Search - Andrew Lloyd Webber, Andrew Lane, Orlando Pops Orchestra :: Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita: 25th Anniversary Salute

Surprisingly good

B'way-luvr | Atlanta, GA USA | 09/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am a die-hard "Original-Cast-only" person. So when I was given this as a birthday present (a month late) I was kind of skeptical. Yes, it has a wonderful score by Andrew Lloyd webber, and yes the Orlando Pops Orchestra is said to be really good, but it was a studio cast (a term that generally turns me off from asn album). I started listening to this expecting a horrid Eva, off-tempo music, and unrecognisable lyrics.



I was so wrong.



This is actually a surprisingly good Evita recording. Gail Bartell (Eva) does a very good job of portraying a determined Eva, but some songs could be better. Her voice tends to go slightly off at times, but she is mostly an applause-worthy performer (though her voice does not have the Broadway flair Patti LuPonne of the Premiere American Recording). David Chernauld makes an excellent Che, hitting all the right notes on all the right pitches. Unlike a studio Che I once heard, he is not nasally nor does he sing rather high parts down. Sadly, I must say I was unimpressed with Alan W. Bruun as Peron. Yes, he can sing, but he completely butchers the end of "Charity Concert" (Odd that they didn't call it by the actual song name "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You") and is weak throughout the rest of the CD. Peron should be an inwardly, but not vocally, weak man. The backup ensemble also pleases and I applaud them for being able to do a show like this (even if just a recording) with a cast of eight. It still retains the full ensemble sound that the other albums have, which is wonderful.



The orchestrations are also very well done and I have no complaints towards those. The Orlando Pops Orchestra did a wonderful job, and I will probably buy another of their recordings just for thier excellent sound.



My only qualms with the overall album is the use of "Don't Cry For me Argentina" twice. Was it so hard for them to record something from the opening Requiem? "Oh What a Circus" would have been much better, or at least the opening mourners. Also, at the end of "Balcony-Casa Rosada" the crowd vocals are more annoying than powerful. Not to say they sing it wring, it's jst that that particular moment loses its effectiveness without Eva's speech. They should have just let Bartel record the speech or cut the part. I was also a bit taken aback by the cover art, but I now a see an interesting approach to showing the true nature of the show. The graffiti and ripped poster work very well at showing a post-Peronist Argentina.



in all, I was pleased with this recording. I'm still more partial to the Premiere American Recording with Patti LuPonne, but this CD makes a nice addition to any Evita fan's collection."