Along with Kiss Me, Kate, 1934's Anything Goes is usually thought to be Cole Porter's finest show. Even without a young belter named Ethel Merman as the lead, the show's parade of hits ("I Get a Kick Out of You," "All Thro... more »ugh the Night," "You're the Top," and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow") would have secured it a place in Broadway's pantheon. This recording is the first one to use the original 1934 arrangements, painstakingly reconstructed with the help of one of the original arrangers, Hans Spialek, and it also includes three songs cut from the original production. And the excellent cast does the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor John McGlinn proud: Kim Craswell is her usual powerhouse as Reno Sweeney (if only a little brittle around the edges sometimes), while mezzo Frederica von Stade smoothly adapts to musical theater as Hope Harcourt. All musical-theater lovers should have Anything Goes in their collection, and this recording is quite a worthy one. --Elisabeth Vincentelli« less
Along with Kiss Me, Kate, 1934's Anything Goes is usually thought to be Cole Porter's finest show. Even without a young belter named Ethel Merman as the lead, the show's parade of hits ("I Get a Kick Out of You," "All Through the Night," "You're the Top," and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow") would have secured it a place in Broadway's pantheon. This recording is the first one to use the original 1934 arrangements, painstakingly reconstructed with the help of one of the original arrangers, Hans Spialek, and it also includes three songs cut from the original production. And the excellent cast does the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor John McGlinn proud: Kim Craswell is her usual powerhouse as Reno Sweeney (if only a little brittle around the edges sometimes), while mezzo Frederica von Stade smoothly adapts to musical theater as Hope Harcourt. All musical-theater lovers should have Anything Goes in their collection, and this recording is quite a worthy one. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
"Cole Porter's brilliantly witty show, written to raise the spirits of depression-enfolded America, is a wonderful treat. After two reworkings, the stage version of Anything Goes presented today is different from the original, but this modern recording (aided by one of the original orchestrators) brings back the magical work that inspired the audiences of the 1930s. Talented voices that compliment the orchestra well, good articles and an interview in the CD booklet, as well as Cole Porter's brilliant music make this an essential for the Anything Goes fan."
Easily the best version available
pspa | Boston, MA USA | 03/12/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are several fine versions of Anything Goes available, but the 1988 London version is the best in my opinion, thanks to sensational orchestrations and the wonderful, naughty, zesty, sexy performance by Kim Criswell who in my opinion is much better than Patti LuPone. The title number will knock your socks off, especially if you are used to the tame version by Ella Fitzgerald. Frederica von Stade is fine too. Fantastic sound quality as well."
As close to the original 1934 performance as we'll ever get!
Mark Andrew Lawrence | Toronto | 10/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Of the many ANYTHING GOES recordings, this is the ONLY one to recreate the score as it was heard on opening night in 1934.
The later stage revivals (1962 and 1987) dropped some of the original songs and added other Cole Porter standards. While these versions play well on stage, there is something to be siad for hearing the original text and orchestrations. While no one can replace Ethel Merman's original star performance, it was not preserved because "original cast" albums were not being done in 1934. She did record some of the songs over the years but never with the original orchestrations. (Just think if EMI had made this set in the 1960s and brought Merman into the studio to record her interpretations! What a missed opportunity.) That said, Kim Criswell brings the requesite belt to Reno Sweeney's songs. Cris Groenendaal brings a pleasant light tenor to Billy Crocker's songs, and Frederica Von Stade (one of the few opera singers whose voice seems well suited to american musical theatre repretoire) is well suited to Hope's short musical scenes. As an ingenue, she doesn't get to sing all that much!
Not all is perfect. Jack Gilford was too old and frail having little voice left for Moonface Martin's number. And the Ambrosian singers sing correctly without having the proper "broadway" sound. Nevertheless, John McClinn conducts with precision, and the thick booklet is full of fascinating facts about the show, a detailed synopsis, all the lyrics and an amusing glossery explaing some of the obscure references in Porter's original lyrics.
"
A PLEASANT SURPRISE . . .
J. T Waldmann | Carmel, IN, home to the fabulous new Regional Perf | 08/07/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"My introduction to ANYTHING GOES was the 1962 revival on LP. (Remember LPs? Remember when vinyl meant music and not imitation leather?) With it I became an Eileen Rodgers fan and remain so to this day. (Would someone please re-issue the original Broadway cast recording of TENDERLOIN so Broadway fans may hear Ms. Rodgers belt "Little Old New York" as only she can? I was fortunate to purchase the Angel Broadway CD before Capitol dropped it, along with many other fine cast recording. Shame!!!) Anyway, I like this version and highly recommend it, especially for its restored original orchestrations and for the excellence of its three leads. Yes, the Ambrosian Singers are too well trained and "proper" to sing "Broadway" and the bits of dialogue reveal how the "book" played second fiddle to the music in those days. Thankfully, this would change with SHOW BOAT, and John McGlinn's EMI recording of the complete score with dialoge - although not my favorite - is an invaluable document and needs to be in any serious collection of Broadway show recordings.
I truly appreciate the authenticity of this (ANYTHING GOES) project. I only wish McGlinn and company had not approached the show with kid gloves, because it lacks the energy and immediacy of a good Broadway cast recording. There were times, when listening, I felt as I often do in a museum. The piece of art is a classic and much to be admired, but don't get too close. And you mustn't touch! Nevertheless, I highly recommend this recording. Kim Criswell deserves to be on your shelf along with Eileen Rodgers and Patti LuPone."
Anything Goes - Cole Porter
Mr. B. Tucker | 03/18/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm too young to have heard this music when it was originally released, but heard some of the songs on the radio as part of a Cole Porter feature and liked them. I looked up the details on the BBC website and tried to find the same recording on-line. The only way I could get it was ordering from Amazon America, which I did. No problems - delivery within 2 weeks and (including postage) same cost as a full price CD in UK.
If you know any of these songs and want to hear them recorded with original orchestration, without anything added or taken away, and sung by very good singers, then this will fit the bill.
Orchestration is very good, nothing too lush or fancy, it just fits the words perfectly. And beautifully recorded.
The singers are all very good except for Jack Gilford who I personally thought was awful - but he only features once. Kim Criswell is exceptional.
With the CD comes a very informative booklet, giving full text of the lyrics, background to how the musical came to be written, and an explanation of the context of the topics covered by the songs.
I'm very glad I went to the trouble of getting this CD. If you want to hear Cole Porter's musical as it sounded originally, then get this!"