Evita was finally filmed in 1996, 20 years after its initial incarnation as a studio-bound rock opera. In between, of course, it was one of the most successful and long-running musicals on either side of the Atlantic. Given such a long history, the film might easily have been a stale anticlimax, fatally holed by our overfamiliarity with songs such as the ubiquitous "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina." On the contrary, it was an impressive and immensely satisfying production. The numbers, augmented by a new song for Eva ("You Must Love Me"), sound fresh and the singing is excellent. Coming from Jonathan Pryce (Peron) and Jimmy Nail (Magaldi), this is hardly a surprise. The real revelation is Antonio Banderas as Che, a kind of one-man Greek chorus commenting on Eva's rise and the price she must pay. His warm tenor dispels memories of previous, rougher interpretations from such singers as David Essex and Colm Wilkinson. Ultimately, though, the star is Madonna. She is totally immersed in the role of Eva from start to finish, her singing ranging from girlish delicacy to a hard-edged stridence as the dictator's wife achieves her goals. Rarely has a film so successfully given a stage show such a new lease on life. --Piers Ford Amazon.com

What a great book!!!!

This was a wonderful book about friendship with dogs. I highly recommend it for any views. October 8, 2008

Who said Madge can't sing!?

The Evita Soundtrack is a wonderful and huge collection of broadway songs from the motion picture. Madonna has a great and emotional voice but I always thought Madge was a fabulous singer. Antonio Banderas has great chops as well, who knew? You will love this soundtrack, it's lively, moving, and pure broadway. Enjoy! September 26, 2008

Best of the film soundtracks...

First of all let me qualify myself by telling that I am an Andrew Lloyd Weber fan, so reviewing this CD is a pleasure for me. Not as 5-star Weber as "Jesus Christ Superstar" but a step up from 3-star "Cats"... Counting the opening "Requiem" and the ending "Lament", the CD has 19-tracks, with more than half of them winners, even if you're not a musical or soundtrack person. Track two, "Oh What a Circus" introduces the listener to the vocals of Antonio Banderas--not a bad listen but no competition for the redition sung by Mandy Patinkin when he played the part of Che on Broadway--as you get used to his raspy voice his performance gets stronger, peaking, I think, with "High Flying, Adored" which he shares in part with Madonna. Madonna, on the other hand, is superb. Eva Duarte Peron was a part designed for her sense of theatre. She is equally as good as Tony winner Patti Lupone's version on Broadway because, frankly, Madonna's range is greater. Of note is "Buenos Aires", "Another suitcase in Another Hall", "Goodnight and Thank You" a duet with Banderas, "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina", "Rainbow High" and, of course, the crowning "You Must Love Me." And too, Jimmy Nail, who played one of Eva's early lovers is a crooner with no equal singing "On This Night of a Thousand Stars", which everytime I hear I'm singing under my breath all the next day. Peron, played by Jonathan Pryce, is the big surprise--his singing part is much smaller than either Madonna's or Banderas' but when he is given the stage he is exceptionally good using his talking/singing style, particularly his solo "She is a Diamond", and when he duets with Madonna on "I'd Be Surpisingly Good for You"... All-in-all this is an excellent audio production, true to the movie. Easily Four-Stars! (If you want a version truer to the Broadway or London stage productions, I suggest "Evita" the 2006 London Cast Recording; also available here at Amazon.) September 4, 2008

A quirky change of pace for Madonna that works

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3L3P4GQENAHRM My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician and music collector. Feel free to check out my website. This is my review of the EVITA soundtrack. June 3, 2008

Not your typical musical, but very cool

Madonna and Antonio Banderas really make this work shine. Both are sympathetic characters; we get a good view of Eva from different perspectives. Recommend listening first; it isn't what people tend to expect in a musical. February 12, 2008

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