 |
 Caught in the Carousel - Music Reviews and More
|
South Pacific
Live Concert Recording
Decca Broadway
A one shot deal, this live recording of the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein classic South Pacific, was performed for one night only at Carnegie Hall in June 2005. And what a night it was. The talented triptych of Alec Baldwin, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Reba McEntire tore through the 1949 classic with verve and class. Accompanied by the South Pacific Ensemble and the Orchestra of St. Lukes, the stars of the show bring this World War II musical to life. As Ensign Nellie Forbush, McEntire shows off an impressive range on numbers like “A Cockeyed Optimist” and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” while Mitchell, as Emile de Becque is a stunning presence, using his deep and resonant voice to imbue numbers like “Some Enchanted Evening” and “This Nearly Was Mine” with genuine feeling. Meanwhile, Baldwin, as Luther Billis knocks “There Is Nothin’ Like A Dame” out of the park with a spirited and buoyant reading, and his reprisal of “Bali Ha’i” is just plain fun. Rounded out by the luscious voices of Jason Danieley and Lillias White, this performance not only reminds us why South Pacific remains an enduring classic, it reminds us of the many joys a night at the theatre can bring.
—Alex Green
Can we help you find something?