Adam Guettel Victoria Clark Kelli O039Hara - The Light in the Piazza 2005 Original Broadway Cast (18 tracks) +Album Reviews

This is what musical theatre is about...

Eliza Poehlman | 05/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When we have to suffer through a Broadway season that includes the likes of Dracula and Good Vibrations, The Light in the Piazza is HOPE. Adam Guettel's score is the best in YEARS, and this recording is breathtaking. While not perfect (some of the songs don't quite work and the lyrics can become a bit general), the music moves in such intricate and beautiful ways. The orchestrations (with great string parts and a little guitar sneaked in there) are BEAUTIFUL; sadly, no recording could give justice to the experience of hearing those orchestrations in the real space.

Plus, there are many noteworthy performances. Victoria Clark's voice has so much character and emotion, Kelli O'Hara just floats through those notes like it's nothing, and Matthew Morrison does such a great job with a difficult score that calls for him to sing an Italian aria, and it's so funny to think that this is the same guy who starred in Hairspray :)

The CD is a MUST HAVE; if you don't know Adam Guettel you need to get acquainted. He is the new voice of musical theatre.

"

Mr. Guettel brings rare wonder to the musical stage! Superb!

Jana L. Perskie | New York, NY USA | 06/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Adam Guettel's soaring melodies and passionate, romantic lyrics combine to make "The Light In The Piazza's" score one of the most stunning I have heard in ages. Mr. Guettel's work brings rare wonder to the musical stage. It almost belongs in a genre of its own. Certainly, his contemporary score is not recognizable in any of your mother's Broadway show tunes, nor is it quite opera. This extraordinary album, featuring the original cast, was released recently by Nonesuch Records. I immediately bought a CD and have listened to it repeatedly over the last weeks. Beautifully arranged and orchestrated by the composer, with Ted Sperling and Bruce Coughlin, the more you listen to "The Light In The Piazza," with its swirling sound of strings and harp, and slight dissonances, the more you want to hear.

Based on the novella by Elizabeth Spenser, the musical is set primarily in Florence, Italy, in the summer of 1953. Margaret Johnson, (Victoria Clark), is touring the Tuscan countryside with her daughter, Clara, ((Kelli O'Hara). While sightseeing, beautiful, young Clara meets Fabrizio Naccarelli, (Matthew Morrison), a handsome, spirited Florentine. Her hat is blown off by a gust wind and the young man recovers it for her. Fate sounds a chord, romance resonates. The protective Mrs. Johnson is determined to keep the two lovers apart. Clara is not all she appears to be at first glimpse, and her mother is finding this increasingly difficult to keep secret.

Silver-voiced, Mrs. Johnson, (the magnificent Ms.Clark), reflects on her empty marriage in the heartbreaking "Dividing Day," a song in the first act which is one of my favorites. Another major highlight is her poignant closing number, "Fable." Throughout, the music and lyrics eloquently articulate the actors' feelings. Kelli O'Hara's radiant version of "The Light in the Piazza" and the gorgeous love duet between O'Hara and Morrison, "Say It Somehow" provide absolutely memorable moments. The young couple struggle with a language barrier, and Mr. Morrison's receives my kudos for the way he communicates in broken English....and, of course, in song. His talent is so evident as his voice, time and time again, soars to the proverbial rafters. The CD offers some fantastic group numbers also.

I cannot write enough good things about this album. I can only promise that if you listen, and let the glorious music speak for itself, you will be more than satisfied.

JANA"

The most brilliant show to grace broadway in YEARS

Betty | 05/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Light in the Piazza is incredible. Guettel's score is outstandingly beautiful. There is not one song on this recording not worth listening to over and over again.

Guettel said in an interview that the goal of this show was to make people feel as if they were in Italy, in the piazza, and in love. Although this obviously works better in the theater, (Definitely worth $100 dollars to see-even the best recording could not emulate the beauty of the production-go see it, you'll be glad you did) the recording captures this feeling incredibly.

The orchestrations are lush and full, absolutely stunning. Despite being musical theatre, Piazza's musical style borders on modern opera, with classical Italian influences.

The story is not your average romance. It is complex and intricate. It examines all of the main characters' views of love, some jaded and weary, others young and hopeful.

Performances given are wonderful. Victoria Clark, especially, is brilliant in her role. Her voice soars, and her emotion overwhelms. Kelli O'Hara's beautiful voice is exactly what Guettel's music needs to satisfy it. Matthew Morrison is also extremely good- as is the entire remainder of the cast.

As the previous reviewer said, this show gives hope for the future of musical theatre. This is the kind of show to revive broadway- and Guettel is the composer to do it.

There are two words to describe the show: INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL."

The Beauty Is...

M. Yee | Caifornia, United States | 05/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whether or not you agree with his opinions, Frank Rich is inarguably an influential voice when it comes to musical theater. So when a show boasts a glowing set of CD liner notes written by Mr. Rich, one can't help but stand up and take notice.

Such are the bragging rights afforded to "The Light in the Piazza," the new chamber musical at Lincoln Center whose cast recording is now available from Nonesuch. This new, Tony-nominated work has a score composed by Adam Guettel, the grandson of the famous Richard Rodgers, which is not to imply that Guettel needs the benefit of nepotism to earn praise--this recording takes care of that.

"The Light in the Piazza" takes place in 1953 Italy and centers on a very simple and seemingly-overused theme: love. However, Guettel is anything but simple, and his treatment of the material is anything but ordinary. Toeing the line between musical theater and light operetta, Guettel's score is rich, lush and full of the exuberant joy and energy one expects when expressing the feeling of new-found love.

If your taste in music extends no further than pastiche tunes that retreat from challenging their listener, then avoid this recording. Adam Guettel asks quite a lot from his audience, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Guettel's work--also exhibited in "Floyd Collins" and "Myths and Hymns"--is theatrical in its storytelling, but daring in harmonic structure and pensive in its lyrics. However, gorgeous and hummable melodies are not at all missing either--"Say It Somehow" is inarguably one of the most gorgeous love duets ever written for the stage.

The score ranges from soaring ballads (the aforementioned "Say It Somehow," "Love to Me" and the title song) to more traditional scene songs (the opening number "Statues and Stories") and even flirts with opera ("Il Mondo Era Vuoto," which is sung entirely in Italian). The brilliance lies in Guettel's talent and gift for creating music that seemingly heads in one direction, then takes an unexpected turn--not in a negatively distracting way, but rather in such a way that challenges the ear and ultimately engages the listener.

The orchestrations are top-notch, utilizing to full effect a bevy of strings (including 12 violins). The lightness and etherealness of the score evoke the feelings of new love--anyone who has experienced love will understand.

The cast is phenomenal, including the much-touted Victoria Clark, who seems a shoo-in for all major acting awards this season; Kelli O'hara, whose light soprano seems effortless and as innocent as her character; and Matthew Morrison, who handles his Italian characterization masterfully.

I am fortunate enough to have tickets to this show in August (2nd row center Orchestra) and have heard that this cast recording cannot adequately capture the magic of seeing the show live. If this is true, then I am certainly in for a magical experience. On disc, this show (and ultimately its score) handsomely rewards those listeners who are not afraid to be challenged, and repeated listenings only serve to increase those rewards."

Clara... The Light in the Piazza...

Ruth Cook | Redlands, CA | 12/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This musical is one of the strongest things ever to grace Broadway. It won't last as long as Phantom of the Opera, and Spamalot will more than likely outlast it, but that is only because it isn't a crowd pleaser but more of a thought-provoking musical.

The overture is one of the most beautiful things in the world. It slowly calls you to it. It bubbles up slowly with the opening harp, with thoughts of more as more insturments join it, and it breaks out into the violins which breath the sound of unrequited love. Then a solitary voice joins, Clara's, and then you hear her questioning her mother, Margaret, on what happened there in Italy, in a prophetic statement, Margaret says, "I played a tricky game in a foreign country."

People have given this low ratings because they say this is too boring. If you look at any other good musical cd on Amazon you will find the same complaint. This is because it is a CD, it's not going to get up and dance and give you any emotion other than sound (not to step on the emotion given in this CD.)

On a final note The Light in the Piazza needs a couple of listens before it starts to sink in. Like most good music."

Search - Adam Guettel, Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara :: The Light in the Piazza (2005 Original Broadway Cast)

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