Search - Various Artists :: Carousel; Broadway Musical Series

Barbara M. (Babe) from NEW YORK, NY
Reviewed on 3/27/2007...

One of the great Broadway musicals, this recording has the original cast. Superb.

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2 classic CAROUSEL recordings on 1 disc

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 02/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD on the budget Prism label includes 2 classic recordings of Rodgers and Hammerstein's CAROUSEL score: the peerless 1945 original Broadway cast, as well as the quite enjoyable 1950 London cast recording.The 1945 cast featured John Raitt, in his Broadway debut, as the carnival barker Billy Bigelow with the lovely Jan Clayton as Julie Jordan. The role of Carrie is played by Jean Darling with the cast rounded out by Christine Johnson as Nettie, Eric Mattson as Enoch Snow, Murvyn Vye as Jigger and Connie Baxter.Raitt's amazing voice perfectly inhabits songs like "The Highest Judge of All" and the breathtaking "Soliloquy". Jan Clayton is a perfect fit for Julie. Miss Clayton would go on to further distinction a few years later, playing both Magnolia and Kim in a landmark revival of SHOW BOAT. Jean Darling perfectly captures the breathless romantic longing of Carrie with the delightful "Mister Snow".The 1950 London set is great too, though of course pales beside its Broadway counterpart. The roles of Billy and Julie were taken by Stephen Douglass and Iva Withers, with Margot Moser as Carrie, Eric Mattson (reprising his Broadway role) as Enoch Snow and Marion Ross as Nettie. As was the custom with London cast recordings at that time, the songs are broken up into brief mini-medleys, and the entire recording only goes for little more than 20 minutes. Nontheless, Stephen Douglass is a fine Billy. Douglass would receive further acclaim 5 years later with the role of Joe Hardy opposite Gwen Verdon in the original cast of DAMN YANKEES. Iva Withers is a great Julie; and Margot Moser, who would be the final actress to play Eliza in the original Broadway production of MY FAIR LADY is an excellent Carrie. Mattson's performance as Enoch is almost exactly the same as on the Broadway set.Considering you are getting 2 cast albums for less than the price of 1, this CD is a great buy."