This one-disc reduction of John McGlinn's monumental three-CD version of Show Boat provides 75 minutes of highlights in a package dubbed the "Broadway Show Album." McGlinn reconstructs the show as it ran on opening night, ... more »November 15, 1927, including the original orchestrations, and conducts a dynamic London Sinfonietta and a strong cast including Frederica von Stade as Magnolia, Jerry Hadley as Ravenal, Teresa Stratas as the tragic Julie, Bruce Hubbard as the worldly-wise Joe, Karla Burns as Queenie, and David Garrison and Paige O'Hara as the comic couple Frank and Ellie. And of course the songs by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II are among the most glorious ever written: "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Make Believe," "Why Do I Love You," "Bill," "You Are Love," and "Life upon the Wicked Stage." John McGlinn's full version is a staggering achievement and a recording for the ages, but this single disc is also splendid listening. --David Horiuchi« less
This one-disc reduction of John McGlinn's monumental three-CD version of Show Boat provides 75 minutes of highlights in a package dubbed the "Broadway Show Album." McGlinn reconstructs the show as it ran on opening night, November 15, 1927, including the original orchestrations, and conducts a dynamic London Sinfonietta and a strong cast including Frederica von Stade as Magnolia, Jerry Hadley as Ravenal, Teresa Stratas as the tragic Julie, Bruce Hubbard as the worldly-wise Joe, Karla Burns as Queenie, and David Garrison and Paige O'Hara as the comic couple Frank and Ellie. And of course the songs by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II are among the most glorious ever written: "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Make Believe," "Why Do I Love You," "Bill," "You Are Love," and "Life upon the Wicked Stage." John McGlinn's full version is a staggering achievement and a recording for the ages, but this single disc is also splendid listening. --David Horiuchi
CD Reviews
IT DESERVES 6 STARS
ALAIN ROBERT | ST-HUBERT,QUÉBEC | 06/28/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can't thank enough all the people responsable for this terrific revival cast album.Here is a perfect example of how you should do a classic show and maintain the original intentions of the writer and the composer.If they were alive,JEROME KERN and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN would have been proud of the way their masterpiece have survived them.It is impossible to imagine a better version of the show;this is the definitive one.It's funny when you think of it,most people know the songs by heart,yet it seems that we rediscover the show with this version.Suddently ,we are in 1927 and mister ZIEGFELD is scared like hell that he will loose a lot of money with this;but that's strangely the situation in which the modern AMERICAN musical was born."
Dream Come True
LtCol Richard L. Jones (USAF-Retire | Warner Robins, GA USA | 08/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First, "Showboat" is my all time favorite Musical, from the '40's and '50's when my mother took us to the movies every Sunday. I have video tapes of the 1951 MGM version with Howard Keel and Kathyrn Grayson, as well as the earlier movie version. A few years ago, I saw a TV special on the making of the three Disc complete remake of Showboat, true to the original score. I tried to get a cy of it but no local store could help me. Then through the magic of computers and AMAZON.com, I obtained the three disc set plus this single CD, which I treasure. This one is the best, without doubt. Now I have the complete version of songs and music I only vaguely remembered from the TV special. I wish someone would make a movie just like this version so I could have it on DVD. The whole cast and orchestra are awesome, especially Frederica von Stade. I have since bought other CDs of her work. Buy the three disc set if you can afford it, it has a thick booklet with the actual score and dialogue. But if you cannot, buy this CD. This is the ultimate, the prototype Broadway musical."
Show Boat
LtCol Richard L. Jones (USAF-Retire | 09/10/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I really like this recording! The voices are really great. I especially liked "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man." I would recommend this CD to everyone who likes the show and musical theatre."
Bits and pieces of SHOW BOAT
Mark Andrew Lawrence | Toronto | 03/04/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This single CD of highlights clipped from EMI's definitive 3 CD set purports to be the Broadway show album that never was. EMI did not record alternate versions of the songs with proper endings, and in preparing this disc, selections merely fade away. It's not completely satisfactory.
Any fan of SHOW BOAT probably already owns the complete set, and for slightly more you might as well have the whole thing.Kern & Hammerstein II: Show Boat - Frederica von Stade, Teresa Stratas, Jerry Hadley, Bruce Hubbard, John McGlinn, London Sinfonietta & Ambrosian Chorus"
A special treat
tenor fanatic | Florida | 10/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Why in the world would I want another recording of Show Boat? I already own a very old Columbia version, called "Here Comes the Show Boat," with Helen Morgan, Paul Robeson, and James Melton, which purports to be an "original cast recording," as well as the movie soundtrack, and the 1962 studio cast.
The answer is Jerry Hadley. Since his untimely death, I have been looking into more of his recordings, especially those outside the traditional opera repertoire.
And I was not disappointed! Not only did I get a great performance from Hadley. I got the added beauty of Frederica von Stade's Magnolia and Teresa Stratas' Julie. Add to that the original orchestrations resurrected by John McGlinn, and you have the closest recording available to the intentions of Jerome Kern.
Some listeners will want the full treatment of the three-disc version, with more dialogue and some songs that were "tried out" in some of the early productions. For me, this "highlights" disc presents the most important music and enough of the dialogue to keep the story moving as you listen.
Pick whichever version suits you better. But pick this recording if you are a Show Boat fan, or simply a fan of the Broadway musical."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1