Search - Richard Rodgers, Jane Manning, Sergio Franchi :: Do I Hear A Waltz? (1965 Original Broadway Cast)

My favorite musical

Bill | Seattle, Washington United States | 03/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a fan of musicals, and surprisingly enough, if I were stranded on an island with a CD player and one show recording, this would be it. It does not give even a hint of the tensions that surfaced between the three major creative artists involved. The Rodgers music and Sondheim lyrics are perfect, and the performances (particularly Franchi) could not be better. The whole thing is charm distilled to its essence. The new Fynsworth Alley recording is also quite good, although in different ways. Some performance are stronger (Carol Lawrence is a delight and Alyson Reed adds welcome depth to her role), but some are weaker (Anthony Crivello, though good, just doesn't have Franchi's pipes).I'd start with this one. If you love it, as I do, you'll pick up the new Fynsworth Alley CD (which has music and dialogue not in the original cast recording) right after."

Great Rodgers, Great Sondheim, Great Singing

Sandy McLendon | Atlanta, GA USA | 11/22/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It was never the greatest show, but it makes one of the best original cast albums I've ever heard. "Do I Hear A Waltz?" has a terrific Richard Rodgers score, and the performances to back it up. Elizabeth Allen has a big, belting voice that supposedly worked against her characterisation in the show itself, but it's a delight to hear on this album. Sergio Franchi has the most supple, perfectly controlled male voice I've ever heard; not only can he handle the big aria-like numbers like "Stay" and "Take the Moment", he's a comedy delight in "Bargaining" where he effortlessly, instantly, and repeatedly switches from his trademark tenor to a glorious falsetto, and back again.Stephen Sondheim did the lyrics, and one example should suffice to let you know how good they are: "Such lovely Blue Danube-y music / How can you be still?", from the title song.Fair warning- when you hear this CD for the first time, you're going to get a lump in your throat when you hear the last track. It's called "Thank You So Much", and it's the perfect musical expression of something we've all been through: a relationship that must end, even though it was great and neither party wants it to.Someday, hopefully, someone will revive this show, and lick the book problems, and cast it perfectly, and it will be a huge hit. Until then, we have this album, and the show we see in our heads as we listen. That's more than consolation, it's a grand time indeed."

Remarkably charming, undeserving of its bad reputation

path31783 | NJ | 04/29/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When most people (well, most theater people) hear the phrase "Do I Hear A Waltz?" they think flop, disaster, mediocre, an unexciting show better known for the backstage problems than anything else. This reputation is totally unwarrented. Although the original production may have been stilted and dry, and flawed in any number of ways, the score is utterly charming, and certainly the last great work Richard Rogers ever did. From the driving opening to the first couple ensemble numbers to the more dramatic songs, this score holds up favorably against many other shows that were far more successful. Some numbers dont work - Perfectly Lovely Couple and No Understand are really just filler - and some of the romantic songs tend to announce themselves a little to much; also, Stay really does sound like a lament from the Russian steppes, as someone else pointed out. The lyrics, while clever and impeccable (would you expect any less?) aren't all that interesting, and it's pretty clear that Songheim didnt have too much interest in what he was writing. But all things considered, this score is lovely, charming, and slight, and there's nothing wrong with that."