Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein - South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast)

Based on James Michener's Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pulitzer prize-winning South Pacific is one of the most beloved musicals ever to hit the stage. The appeal is simple: a collection of stunning compositions--immense symphonic sound orchestrated by Rodgers collaborator Robert Russell Bennett--and characters with a simple though cohesive through-line. On this original Broadway cast recording, the lovely, girlish Mary Martin (Peter Pan, Annie Get Your Gun) is the heartily feminine American nurse Nellie Bly to the dashing former Metropolitan Opera bass Ezio Pinza as French plantation owner Emile de Becque. This release takes from the original high-quality tapes cut in 1949 (rather than the acetates, which were recorded simultaneously for the vinyl release of the day). There are alternate takes of a few songs and the restored original version of the hard-hitting racial commentary number "Carefully Taught." Pinza's "Some Enchanted Evening" is tender and lovely without being cloying. Martin's confidence and warm vocal expressiveness on numbers such as "Twin Soliloquies" and the bonus track, "Loneliness of the Evening," are stellar, and the choral numbers are both solid and spunky. --Paige La Grone Amazon.com essential recording

South Pacific

great standard of the musical theater. Music and songs hold up well over time so new generations can enjoy this lovely story and memorable songs. a great addition to any music lover of the musical-comedy theater genre. October 3, 2008

South Pacific - original '49 B'way cast CD

Relax and spend "Some Enchanted Evening" with Mary Martin, Ezio Pinza, and the original 1949 cast of the Rogers and Hammerstein classic "South Pacific." The catchy, familiar tunes will have you singing along in your car. With informative liner notes and a couple of songs that didn't make later recordings, this CD makes an enjoyable addition to the collection of any fan of the great Broadway musicals. September 7, 2008

As good as it gets!!!

Fifty years ago, my love for the Broadway musical began here. A pre-adolescent, I would listen to my older brother's recording of the original Broadway cast album and be transported to a differennt land and time with great music that still resonates. Broadway and I have both changed considerably over the years, and, while the music has always since been a part of the popular culture, I never again paid much listening attention to the album. I made sure my children knew it. The movie version helped to have then love it, too. I just recently purchased the original cast album cd, now digitally remastered. And I am fifty years younger.

The music is, of course, beautiful. The lyrics are from an age when such meant something to the song and play. Today, they stil are meaningful and help, not only to sell the song, but move the play along. If one listened only to the cd, without any other prepaation, one would know what play was about.

The cast is outstanding. Both Martin and Pinza, neither of whom rank among my favorite recording artists, could not have been better chosen. As stand-alone performers, both have their obviuos faults regarding voice, the one never really that good and the other, past his prime. Of course, that is not to say they aren't at the pinnacle of their profession. What is important is that both help to put their character across and make then accessible to the listening audience. One special note concerning the Mary Martin character. Her "conversion" from bigotry is never in doubt from the moment it sufaces. What is important though is that someone like Martin, so much like all of us, can be bigoted in the first place. We can't distance ourselves from it, as perhaps we can from the Reba McEntyre version, whose racism may be expected, since she plays up her ientity as a white southener from the 1940;s. And please understand that I am speaking of perception here, not stating an historical reality..

Clearly this orginal cast album/ cd is a masterpiece. No matter your musical taste, it belongs in every home. August 20, 2008

Original version of South Pacific

A wonderful recording that still sounds great today. There was no one quite like Mary Martin. For me she was the classic performer just as was Ethel Merman. These ladies were in a very special class of performer. June 29, 2008

There's A Reason South Pacific is a Big Hit Again on Broadway!

To tell the truth, this was among the first records I ever fell in love with as a kid. The album my parents had in the early 60's was already worn, with a tattered jacket, when I happened upon it. I loved folk music and British pop at the time, but this thing won my heart, along with three other great musicals, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN with Ethel Merman, the Broadway cast recording of MY FAIR LADY with Julie Andrews, and the original cast production of GUYS & DOLLS. All of those records have held up well for me over the years, but there was a long period during which I all but forgot the Mary Martin/Ezio Pinza version of SOUTH PACIFIC. My parents had the film soundtrack, too, and although the leads pictured on the cover were prettier and handsomer, Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi (whose singing was dubbed by Giorgio Tozzi), were just not as good as Mary and Ezio, either as actors or singers, no matter their grander sound through "Living Stereo." And I thought this, having only SEEN the film version... yet I alternately played both of these records often, one for the performances, and one for its aural majesty.

I wasn't even reminded of this recording when I read everywhere that the new Broadway Show was wonderful, and would probably win some Tony's, which it did. People I work with said the current show is glorious. Still, this record did not cross my mind. Then I saw this version in a store for ten bucks, and it was a no-brainer all of a sudden. I snatched it up, thinking I would make sure it played when I got home, then save it for a rainy day.

No such thing happened. I put on the CD, noted the clean, remastered mono sound, and thought, uh-oh, I made a mistake. But less than two minutes into the overature, I was hooked. No sampling, here; I listened straight through. The memories not only flooded back, but they came unaccompanied by the crackling and hissing of the old vinyl I had finished wearing out (and still own, in storage, inherited from my folks). The remastered sound of this CD is great, save some of the orchestral passages here and there, and it's about the most I could expect from a recording this old. In fact, the voices sound better than ever ... and to make up for the slightly muddy recording of the overature (the sound clears up quickly, after it), there is another, extended version arranged for orchestra (back then, so it, too, is in mono) as one of the four lovely bonus tracks. One of the songs cut from the show, "Loneliness Of Evening" is just beautiful, as sung by Mary Martin. Ezio Pinza reprises "Bali Ha'i," and I'm glad it was included, as he sings it as well as Juanita Hall does.

There has also been some commentary recently, among Broadway critics and others who have spoken about the latest production, that SOUTH PACIFIC was kind of ahead of its time in addressing racial topics, the futility and sadness of war, and sexism. One must read between the lines to catch some of this, but "You've Got To Be Taught" has meaning that could not be clearer. Perhaps this show's revival is timely, after all, as humanity is still struggling with these issues.

Finally, some of the reviewers on Amazon still feel that his old recording is the definitive reading of SOUTH PACIFIC, and I'm inclined to agree. It will be interesting to compare the new production, whenever the copy I ordered comes. Meanwhile, I have a feeling that this version will get played over and over again. For tuneful music and enchanting singing, great songs and orchestral composition, SOUTH PACIFIC is, from the beginning, now and forever, one of the truly great stage musicals! Yes, they just don't create 'em like they used to... June 21, 2008

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