Cast Recordings From International Casts
Cast Recordings From International Casts
#1Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:55pmOkay my question is what is the benefit/reason for listening to cast recordings in other languages thoughts comments?
Genius lasts longer than beauty.
#2re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/17/08 at 10:51pm
Well, there are several reasons:
1) Legendary performances- for example Jacques Brel in the French language Man of La Mancha gives arguably the best performance on record.
2) Adapted lyrics- the lyrics in foreign cast recordings are never direct translations. The lyrics of Les Miz in Hebrew, for example, are better than the English language lyrics.
3) Cultural differences- Hearing Fiddler in Yiddish really gives you the feel of the shtetl. The Sweet Charity lyrics in Italian, for instance, sound a lot sexier.
"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"
#2re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:09am
I agree with everything that BroadwayBaby6 said (where did you find "Les Miserables" in Hebrew, been looking for it forever, also "Fiddler" in Yiddish, my grandmother could probably give me the translation) and...
1. If you really love a certain show (I love "The Phantom of the Opera", so I own the London, Toronto, Tokyo, Hamburg, and Mexico City cast recordings and the New York and Stuttgart casts of "Wicked")
2. If you actually know that language, and you want to hear it in that language (I speak Spanish, French, and German so I can understand my Spanish and German CD's)
3. If you want to hear a better cast if you're not satisfied with the ones that you own.
You should think about getting some foreign language recordings (I am expanding mine, I want some of "Les Miserables", as well as the Swedish, Hungarian, Belgian, Swiss, Korean, Austrian, and Dutch "Phantom of the Opera". I am interested in the South African, Israeli Hebrew, and Israeli Yiddish CD's of "Fiddler on the Roof" and would love to find a Japanese CD. I have been looking for the Austrian, Hungarian, Australian, Japanese, Norwegian, German, Dutch, French, Mexican, Polish, Russian and Czech "Cats". I want the Swedish, German, Dutch, Spanish, and Korean "Mamma Mia". I also want foreign "Rent"'s and "Evita"'s.
sondhead
Broadway Star Joined: 10/25/06
#3re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:23amThe same reason you want to own multiple english recordings for any show--a different recording is a different recording with different interpretations. If you know the show well, listening in another language is barely different from listening in English. Some of them are quite good.
#4re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:24am
Fiddler in Yiddish was never re-released on CD. I believe the Hebrew Les Miz has been long out of print.
The Hebrew cast recordings that one can still easily find online are those of HAIR, MY FAIR LADY (original and revival), Irma La Douce, and the King and I. For those cast recordings you can go to israel-music.com. For various cast recordings in different languages, try footlight.com or dresscircle.co.uk
"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"
#5re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:59am
Some foreign cast recording trivia:
There's a 1997 Cast recording of Oliver! in Frisian (a language that is actually a cousin of English spoken by less than 1/2 a million people in the North of Holland)
There are a few cast recordings in Icelandic (a language spoken by less than a million people), most notably Little Shop and Evita.
In terms of foreign cast recordings, the leaders in foreign cast recordings are the Germans, followed by Spanish (both Latin American and Spanish cast recordings included), with the Dutch in 3rd place (remarkable since Holland is a small country).Speaking of the Dutch, there are quite a few shows that have recordings in Belgian Flemish as well as in Dutch (Belgian Flemish and Dutch are as simliar as British English and American English).
In terms of foreign musicals based on English language materials, there is the Czech musical of Fahrehnheit 451, the French Gone With the Wind (not to be confused with the upcoming Trevor Nunn directed London GWTW), and the French Romeo and Juliette.
It is also interesting to note that in Germany, many of the performers in musical theatre are American, English or Dutch. Helen Schneider, who is a big German musical theatre star, is originally from New Jersey but sings in German with virtually no accent. The Elphaba in the German cast recording of Wicked, Willemijn Verkaik (A European Idina Menzel sound-alike), sings German with a rather noticeable Dutch accent.
It is very important to change names in shows to locally acceptable names. Boq in Wicked was changed to Moq in German. Boq is a mild perjorative meaning " an idiot" or literally a "billy-goat".
The most famous instance where an American actress reprised her Broadway role in a foreign production (and recording) is Joan Diener in Man of La Mancha. Her French accent, incidentally, is nearly flawless.
Quite a few foreign singing stars ended up playing replacement roles on Broadway- The Israeli Jean Valjean, Dudu Fisher, ended up playing the role on Broadway (though he would not play on Friday night due to religious reasons). Pia Douwes, a Dutch musical actress, came to NY to do Chicago.
The jukebox musical craze has gone international....The songbook of Tsvika Pik, an Israeli pop singer and songwriter, was made into a hit jukebox musical called "Mari-Lu". Despite being critically panned, the show was a big heat. The show spoofed musical theatre conventions by having the female lead go to America to be a movie star but instead she becomes a prostitute in NY, where she finally gets rescued by the boy who was in love with her. Add the boy's evil step-mother and her two evil sons (one of whom ends up being a good guy and moving to San Francisco with his gay lover!).
"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"
#6re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 2:16am
Thanks for all the trivia BroadwayBaby6. I just got my Korean Cast recording of "Evita" in the mail today. I've yet to listen to it to see if it really is as horrible as most people who have heard it say it is. I did get the disk into my computer though, and it is maddening that each disk is one long track of each respective act.
But I agree that it is fun to hear a show be reinterpreted by a different cast, even if it is one not singing in English. And you may even find a performance you actually like better (Simone Kleinesma (sp?) does a really good version of Roxie's Silloquy (sp? again!!!) on the Dutch "Chicago"). A tip for those starting out searching for foreign recordings though, it really is easier to start with a show that you like and know pretty well before going crazy with searching them out. That, and if you see a foreign recording that you want, pick it up, because chances are they will be out of print before you know it!
Xanadu! Can't cry on cue!
jo
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#7re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 8:20am
I am a great fan of LES MISERABLES --
*The original concept album which was originally staged in Paris inspired the eventual Mackintosh production. And there is something very poignant hearing the songs as they were originally meant. The melody of La Misere ( meant for Fantine) became Eponine's On My Own in the Mackintosh version, for one thing.
*The original cast recording from the London production captured the essence of one of the world's favourite musicals, which became translated into so many languages eventually.
*Ironically, there was another French recording ( of the second French production), based on the stage production developed by Mackintosh.
*Then Cameron Mackintosh decided to put together the "ultimate" cast recording, (because it contained practically every lyric and every musical passage from the original show)called the Complete Symphonic Recording, with casts drawn on different international artists who have performed in the show.
On top of these, I have versions from Spain, Sweden, Austria, and the Broadway cast recording as well. Ironically, I also love to listen to orchestral renditions of the musical score, no lyrics, so no language barriers 
BkCollector
Broadway Star Joined: 2/6/08
#8re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 8:24am
There was a thread about this a while back where I talked about how on Foreign cast recordings you often get MUCH better playing and singing because the musicians are usually classically trained, so you get (usually, and def not in the case of the Korean Evita) a much more tight, sound, with much more rhythmic and melodic integrity. The performances, on the whole, are more subtle, there's no need to hit dim Broadway audiences over the head, so you get a much more nuanced performance.
That has been my experience, your milage may vary.
Urban
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/05
#9re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 8:30am
I have to admit half the time I buy the Foreign Cast Recording because I do have a lame 'OMG! I can get X Show is Y Obscure Language! How Kewl!'
I have discovered though some of those albums are brilliant though and always on my playlist. I have brought so many German/Dutch rocordings simply because my initial buys I enjoyed so much I wanted to experience more. I don't speak a smigeon of either language (I did French & Japanese at school - not that I remember much of either - plus my listening skills sucked anyway), I buy because I have just fallen in love with the professionalism and craftmanship German & Dutch CRs come across as.
#10re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 9:24am
I listen to my Paris Cast of Les Mis more than all my other Les Mis recordings combined
Robert Marien may be the ultimate Jean Valjean (and he was here, as part of the 1oth Anniversary Cast)
I've learned the words to most of the songs on that CD, in French, which is fun to sing along with and great practice for your pronunciation
You don't go to the dragon without a present - Mark Rylance
#11re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 9:24amsorry, double post...
You don't go to the dragon without a present - Mark Rylance
Updated On: 3/18/08 at 09:24 AM
#12re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:01pmI know it's not part of the original question, but it's also worth noting that there are many great (or at least entertaining) shows that have never had an English language cast recording - Elisabeth, Tanz der Vampire, Rebecca (ignoring the various demos) etc.
BkCollector
Broadway Star Joined: 2/6/08
#13re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:06pm
I agree with Eastwickian,
I'm currently obsessed with German language musicals, especially Rebecca and Elisabeth.
onceadancer2
Leading Actor Joined: 5/22/03
#14re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 1:26pm
Listen to SOUND OF MUSIC from the Vienna Volksopera. It is really wonderful!
Miriam
Every movement has a meaning--but what the hell does it mean!
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#15re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 4:50pmI'm with EastWickian. I recently downloaded the cast recordings of Elisabeth, Rebecca, Notre Dame de Paris and the German cast recording of Romeo and Juliet (regarding the last two: love the music, hate the show)
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ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
metropolis10111
Broadway Star Joined: 7/28/06
#16re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 5:12pm
For me I love hearing what different countries did with the music.
Something like The Rocky Horror Show can sound like two different shows depending on the country the recording was made it.
Also you might get parts of the score that didn't come out on the OBC or OLC. The German cast recording of Starlight Express is a great example of this.
Also sometimes the fact that you don't know the language makes you appreciate the score more, for me that happened with the German recording of The Beautiful Game.
HAIR is great example of how countries put out up to date recordings of scores.
It's an odd hobby but I love getting foreign cast recordings of shows.
Oh and the Yiddish Fiddler is out on CD:
Oh and the Yiddish Fiddler is out on CD:
http://hatikvahmusic.com/cgi-bin/details.pl?key=834
#17re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 5:44pm
I have the German and Spanish cast recordings of Les Miserables. I really wish there were one in Portugese.
I also have the Dutch cast recording of Titanic.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#18re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 7:23pmDoes anyone know if they ever made recordings of the Oberhausen or Stuttgart productions of "Beauty and the Beast". Also, are there any plans to make recordings of the Finnish, Swedish, Hebrew, Russian, French, or Spanish "Avenue Q"'s. Also, are they making a recording of the new Swedish production of "The Sound of Music"?
BkCollector
Broadway Star Joined: 2/6/08
#19re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 7:32pmcastalbums.org has a pretty extensive list of recordings. They should be able to tell you.
skibumb5290
Stand-by Joined: 2/5/08
#20re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 9:24pmHave they made a Wicked Japan Cast Recording yet.
metropolis10111
Broadway Star Joined: 7/28/06
#21re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 9:34pmNope and I've heard nothing on one planed
metropolis10111
Broadway Star Joined: 7/28/06
#22re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/18/08 at 9:39pmOh choitoy believe me the Korean recording IS and bad as you have heard. I think the only cast recording worse is the Hungarian cast of Cats....
#23re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/19/08 at 2:16am
LOL!!!
Just got done listening to act 1 of the Korean Evita. The leads aren't too horrible, but the ensemble and orchestra!!! It wrenched up my insides a little when hearing the horns in "Buenos Aires" mess up, putter out, try to start up again, and just be bad! I'm almost afraid to listen to act 2!
Xanadu! Can't cry on cue!
COOOOLkid
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/15/05
#24re: Cast Recordings From International Casts
Posted: 3/19/08 at 3:50am
The Mexican cast of ACL is probably the worst recording I've ever heard, followed by the Korean cast recording of Les Miserables. Out of the 21 Les Mis recordings I have, I personally love the Japanese "Green" Cast of the show.
I just listen for the performances, mostly. Sunset Blvd, for example, have great performances in foreign recordings.
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