The Essential Noel Coward
William McCauley | New York, NY USA | 04/01/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you want to know Noel Coward, and only buy one recording, this should be it. These were two different albums, recordings of his club acts in Las Vegas and New York. Noel needed money for taxes, and Marlene Dietrich told him to try Vegas -- "They pay a fortune!" The composer/playwright who wrote "Private Lives," "Present Laughter," "Hay Fever," and "Blithe Spirit," as well as the films "Cavalcade" and "In Which We Serve" sings 29 of his classics here, in live performances with the incomparable pianist/arranger Peter Matz. All-time hit ballads "I'll See You Again," "Someday I'll Find You," and "If Love Were All" mix with his hilarious song-stories "A Bar On The Piccola Marina," "Nina," and "I Went To A Marvelous Party." Known as the classiest act of the 20th Century, Sir Noel defined his homeland for the world in "Mad Dogs & Englishmen." After he made it acceptable to play Vegas, every other performer in show business wanted to."
Fantastic as usual
Dianne Croft | Chicago, IL United States | 08/09/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Noel Coward is one of the past century's greatest playwrights and composers. I love to listen to the songs that conjure up the essence of times gone by. This album combines the perfect English drawing room comic song and the light musical composition to perfection. If you like all things staunchly English, you will love this album (I was born and raised in England so I may speak with authority)."