Act 1. Overture - Original Cast Recording, Hammerstein, Oscar
The Act 1. I Whistle A Happy Tune
The Act 1. My Lord And Master
The Act 1. Hello, Young Lovers
The Act 1. March Of The Siamese Children
The Act 1. A Puzzlement
The Act 1. Getting To Know You
The Act 1. We Kiss In A Shadow
The Act 1. Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You?
The Act 1. Something Wonderful [*]
The Act 2. Western People Funny
The Act 2. I Have Dreamed
The Act 2. The Small House Of Uncle Thomas
The Act 2. Shall We Dance?
The Act 2. Something Wonderful (reprise)
Part of Lincoln Center's summer series of musicals in the 1960s, The King and I is a competent but not altogether satisfying version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. The Metropolitan Opera's Risë Stevens will ... more »sound heavy and operatic for those used to Gertrude Lawrence or Marni Nixon, while Darren McGavin, now best known for TV's Night Stalker or the dad in A Christmas Story, is occasionally pitch-challenged as the King. Filling out the cast are Lee Venora as Tuptim, Patricia Neway as Lady Thiang, and Frank Poretta as Lun Tha. This recording was also notable for being the first to include "The Small House of Uncle Thomas." --David Horiuchi« less
Part of Lincoln Center's summer series of musicals in the 1960s, The King and I is a competent but not altogether satisfying version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. The Metropolitan Opera's Risë Stevens will sound heavy and operatic for those used to Gertrude Lawrence or Marni Nixon, while Darren McGavin, now best known for TV's Night Stalker or the dad in A Christmas Story, is occasionally pitch-challenged as the King. Filling out the cast are Lee Venora as Tuptim, Patricia Neway as Lady Thiang, and Frank Poretta as Lun Tha. This recording was also notable for being the first to include "The Small House of Uncle Thomas." --David Horiuchi
CD Reviews
AWESOME RECORDING! ! DEFINITELY A MUST HAVE . . . . .
J. T Waldmann | Carmel, IN, home to the fabulous new Regional Perf | 08/31/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A truly awesome recording! Sony/BMG have done such a such a fantastic job of remastering that you'd swear it was recorded in 2006 rather than 1964. The orchestra and singers are beautifully layered, producing a stunning three-dimensional sound stage. One can only hope that the same magic will be duplicated on future Masterworks/Broadway releases.
This recording deserves five stars for performance as well as for sonic quality. Some listeners might be put off by the "operatic" quality of the singers, but THE KING AND I, along with CAROUSEL, is a highly operatic work, both musically and dramatically. (Do either have a happy ending?) Rise Stevens is a full-voiced Anna, rightfully commanding center stage. This is, after all, Anna's show. Her delivery of "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?" is especially effective, recalling her splendid turn as Liza Elliott on Sony's Masterworks/Heritage recording of Kurt Weill's LADY IN THE DARK. Both showcase consummate performances by a legendary artist. If this recording meets with wide approval, perhaps Sony/BMG will release RCA's 1958 recording of Oscar Straus' THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER with Ms. Stevens, Robert Merrill, Jo Sullivan and Peter ("L'il Abner") Palmer.
I agree that Darren McGavin is no Yul Brynner, but that's not to say he can't be an excellent King of Siam. He's not given much to do on this recording - "A Puzzlement" and "Shall We Dance?" - but judging from his other work, I'm sure he did honor to the role. (His "Old Man" in 1983's "A Christmas Story" is a classic.) Frank Porretta (DRG's releases of THE GREAT WALTZ and BRIGADOON) nails the high notes of "We Kiss in a Shadow" and "I Have Dreamed," his duets with Lee Venora. She delivers "My Lord and Master" like no one else has ever done. Goose bumps! And her narration of "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" is perfect. How good it is to have, at last, "The Small House" on CD, performed and recorded so exquisitely. The marvelous Ms. Venora can also be heard on the original cast recording of KEAN (DRG) and RCA's Lincoln Center cast recording of KISMET (out of print, and hopefully in the process of becoming a Masterworks/Broadway release). On both recordings she appears opposite Alfred Drake, who was, incidentally, Rodgers and Hammerstein's first choice to play the King of Siam.
This production of THE KING AND I was the very first musical staged by the Music Theatre of Lincoln Center - Richard Rodgers, President and Producing Director. I also strongly recommend the 1977 Broadway revival recording on RCA. (Both recordings are essential.) Less operatic than the Lincoln Center recording, it features an excellent Constance Towers as Anna, June Angela and Martin Vidnovic as the star-crossed lovers, and Yul Brynner in his final performance. He died less than four months after the show closed. It contains considerably more music, but does not include "The Small House of Uncle Thomas." Hopefully it is slated for re-issue, along with a whole bunch of discontinued RCA and Sony cast albums.
Very Highly Recommended.
"
1964 Lincoln Center Cast Recording makes its CD debut
Pope | Wisconsin, United States | 08/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the very first ever CD release of the fabulous 1964 Lincoln Center cast recording of R&H's THE KING AND I. The production starred Risë Stevens (of GOING MY WAY fame) as Anna and Darren McGavin as the King, with Frank Porretta as Lun Tha, Lee Venora as Tuptim, and Patricia Neway (from the original cast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC) as Lady Thiang. All roles are well sung... Risë Stevens offers a slightly more "operatic" take on Anna than we're used to in the various recorded versions and the film--FABULOUS. Darren McGavin is good as the King, but he's no Yul Brynner, though a different take on the role is also a good thing. Patricia Neway turns in a very moving performance of "Something Wonderful."
This recording was the first time the "Small House of Uncle Thomas" appeared on records, and this CD release restores "Western People Funny" which was cut from the 1964 LP. The LP cover art has been reproduced for the CD release. This album is not an essential one for the casual listener; newcomers to the score will probably want to stick with the movie soundtrack or the 1977 revival album with Yul Brynner & Constance Towers, but true fans of the show (or anyone familiar with the album LP) will be grateful that RCA/Sony have brought this recording back."
A very operatic "King"
Ronald F. Payne | Alexandria, VA United States | 10/29/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
""The King and I" didn't get a great Original Cast Recording like "South Pacific" or "My Fair Lady", so there's room for contenders on my show album shelf. The snippits I heard online were intriguing, so I bought this version. I don't regret the purchase because this album has abundant virtues, primary among them is the musical leadership by conductor Franz Allers. The supporting cast is exemplary, and the recorded sound excellent. Which brings me to the problematic casting of Rise Stevens and Darren McGavin.
Ms. Stevens brings a rich fruity (if somewhat worn) tone to Anna's songs, and even though there are a few colorless passages as she negotiates the notes between registers, the operatic quality of her voice is not displeasing in this role. But everything she does is in such the grand manner that you would think she were the royal personage of the title. Darren McGavin comes close to being awful: a hoarse unmusical voice and a hammy over-the-top delivery. Thankfully the wonderful orchestration of his single solo "A Puzzlement" makes the track listenable, but McGavin continually veers off pitch.
Still, this great theater score is mostly well served in this recording, and it's a treat to hear Lee Venora, Frank Porretta, and Patricia Neway give creamy full throated vocals to "My Lord and Master", "I Have Dreamed", "Something Wonderful" and "We Kiss in a Shadow".
Flawed, but never the less recommended."
Truly majestic "King and I"
Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 09/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the most sought-after cast albums returns to the catalogue with this sparkling CD premiere. This is the 1964 Music Theatre of Lincoln Center revival of "The King and I", starring Rise Stevens and Darren McGavin.
One of the more operatic actresses to have played Mrs Anna, Rise Stevens is a thrilling presence on disc, in particular her "Hello Young Lovers" and a highly eccentric "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?". While he was later best known for his roles in Disney comedies and television shows, Darren McGavin is a very competant King, with a booming and resonant tenor. The cast also features Patricia Neway (the original Mother Abbess in "The Sound of Music") as Lady Thiang, Lee Venora ("Kean") as Tuptim and Frank Porretta ("The Great Waltz" and the film version of "Song of Norway") as Lun Tha.
This cast album was the first one to include the "Small House of Uncle Thomas" Ballet, normally omitted due to length but a welcome addition. This reissue also includes the previously-unreleased number "Western People Funny" (recorded for the original RCA LP but dropped because of the time-restrictions of a single LP).
Now this album has finally been released on CD, Sony/BMG might consider also reissuing the Lincoln Center revival of "The Merry Widow" with Patrice Munsel..."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1