Search - Burton Lane, E.Y. Harburg, Melissa Errico :: Finian's Rainbow - Irish Repertory Theatre Cast Recording

Finian's Rainbow - Irish Repertory Theatre Cast Recording
Burton Lane, E.Y. Harburg, Melissa Errico
Finian's Rainbow - Irish Repertory Theatre Cast Recording
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists
 
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #1

Minimalist accompaniement can be lovely, especially when it allows a performer to shine, but it can also be a detriment. And in the case of this recording of 1947's Finian¹s Rainbow, it's hard not to pine for a full, ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Burton Lane, E.Y. Harburg, Melissa Errico, Malcolm Gets
Title: Finian's Rainbow - Irish Repertory Theatre Cast Recording
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sh-K-Boom Records/Ghostlight
Release Date: 11/16/2004
Album Type: Cast Recording
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists
Style: Musicals
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 791558440225, 829410317269

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Minimalist accompaniement can be lovely, especially when it allows a performer to shine, but it can also be a detriment. And in the case of this recording of 1947's Finian¹s Rainbow, it's hard not to pine for a full, luscious orchestra instead of a pair of pianists (no matter how good they are). Oh well. At least we are lucky to get the lyrics, a superb cast and the most complete recording of Yip Harburg and Burton Lane's score to date. The plot is convoluted and long on whimsy (yes, there is a leprechaun and a pot o' gold) but lefty Harburg's book and lyrics also bemoan "the folly of racism," as he put it in a note about the show. The cast rises to the occasion. Ever-lovely Melissa Errico has such a crystalline soprano (complete with Irish brogue) that her renditions of "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" and "Look to the Rainbow" raise goosebumps. Overall, the cast does great by the surprisingly imaginative score--"The Begat" is appropriately rollicking for instance. This CD is, indeed, "Something sweet,/Something sort of grand-ish." --Elisabeth Vincentelli

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CD Reviews

NO POT OF GOLD AT THIS RAINBOWS' END.
Robert F. Powers | Quincy, Ma USA | 08/05/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)

"HMMMM....LET'S SEE. WHY DON'T WE RECORD FOR THE FIRST TIME THE ENTIRE ENCHANTING SCORE TO 'FINIANS' RAINBOW' THAT SATIRICAL 1947 SWIPE AT RACIAL INTOLERANCE AND GREED AND CONSUMERISM. OKAY, SO FAR SO GOOD. NOW, LET'S HIRE A CRACKERJACK CAST OF PERFORMERS TO INTERPRET THIS LIGHT-HEARTED AND DELIGHTFUL SCORE. OH DARN! WE RAN OVER-BUDGET, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HIRE A ORCHESTRA-LET'S NOT WASTE STUDIO TIME-LET'S TINKLE THE ENTIRE SCORE ON A CUPPLA PIANOS.(MAYBE NO ONE WILL NOTICE THAT THIS FIRST COMPLETE RECORDING OF 'FINIANS RAINBOW' SCORE HAS BEEN ROBBED OF ITS' SOUL AND REPLACED BY TINKLE, TINKLE, PLUNK, PLUNK.) THE TWO STAR RATING IS FOR THE PERFORMERS WHO ARE LEFT STRANDED BY PENNY-PINCHING PRODUCERS."
No orchestra
Renata | 11/03/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)

"The singers were good, several of the songs are wonderful, but there is no orchestra, only piano. A number of portions of songs were done a cappella. I never realized how much I appreciated an orchestra.



If you are unfamiliar with the plot of Finian's Rainbow, it involves a leprechaun, a pot of gold, a Senator, racism (they are against it) and tobacco (they are for it, but this was 1947.) Of course there is a romance. Wikipedia gives a summary, which I won't repeat here. The recording is enjoyable for the songs, and the songs include a bit of dialog, which I enjoy."