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Original Paris Cast. I originally only bought the highlights recording rather than the ‘version integrale’ for two main reasons: 1. it was cheaper, and 2. I didn’t know anything about the show. But it turned out I really love the CD, and had to get the complete one anyway! The cast is fantastic, though I’d never heard of any of them before. And the music is great – particular favourites would be J’ai Peur, Les Rois du Monde and Le Duel, but I really enjoy all of it. The orchestrations are beautifully lush and powerful. It is one of my favourite new recordings that I’ve heard in quite a while, and definitely made me want to see the show! |
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Original Belgian cast. The quality of this recording is excellent, and the orchestrations sound pretty much identical to the French recording – all of the songs sound EXACTLY the same until they start singing. 🙂 The Flemish language is naturally a little harsher than French, so there is a lack of fluency on some songs (it particularly bothered me on the “Vivre” part of the Duel, for some reason), but it’s not that bad overall. The cast is pretty good – I like Romeo more than Juliet, but they’re both okay. All in all, I’m glad to have this CD, but I’m sure I will still listen to the French recording more. |
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Original London cast. I waited rather impatiently for years for an English recording of this show to be released, and now I almost wish it hadn’t been! I’ve got some pretty big issues with this recording, and nearly all of them have to do with the translations. I find the lyrics awkward and in many cases just plain bad. Example: “You turn my stomach/I wanna be sick/I’ll be nice to you/I’ll slaughter you quick”. Ugh, it just makes me cringe! The orchestrations are also not as strong as the French recording, and particularly weak on “Kings of the World”. And they cut one of my favourite songs, “J’ai Peur”! The cast does a good job with what they have, but I can’t help but feel sorry for them for having to sing these awful lyrics. They are so banal, I can almost hear Shakespeare turning in his grave over this misuse of the English language. Get the French recording instead! |
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Original Vienna cast. I was very excited when I heard this show would finally be done in Vienna, since I’m very used to listening to shows in German, and I was expecting a great cast. I’m not disappointed with the recording on either count – the translations sound really good, and the cast is wonderful. I’ve got no complaints with any of them, and Mathias Edenborn, in particular, is really great as Benvolio. The CD is just highlights, unfortunately, but what’s there is really good. The orchestrations start out very powerfully with “Verona”, but I was a little dismayed by “Herrscher Der Welt” (“Les Rois du Monde”). I think the original orchestrations for that song are so perfect, you don’t need to mess with it! But overall, I really enjoy this recording – I’d probably put it #2, behind the French one! |
