The ultimate Bitter Sweet release...
Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 05/12/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Arguably Noël Coward's most lush, romantic musical, BITTER SWEET originally opened in 1929 starring Peggy Wood and George Metaxa as the star-crossed lovers Sarah and Carl, with Ivy St. Helier as jaded cafe singer Manon. Boasting such soon-to-be-hit tunes as "I'll See You Again", "If Love Were All", "Dear Little Cafe" and "What Is Love?", it was subsequently seen in New York with British actress Evelyn Laye as Sarah; and a French production featured Jane Marnac in the role.
The story of BITTER SWEET is told largely in flashback. Sarah Millick, now the Lady Marchioness of Shayne, recalls the time in her girlhood when she was seduced away from polite society by her handsome singing teacher, Carl Linden. Abandoning her fiancee and family, Sarah elopes with Carl to Vienna where, under the alias of Sari, she entertains the patrons of Schlick's Cafe. Problems in Sarah and Carl's relationship arise in the form of one of Carl's previous lovers, another cafe performer by the name of Manon. A few years later, when the runaway lovebirds start falling deep into debt, Schlick urges Sarah to take up an affair with Lutte, a wealthy military officer. Never wanting to hurt Carl, Sarah refuses Lutte's advances, but the situation takes a tragic turn when Carl learns of the growing love triangle... BITTER SWEET is cleverly bookended by the story of a young guest at Lady Shayne's house, who finds herself in the same romantic dilemma which saw Sarah launch her own incredible adventure.
For this recording, Sepia has dusted off the seldom-heard 1958 studio cast recording of BITTER SWEET, starring Coward's favourite soprano Vanessa Lee as Sarah, with Roberto Cardinali as Carl and Julie-Dawn as Manon, driven by a sparkling orchestra under the direction of Michael Collins and chorus work from the Rita Williams Singers. Making it's complete CD premiere in true stereo, this recording of BITTER SWEET is right up there--in terms of sheer performance quality--with the thrilling June Bronhill/EMI album of the score.
As a bonus, Sepia has included all the audio remnants from the original London cast members (Peggy Wood, George Metaxa, Ivy St. Helier); in addition to two songs from New York's Evelyn Laye ("I'll See You Again" and "Zigeuner"), recorded a decade after she'd starred in the show. There are also some incredibly rare excerpts from the French production with Jane Marnac as Sarah and René Bussey as Carl. The disc concludes, quite appropriately, with Noël Coward's own recording of "I'll See You Again".
Quite possibly the most detailed and thorough BITTER SWEET package currently on the market. [SEPIA 1130]"
Track Listings (23) - Disc #1