Search - Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Julie Andrews :: Sound of Music (35th Anniversary Coll Edt)

THE BEST OF ALL THE OTHERS - ALMOST COMPLETES THE SET

W. Budris | Rosedale, NY | 08/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was impressed with the sound and soundtrack order of the previous 30th Anniversary edition, which so improved the original CD issue. This new double 35th Anniversary edition puts most of the icing on the cake. It does make a lot of corrections, but does not completely fill a few minor voids. There are millions of people who have seen this movie soooooo many times on the screen, TV, wore out a couple of vinyl copies, etc. We know this soundtrack backwards, forwards, in our sleep, and even the macho-est of men I've heard humming My Favorite Things. This CD adds the missing original issues that were heard with the on-screen film, and only previously available via Laser Disc, or on Fox Cassette if you bought that version of the re-release on video. I have this tape, and have compared Disc 2 to it. Disc 1 is still the soundtrack that was issued for the 30th. Disc 2 uses most of the tracks from the tape and laser version. Per my tape, this new disc has omitted the DO-RE-MI REPRISE during the Folk Festival (what I affectionately call the "TEA WITH JAM & BREAD MIX"), plus some instrumental music. It is nice to have what they added. However, what is also missing is the Grand Finale to Act 1 of the film and just prior when the Baroness is looking for the Captain after she has left Maria in her room. When she is searching for the Captain before going into the Grand Ballroom and meets up with Max, the background music is playing a waltzy version of the omitted HOW CAN LOVE SURVIVE, that was in the stage show. After her conversation, she finds the Captain and the Edelweiss waltz plays while Maria sneaks away to that grand orchestral finish of Act 1. I would assume that in the future, probably on the 50th Anniversary, there will be a complete soundtrack issued including all these other missing gems. I could have probably lived without the Richard Rodgers interview added, but this could have been added as a bonus disc for initial release, then removed later leaving all the music to tell the story. Regardless of these detailed flaws, this is still a very priceless collection of 97% of all the soundtrack. From the first time I heard it in the theatre in 1967, Irwin Kostal's conducting and the final result has stayed with me all these years. It is truly magical, can put you in a good mood and will always remain a stand-out part of our film history. I highly recommend this issue."

A more merciful review - more praise with some minor flaws

Yi-Peng | Singapore | 05/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember once "advising" beginners to shy off this version not because of performace quality, which is just perfect, but because of presentation of the music material. However, because of listening to the soundtrack a little bit more often. I feel as if Ihave changed my views more positively. Of course, we still have Julie Andrews and her crystalline voice, but we also have sparkling children, a convincing Captain and a soul-stirring Mother Abbess taking their place on the album just as they have been always doing, alongside the towering Irwin Kostal orchestrations and arrangements. This edition does indeed put most of the icing on the cake with the clear, sparkling remastering and the tantalising bonus material available for us to have forever. At long last, we have the additional appearance of Edelweiss after the Lonely Goatherd puppet sequence (and an extended version of its folk festival reappearance - the only rendition of the song used on the original soundtrack), the Landler, the Salzburg Montage harnessed to an extended My Favourite Things, the second-act reprise of Sixteen Going on Seventeen, and the complete chase music, all sounding remarkably vivid after 35 years in the Fox vaults, enough to make you recall the scenes in the movie so vividly. The only things I can carp about are the slightly murky sound quality during certain moments on the first disc, the obvious lack of completeness (as always) and the value of the set.The murky sound quality on certain parts of certain tracks of the first disc does not bother one at all, because they don't affect the parts of the soundtrack you are supposed to be enjoying. However, once you get down to listening to the remastered soundtrack, it will be easy to notice the pristine sound that improves this issue over the others. (The fact about pristine sound also applies to the second disc.) However, once you get over with this problem, there are still more serious qualms. This release is obviously not really ABSOLUTELY complete, as ttere are some missing musical segments (the Act One finale waltzes based on Edelweiss and the deleted song How Can Love Survive, the Entr'acte, the children's dejected-sounding reprise of My Favourite Things with Maria making it better half-way through by joining in, and the folk festival reprises of Do-Re-Mi and So Long, Farewell.) In addition, the original versions of the Overture and the Preludium prayer sequence are not included, as they seem to sound better and more complete when separated rather than when allowed to seague into each other as in the original soundtrack, along with the complete wedding sequence, also not included here. Also, the price is quite expensive, as it's clear that record companies keep reissuing and improving certain albums such as this by adding previously unreleased music until they are perfect and complete - all at the consumer's expense. Once that's said and done, you can easily get down to enjoying this classic soundtrack in the splendour of a sparkling new digital remastering and new video transfers of this classic film.To sum everything up, I still can say I feel happy and satisfied with this new reissue of the soundtrack, even despite some minor quibbles and snags, but I feel as if I will not stop rallying until I see the ABSOLUTELY COMPLETE version released and made available. Perhaps the Richard Rodgers centennial celebrations next year will provide the right impetus for the R&H organisation to get 20th-Century Fox and RCA Victor to release and reissue the soundtrack in its original album and expanded versions COMPLETE on 2 CDs, with the original album taking up one disc (with all the outtakes as fillers) and the COMPLETE expanded edition taking up the other - all at a twofer bargain price. Still, I will be more than happy to recommend this soundtrack to the beginning purchaser, and it still makes a wonderful, if extravogant, way to acquire a classic in a sparkling and attractive new dress.BTW, I would suggest checking out the new Broadway cast recording of the show and purchasing it along with this equally excellent version, as it presents a top-quality performance and is like a stage production in the spirit of the film, to give yourselves an alternate view and a more conceptual performance of the show."

"I go to the hills when my heart is lonely..."

Dewey Mee | ELLENSBURG, WA. | 08/26/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This brand-new 35th Anniversary Edition of the classic 1965 film soundtrack features two discs in beautiful packaging. (Okay, the purple coloring on the discs is a bit much)... the CD booklet is filled with pictures and is wonderful. Disc 2 features extended versions of several songs and many tracks (mostly orchestral) not included on the 1965 soundtrack, and an interview with Richard Rodgers. What is the enchantment of "Sound Of Music??" Maybe it's because the film and myself both turn 35 this year, but it really has a lot to do with Julie Andrews as Maria. Like another customer wrote, I always think of Julie Andrews, and not Broadway's Mary Martin, as Maria. Also, Andrews' devastating 1997 operation that left her without a singing voice, adds a note of sadness to this recording (as well as Andrews' classic Broadway performances in MY FAIR LADY and CAMELOT) as we recognize what has been lost. I recently saw a disappointing stage production of "Sound Of Music" and returned to the film and this soundtrack with a sense of refreshment, renewal, and even inspiration."