Search - John McGlinn :: Broadway Musicals (W/Cdrom)

A Treasure Box for musical theatre fans

Rodney R. Jones | Sydney, Australia | 12/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although this box set contains previously released recordings, it is an outstanding tribute to the work of John McGlinn. It appears McGlinn made his mission in life to record for posterity classics of the musical theatre. He achieved his dream with a vault of outstanding recordings featuring superb orchestras and singers. Classics like Show Boat, Brigadoon, Annie Get Your Gun and Anything Goes are the standout recordings in this set. His recording of Show Boat is a masterpiece with the inclusion of many rare songs from this classic American musical.



I remember some criticism of his recording of Show Boat back in 1987 when he used a number of singers better known for their classical backgrounds. However, the recording is breathtaking in its treatment of Kern's score and McGlinn can be heard as Jake and silent screen star, Lillian Gish has a small speaking role. The Ambrosian Chorus and London Sinfonietta complement the whole project by bringing a sense of quality not always heard on cast recordings. I can also remember the controversy at the time the album was released concerning the use of language considered highly offensive in the 21st Century. From what I remember McGlinn stuck to his commitment to Hammerstein's original lyrics and made a recording that will be enjoyed for generations to come.



In addition to the recordings of the above mentioned musical classics, the box set also includes McGlinn's recordings of albums dedicated to the music of Jerome Kern, Kurt Weill and George Gershwin. The set also contains a CD-Rom which provides access to the synopses, texts and notes from all the albums. Sadly the sung text for Show Boat is not included via the CD-Rom. Fans will have to find the original 3 CD release to have a copy of the libretto.



I was saddened to hear of McGlinn's passing early in 2009 and EMI has paid tribute to this outstanding conductor by releasing this collection of his finest work. It also saddened me to read that he was estranged from his family and his brother was trying to hear from John's friends in order to organise a memorial service. I can only hope the memorial service was a celebration of John McGlinn's professional contribution to the preservation of show recordings and to a man who dedicated his life to this unique form of American culture. Rest in Peace.



"

An acquisition for ever

Pau Bielsa | Tarragona, Spain | 03/07/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Maestro McGlinn died on 2009, and did a serious and excepcional career by restoring musicals and, what I think most important of all, by his project of inserting the Broadway musical genre as serious and classic with its original orchestral and vocal arrangements. I really had the illusion, while he was alive, that some year America would begin a tradition like the Vienna New Year's Concert with this class of material maestro Mc Glinn and others treated as classic. This compilation has the world presence of a monument meant for all next centuries."