Great Recording
David DN | Haight Ashbury, Earth | 02/08/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've enjoyed the Capriccio German-language recording of Happy End for years. Most of this material has been recorded over and over, and it would be easy to pick out anything seriously lacking. The good news is that this new ACT English language version completely measures up. Charlotte Cohn as Lillian Holiday is excellent; all the other voices and orchestrations are just right too.
The 2006 American Conservatory Theatre production of Happy End had all the bite that their version of Threepenny Opera lacked a couple of seasons before. (That effort was fluffy and rather defanged, with an English translation that felt G-rated in contrast to the well-known Blitzstein version.) ACT's Happy End was visually splendid and a lot of effort, craft and clowning went into it. Too bad the entire show was apparently not recorded for release on DVD."
Happy with "Happy End"
Russell Barclay | Los Angeles | 04/05/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Excellent recording and cast - from California, of course! A must for Becht - Weill fans..."
Best Cast recording EVER!
J. Williams | New York, NY, USA | 06/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Finally an English-language version of this classic Brecht-Weill work and A.C.T.'s production delivers the goods, particularly the stunning and beautiful soprano of Charlotte Cohn as "Halellujah Lil" who gets to tackle the show's most famous numbers. Cohn's 'Sailor's Tango' is gorgeous and haunting and her rendition of 'Surabaya Johnny' soars: dynamic and beautiful. Definitely an album worth owning!"