Search - Mitch Leigh, Joe Darion, Ron Raines :: Man of La Mancha (Original Cast 2000 Covent Garden Music Festival)

Want more than just the music?

L. Jackson | Alamogordo, NM United States | 09/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great CD - but not for everyone. When I bought it, I had no idea that it was really the COMPLETE show - including ALL of the dialogue, the dance music, and even the bows and exit music! If you love the show; if you're a student of the show; if you want to hear a very good production of the complete show - then this is the CD for you! (What a great way to pass the time on a long boring drive!) But if you want to pop in a CD and just listen to the wonderful music of "Man of La Mancha," you would be better off with the Original Broadway Cast recording."

The best recording of La Mancha

C B | USA | 10/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thanks to this complete recording, with all the music and dialogue, the full impact of this amazing work is now fully realised. The production of this recording is one of the best I have ever heard in any cast recordings. It is like you are in the theatre listening to a great performance of Man Of La Mancha by the wonderful cast of Ron Raines, Kim Criswell and the rest. I used to have the old London cast recording which purports to be complete but it was not the case because a lot of the music and scenes were not recorded and are missing from the recording. If you want a truly complete and best recording of La Mancha, this is the only recording to get. 5 stars and no less."

New Recording Is a Mixed Affair

Michael Shayne | Boca Raton, FL United States | 03/08/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The new recording of Man of La Mancha is a mixed affair. The songs are beautifully sung with the exception of Kim Criswell. Which was a surprise. I felt that Criswell under played her role of Aldonza. Although her performance was technically very good, I felt that her characterization of Aldonza was lacking in other performances of the the role that I had heard or seen. I was wondering if she was directed this way. I have her two solo albums and in my opinion she is much better on those two recordings.Ron Raines is at the top of his game and it is a shame that there is no place for a performer of his stature on Broadway these days. He gives a stunning version of The Impossible Dream.The other quibble I have is the spoken dialogue. I found the readings to be flat, dull and uninspired. I wonder if the cast was in the studio at one time. The spoken dialogue lacked spark and characterization. I had no idea at times who was speaking as there was no real distinction in the speaking voices.Thankfully one can program out the dialogue and just lisen to the music. Always critized as a one song show (The Impossible Dream) the score has a lot to recommend. It's a shame the composer and lyricist were never able to follow up with a successful show.I recommend this recording with 4 stars for its technical excellence, the complete score and for most of the performances. I normally find Jay's complete recordings to be at the top of their game and an important part of any collection. I have nothing but high praises for 110 in the Shade, Cabaret, Nine and Lady in the Dark which are part of my collection. This recording of Man of La Mancha just misses the mark of being perfection."