Search - John Kander, Fred Ebb :: Cabaret: The New Broadway Cast Recording (1998 Broadway Revival)

Robert J. from VERO BEACH, FL
Reviewed on 9/20/2012...

I'd never realized what a lock Joel Grey had on this show. That, of course, was a very long time ago. This is supposed to be (yes, "supposed" to be) the 1998 Broadway revival. Broadway? This is the high school dramatic society version, and not a New York high school at that. Perhaps Kansas or Mississippi. And yes, that's snark. Broadway in 1998 must have descended quite a number of rungs from what I remember. This recording makes any real Kander and Ebb afficionado want to cry. The cast has no clue. No clue at all.

The original cast, and even the original movie, seemed to understand very well indeed the evil and danger of early 30's Berlin and both what came before and what would come after. This required very nuanced interpretations of both music and lyrics, very lightly applied. Since I was familiar with the original situation, the original cast's interpretation just seemed immediately appropriate to me. It never occurred to me, at that time or later, that the historical tin ear of following generations might show they just didn't get the picture. And that's what we hear on this 1995 "original cast" recording. It's truly amazing that the director of that production obviously didn't understand the show at all.

You can get the music note-perfect and the lyrics word-perfect, as these people of course have done, but they haven't the faintest idea of what the historical reality was. And that historical reality, it's threat and menace, is the full force and power of the show. They say Americans "don't get" history. Based on this recording, they may well be right.

Alex B. from KATY, TX
Reviewed on 2/4/2011...

I adore this cast recording. While I love the original & film version, this one is just as enjoyable and my favorite version overall. I love the blend of the original songs with that of the films, while some have new arrangements (Money, Money for one). I do however miss the ending that is on the original cast recording. But with all nit-picks on songs and cast aside for any version- this is enjoyable. You are bound to find a song you'll love.

A new spin on a classic musical

07/07/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The current Broadway revival of Kander and Ebb's 1966 musical CABARET is not entirely faithful to the original production. Some changes are based on Bob Fosse's 1972 film version, while others date from more recent revivals. Gone are the songs: "Meeskite", "Why Should I Wake Up?" and "The Telephone Song" and the film's "Money Money" has replaced the original show's "Money Song" - but we gain from the addition of "Mein Herr" and "Maybe This Time" from the film score, and "I Don't Care Much" cut from the original show during previews.Natasha Richardson handles Sally's songs well - but not too well: You never lose sight of the fact that Sally is a second rate singer in a tacky Cabaret. John Benjamin Hickey isn't given a lot to do on the recording: Aside from a few lines of dialogue he shares but one duet with Ms.Richardson. Pity, as he seems to exhibit a fine singing voice. The real star of the disc is Tony winner Alan Cumming as the Emcee: Comic and terrifying all at once. While Joel Grey presented a leering Emcee, Cumming is much darker: more decadent - Listen to him relish the word "beautiful" not once but three times in a row during the opening number..Lotte Lenya brought such depth to the characterization of Frau Schneider, that others have paled in her wake, but Mary Louise Wilson gives the character a quiet dignity and resists any temptation to mimic her celebrated predecessor. RCA Victor has again done an outstanding cast recording capturing the look and sound of one of Broadway's biggest hits. The accompanying booklet offers several color shots of the production and all the lyrics - but, unfortunately, no synopsis to provide the uninitiated with any kind of story link. It's the only flaw in an otherwise first rate package.Columbia's classic original cast album (recently reissued on CD by Sony in their Columbia Broadway series) remains definitive - but this new darker more abr! asive production has yielder a very fine CD that crackles with theatrical excitement."

A Beautiful Cast Recording

C. M. Chen | CA | 06/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had heard a lot about Cabaret but until I discovered that Natasha Richardson and Alan Cummings had the starring roles, I never really felt tempted to hear it or really wondered what the production was all about. Now, to my despair, I have heard it but will continue to wonder what it is truly all about.I have never seen a production of Cabaret being performed, to my utter regret. Especially now, after hearing this wonderful recording, I wish that I had had the opportunity. Richardson and Cummings display such tremendous talent on the recording alone that it makes the listener wish to view their performance on stage. Cummings's Emcee is joyous and dark. He is, as another reviewer wrote, clearly decadent. But his decadence does not transgress the garishly cheerful atmosphere of the Kit Kat Klub. "Wilkommen" is without a doubt one of the most memorable tracks on this album and serves the dual purpose of welcoming both the visitors to the club as well as the listener who can only visualize, through the voice of the Emcee, what is taking place. "Wilkommen" provides a terrific introduction to a place where you can truly forget your troubles for a while.Richardson, in her role as Sally Bowles, gives a stirring performance of a second rate performer. Sally Bowles is not a great singer and Richardson never lets us forget it. And yet, we can't help but be moved by the sense of hope she carries about her that is most aptly conveyed in the selection, "Maybe". Sally Bowles may not be a great singer but the listener comes to realize very quickly that it takes the talent of a great one in order to portray the role of a bad one. Back in April, I heard Susan Egan perform her version of "Maybe" in a concert at UCLA and though I was impressed, I must confess that Richardson's performance of it far surpassed Egan's. While they both reveal Sally's vulnerability, I felt that Richardson's performance was more authentic and this might have been because she didn't have to feign her British accent. This is a terrific cast recording and one that is to be remembered. There are moments of extreme joy and darkness. And through it all Richardson and Cummings let us forget our troubles because we can't help but sympathize with theirs."