Search - The Miller's Son, Tia Riebling :: Sondheim: A Celebration (1997 AIDS Charity Benefit Cast)

Only if you absolutely must...

efrex | New York, NY USA | 12/28/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This album has been derogatorily referred to as the "Send in the singers" album by Sondheim afficianados, and not without reason: The interpretations of "Someone in a Tree" and "Invocation" are off-key, off-tempo, and off-full. There are some redeeming features (A hysterical parody of "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" by the Forever Plaid cast; Glynis Johns's proof of her ownership of "Send in the Clowns"; and the Cassidy brother's "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" are probably the major ones for me), but this is by far and away the most mediocre of the Sondheim compilations out there. If you must have every thing ever done, then get this album; otherwise, get the considerably better Carnegie Hall celebration."

Uneven, but some real gems

07/22/1998

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I find it hard to be too critical of any concert put on for charity, as this one was. However, there are several uneven performances on this collection, as well as a few flat-out bad ones. These, luckily, are balanced by some great performances and some clever interpretations of Sondheim standards. I especially enjoyed David, Shaun, and Patrick Cassidy singing "You Could Drive a Person Crazy", the cast of Forever Plaid singing "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd", "Barcelona", and Tim Curry's interpretation of "Losing My Mind." This is not a collection for the Sondheim purist, nor is it a good introduction for someone who knows little about Sondheim's work. But if you're willing to wade through a few questionable performances to get to the good stuff, you'll enjoy it."

So very disappointing

efrex | 02/17/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"maybe visuals would help? maybe you had to be there?it starts off with this horrible muddy rendition of "invocation to the gods" with two people singing and seemingly competing rather than cooperating. most of the numbers are fine but far from the best renditions i've heard of those songs, but not a few are the worst renditions i've heard, in my opinion. dale kristien does "move on" in a higher than usual key and it sounds strained and unhappy up there. all right, i really enjoyed carole cook's "can that boy foxtrot" (although i have an eerie feeling that i was missing a lot without the visuals). and glynis johns singing "send in the clowns" was a lovely revisit. but mostly this was an uninspired CD--one that i'll keep because i'm a completist, but seldom revisit."