Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Reba McEntire, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Alec Baldwin - South Pacific in Concert from Carnegie Hall

From the second the majestic overture of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1949 show starts, you know you're in for a treat: In this age of diminished Broadway pits, hearing the 45-piece Orchestra of St. Luke's firing on all cylinders is just thrilling. And that's only the beginning of the fun in this most traditional, most delightful musical, recorded live at Carnegie Hall in June 2005. As Nellie Forbush, Reba McEntire deploys a homespun Southern charm that works marvels against the urbane Emile de Becque, i.e., Brian Stokes Mitchell and his impossibly buttery baritone (check out his rendition of "Some Enchanted Evening"). Of course we shouldn't be surprised, since country star Reba had turned out to be musical-theater star Reba when she replaced Bernadette Peters in Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway. Here, she brightly delivers classics (yes, the show is packed with them) like "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" and "A Wonderful Guy." And let's not forget Lillias White, chewing the scenery in spectacular fashion as Bloody Mary ("Bali Ha'i," "Happy Talk"--what was that about the show being packed with memorable tunes again?). When the classic American musical is done with such gusto, it's hard not to be won over. --Elisabeth Vincentelli Amazon.com

Over the top South Pacific.

This concert version of the broadway show is awesome in many respects. The pairing of Reba McEntire and Brian Stokes Mitchell at first seemed so "strange/different" It could not have been a better combination. They were "in" character throughout - not easy in a concert performance. The chorus numbers were outstanding and Alec Baldwin was, well, he was just a hoot!
Finally Brian Stokes Mitchell's rendition of "This Nearly Was Mine" is probably the best, most heartfelt that I have ever heard.

October 14, 2008

Thank You

I was so surprised to see that you had this CD available. I had lost the one I had and could not find another one anywhere. Thank you so much. October 12, 2008

Mostly great

I had great expectations for this CD... most of them were met, but I was vastly disappointed with one of the principal singers: Reba McIntyre. I know she is a great comedic actress and a true star in the world of country music. But from the very first song she sings - and nearly everyone thereafter - her country stylings just struck me as WRONG for this part. She tends to "scoop" up to her notes - over and over. Again, that may be OK for country music, but not Rogers & Hammerstein... even if the role is supposed to be a young gal from the "country" (i.e. not a big city). Again, she is great in her realm and has done fun and admirable things on TV and in movies, but I found her singing style in this role annoying.

Most everyone else holds up well, though I agree with another reviewer's observation that Alec Baldwin sounded a bit like a New York gangster. The women's and men's choruses performed admirably. The orchestra was lush, rich and balanced. For me, however, the saving grace and main reason to buy this CD is Brian Stokes Mitchell. His rich baritone is breathtaking and awe-inspiring. It would have been better if he did not read his lines of dialoggue as is "French accent" was very strange indeed - but his singing is to be savored.
September 21, 2008

South Pacific CD

After seeing this concert performance on PBS recently, we quickly ordered the CD. Super! Great quality and wonderful voices and acting, even if one couldn't see them!

September 1, 2008

Wow!

Let's get to the point here. With all due respects to the legendary Mary Martin, Ezio Pinza, and all the others who have essayed the lead roles in this great show, this is, quite simply, the finest recording of R&H's "South Pacific".

Brian Stokes Mitchell is a proven commodity on the Broadway stage these days. He is a force of nature that seems to sweep away all before him. The part of Emile was originally written for Ezio Pinza, then nearing the end of a remarkable career on the operatic stage. Magnificent though he is said to have been in this role, it simply must be said that for those familiar with his great art, his voice, as heard on the original cast recording is long past its' prime. Mitchell simply sounds much younger and more vibrant. Does it work? I think so.

A much greater potential problem is Reba McEntire. Someone took a great leap of faith in casting her in this role. New York audiences are notoriously unforgiving, and the cognoscenti awaited her with their claws sharpened. It is said she was very worried about doing this, but resolved to give it her best. Watching this on the DVD, it is more obvious than listening on the CD, but the audience is noticeably cool to McEntire at the beginning. It takes her about ten minutes to win them over. But win them over she does, and in the process turns in one of the most surprising performances in my memory. Could she do Nellie eight a week? I have no idea. But I can sure tell you she did the hell out if for at least one night. Her much deserved ovation at the end of the show was so thunderous she can be seen taking her bows with tears running down her face.

Simply a great job by one and all.

Now, on to the shortly-to-be-released cast album of the recent Broadway revival of South Pacific, amazingly, the shows' first fully staged Broadway revival since it premiered over a half century ago. I hear its' great. I hope so. It's going to have to be to top this.

R&H live forever! May 12, 2008

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