Search - Krzysztof Komeda :: Tanz der Vampire

Jim Steinman is in my personal god pantheon

Reverend Rake | The Lovely Mountains SW of Denver | 11/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oh, expensive. So expensive. So very, very expensive. Expensive! (I'm a struggling artist/student) So I bought this CD used in "like new" condition, and I am exceedingly pleased with my purchase (I made a good choice, hooray!). You will find a wide variety of musical styles from the incredible Jim Steinman (I like some bombast and pretension in my music, okay?) in this disc, and the musicianship is superb. JS really doesn't get the credit due to him. It seems to me that a lot of his work is written off as too over the top for this day and age, but in my opinion these detractors are just trying to write off Bonnie Tyler, Meat Loaf, or Celine Dion (I love one of the artists, and another is okay, but I'm just not into their adult/contemporary/easy-listening thing).

The singing is beautiful and the fact that it is in German doesn't bother me in the least. In fact, I am actually picking some of the language up! This is a wonderful last hurrah for the (far too prematurely taken) late, great, Steve Barton. His voice is one reason to buy this recording, as it is beautiful, rich, and incredibly expressive (besides JS's wonderful music, anyway).

Many of the good reviews below capture my opinion, but put it much more elegantly than I do, especially about Jim's musicianship, so do take the time to peruse those.

To complete my thoughts:Oh, expensive. So expensive. So very, very expensive. Expensive! But worth it!

That is all for now. Goodbye."

What a magnificent score

M. G ORELL | RANDOLPH, MA USA | 05/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first found out about Tanz der Vampire when I found out it was coming to Broadway as Dance of the Vampires. Then Dance of the Vampires closed. Over the years, I've done research but it wasn't until I bought the CD to another Michael Kunze musical, Rebecca, that I had the impetus to buy this CD. And I'm so glad I did. The score is absolutely magnificent. Just the opening notes of the overture alone will blow you away. It ranges from hard rock to Gilbert and Sullivan to operatic and I even think I heard a little country and western in one song. I am not ashamed to admit that I dance around to the songs "Knoblauch" and "Der Tanz der Vampire", which, by the way, has the sickest dance beat ever in my book. A few of the songs are in fact adapted from Jim Steinman's earlier works. For example, Totale Finsternis is Total Eclipse of the Heart with new lyrics, Die Unstillbare Gier is the same melody as Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are but entirely different lyrics. And Einladung Zum Ball is Original Sin, again with new lyrics (All YOU wanted was a piece of the night). But I don't care cuz those songs still sound amazing. And the orchestrations are some of the best I've heard.



The performers are sent from heaven. Steve Barton, may he rest in peace, was THE Count von Krolock. I don't know why they wanted to go with Michael Crawford. Every time he opens his mouth (Steve Barton), my heart melts. Aris Sas has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard in my life. When he sings Fur Sarah, you are blown away. Cornelia Zenz is a delight as Sarah. And what a set of pipes! Gernor Kranner as Professor Abrosinius...I take my hat off to him for being able to handle a patter song and sing in a high soprano...and that's all in one song. James Sbano as Chagal is hilarious (That's not going to work! I'm a Jewish vampire!) as is Eva maria Marold as Rebecca. Anne Welte easily steals the show with Tot Zu Sein ist Komisch as Magda. Nik as Herbert has a lovely voice.



Whether you understand German or not, you need this CD, be you a musical theatre fan, a Jim Steinman fan, or both. Or even if you're a fan of The Fearless Vampire Killers and want to see how the material is handled. And for God's sake, get the 2-disc recording. It is one of the most magnificent scores ever and I pray that someday, the rights will be released here in America (not the rights to the Broadway production but to the production that has been drawing in crowds in Europe and Asia).



In short, Tanz der Vampire is amazing. Buy it."