Miss Saigon [Original London Cast]

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List Price: £17.99 (GBP)
  • Lowest New Price: £10.19
  • Lowest Used Price: £6.88
  • Total New: 13
  • Total Used: 5
  • Total Collectible: 0
  • Total Refurbished: 0
  • Artist : Various
  • Binding : Audio CD
  • EAN : 0720642427125
  • Format : Import
  • Label : Geffen
  • Manufacturer : Geffen
  • Number Of Discs : 2
  • Package Dimensions : 1.00 inches (Height) x 5.60 inches (Length) x 0.40 pounds (Weight) x 5.00 inches (Width)
  • Package Quantity : 1
  • Product Group : Music
  • Publisher : Geffen
  • Release Date : 1990-02-02
  • SKU : 1109220022
  • Studio : Geffen
  • UPC : 720642427125

Miss Saigon rather surprisingly turns out to be a tour de force for its star, Jonathan Pryce. In the midst of Boubil and Schönberg's "girl-meets-boy-with confused-emotions-in-Vietnam" rewrite of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Pryce's Engineer's bright tenor provides a nasty yet humanely pragmatical focal point for more logically tuned minds. Daring to tackle the controversial theme of doomed lovers during the misguided American war efforts, Miss Saigon was a thematic and stylistic breakthrough of the 1980s, just like Jesus Christ Superstar had been in the previous decade. But the lyricist, Richard Maltby, previously a young man with alleged off-off-Broadway street cred, could only do so much with Boubil's French original platitudes--it is Schönberg's music paired with producer Cameron Macintosh's storyboard vision that secured the deserved success of Miss Saigon. On this complete recording, an orchestra on form shows off William D. Brohn's skilful orchestrations, and a fine ensemble supports Lea Salonga's tender yet determined Kim. And in the male camp, apart from the prancing Pryce, Peter Polycarpou (John) is crystal clear as the struggling American marine soldier, curbing all tendencies to over-emotionality. --Yngvil V.G.

- Amazon.co.uk Review

It's probably best known for raising the stakes for 1980s blockbuster shows by landing a helicopter on stage, but Miss Saigon is also a good show with good music. As a follow-up to their international smash Les Misérables, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg (with an assist from Richard Maltby Jr.) adapted the tale of Madame Butterfly to the Vietnam War, realized here by the original 1989 London cast. While it may seem overheated at times, the despair and passion fit the tragic story, and Schönberg's pop-flavored style receives its most appropriate setting. Leading the cast are Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer (a Eurasian character whose casting generated some controversy when the producers wanted to have Pryce, a Caucasian, reprise the role on Broadway), Lea Salonga (in her first major role) as the young Vietnamese bride, Simon Bowman as her beau, and Claire Moore as his American wife (and a young Ruthie Henshall as one of the sweaty bargirls). The songs include the bawdy opener "The Heat Is on in Saigon," "The Movie in My Mind," "Why God Why," the romantic duet "The Last Night of the World," the female duet "I Still Believe," the male chorus number "Bui-Doi," and the Engineer's mocking "The American Dream." The booklet includes photographs and full lyrics. It's also available in a 58-minute highlights version. --David Horiuchi

- From Amazon.com

Tracks:

  • Disc 1

    • 1: Saigon-April 1975: Overture - Orchestra/Martin Koch
    • 2: Saigon-April 1975: The Heat Is On In Saigon - Jonathan Pryce/Pinky Amador/Ruthie Henshall/Suchitra Sen Sawrattan/Shukubi Yo/Antoinette Lo...
    • 3: Saigon-April 1975: The Movie In My Mind - Isay Alvarez/Lea Salonga/Pinky Amador/Ruthie Henshall/Suchitra Sen Sawrattan/Shukubi Yo/Antoinette L
    • 4: Saigon-April 1975: The Dance - Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga/Jonathan Pryce
    • 5: Saigon-April 1975: Why God Why? - Simon Bowman
    • 6: Saigon-April 1975: This Money Is Yours - Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga
    • 7: Saigon-April 1975: Sun And Moon - Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga
    • 8: Saigon-April 1975: The Telephone Song - Simon Bowman/Peter Polycarpou
    • 9: Saigon-April 1975: The Deal - Simon Bowman/Jonathan Pryce
    • 10: Saigon-April 1975: The Ceremony (Dju Vui Vai) - Lea Salonga/Simon Bowman/Pinky Amador/Ruthie Henshall/Suchitra Sen Sawrattan/Shukubi Yo...
    • 11: Saigon-April 1975: What's This I Find - Andy Lanai/Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga
    • 12: Saigon-April 1975: The Last Night Of The World - Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga
    • 13: Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: The Morning Of The Dragon - Bobby Martino/Jay Ibot/Jon Jon Briones/Chooi Kheng Beh/Robert Sena/Lyon Roque
    • 14: Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: I Still Believe - Lea Salonga/Claire Moore
    • 15: Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: This Is The Hour - Jonathan Pryce/Lea Salonga/Andy Lanai/Bobby Martino/Jay Ibot/Jon Jon Briones/Chooi Kheng Beh...

  • Disc 2

    • 1: Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: If You Want To Die In Bed - Jonathan Pryce
    • 2: Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: Let Me See His Western Nose - Jonathan Pryce
    • 3: Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: I'd Give My Life For You - Lea Salonga
    • 4: Atlanta-September 1978: Bui-Doi - Peter Polycarpou
    • 5: Atlanta-September 1978: The Revelation - Peter Polycarpou/Simon Bowman/Claire Moore
    • 6: Bangkok-April 1978: What A Waste - Jonathan Pryce
    • 7: Bangkok-April 1978: Please - Peter Polycarpou/Lea Salonga
    • 8: Saigon-April 1975: The Fall Of Saigon - Peter Polycarpou/Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga
    • 9: Bangkok-October 1978: Room 317 - Lea Salonga/Claire Moore
    • 10: Bangkok-October 1978: Now That I've Seen Her - Claire moore
    • 11: Bangkok-October 1978: The Confrontation - Claire Moore/Simon Bowman/Peter Polycarpou
    • 12: Bangkok-October 1978: The American Dream - Jonathan Pryce
    • 13: Bangkok-October 1978: The Sacred Bird - Lea Salonga
    • 14: Bangkok-October 1978: Finale - Lea Salonga/Simon Bowman

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