Stage Musicals on BD

[pere]

Recently in a poll about the preferences of the movies genre I was the only guy that voted for Musicals.
In my country people don’t like very much musicals I know that, but I thought in US and UK and other English countries people were more fond of this genre.
Now I’d like to know if people in this forum like stage musicals.
I own various stage musicals on DVD:
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Cats, Jesus Christ Super Star, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.
Stephen Sondheim: Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd (not the film), Passion.
Leonard Bernstein: Candide.
Jeff Wayne: War of the Worlds.
Cole Porter: Kiss me Kate.
Rodgers & Hammerstein : South Pacific.
Boublil and Schönberg: Les Misérables.
Recently I discovered a lot of superb French musicals: Notre Dame de Paris, Dracula, Don Juan, etc.
I’d wish to know if I am a specie in process of extinction or if is anybody in this forum that have similar taste.
I’d also like to know if somebody has some information about shortly releases on BD of stage musicals of any kind. I think for now there is nothing out there.

Thanks to all of you.
(Sorry for my English)

Pere

[P@t_Mtl]

I do not know if there are plans to release some of those but you can find opera on BD so it might come to a point where so of those musicals will become available on BD.

I recently saw Dracula on Arts Television (a local cable channel here in Montreal) in HD. It was of course the Montreal production that was presented, it was very nice, PQ was amazing. Which version did you see, the one from Paris? I would not mind getting Dracula on BD if you might be able to tell me where you got it from?

[Johnny Vinyl]

I can't say that I'm a great fan of musicals! I know for sure that I don't like them when presented on film...i.e. The Sound of Music, An American In Paris and the list is endless. I do and have enjoyed musicals live on-stage however. I thought that Cats, Phantom Of The Opera, Hair and Jesus christ Superstar were fantastic in a live venue.

It's really kind of weird as I love concert films and music in general.

John

[Joe Cain]

Director John Doyle's recent revival of Sondheim's Company is available on BD; it's quite good, in my opinion.

[SHines-IT]

I am a musical fan and next month, there releasing RENT the original Broadway cast on Blu Ray. I will be buying that, with the movie also. To replace the DVD copy.

[pere]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I do not know if there are plans to release some of those but you can find opera on BD so it might come to a point where so of those musicals will become available on BD.

I recently saw Dracula on Arts Television (a local cable channel here in Montreal) in HD. It was of course the Montreal production that was presented, it was very nice, PQ was amazing. Which version did you see, the one from Paris? I would not mind getting Dracula on BD if you might be able to tell me where you got it from?

Unfortunately it's DVD.
It's the Montreal production and I got it from Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/Dracula-Entre-lamour-mort/dp/B000VXWY4Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1231615355&sr=1-1

The spectacle and the perfomances are terrific. The DVD is good. About PQ and AQ you can't ask more for a DVD.
Also splendid other Canadian production Don Juan, but this one was recorded at Le Palais des Congrès de Paris.
I don't hesitate if they are released on BD to upgrade. But for the moment I must to resign.

[pere]

Originally Posted by Joe Cain

Director John Doyle's recent revival of Sondheim's Company is available on BD; it's quite good, in my opinion.

Been a fan of Sondheim, I don't know why, I was a little unwilling to get this one.
I think there's no musicians, right?

[pere]

Originally Posted by SHines-IT

I am a musical fan and next month, there releasing RENT the original Broadway cast on Blu Ray. I will be buying that, with the movie also. To replace the DVD copy.

That are very good news !
I own the DVD and the BD of the film. Each time I see (and hear) it, the more I like it.
No doubt I'll get the stage production.
Thanks.

[GOAT]

Originally Posted by SHines-IT

I am a musical fan and next month, there releasing RENT the original Broadway cast on Blu Ray. I will be buying that, with the movie also. To replace the DVD copy.

cant wait

[pere]

Originally Posted by John72953

I can't say that I'm a great fan of musicals! I know for sure that I don't like them when presented on film...i.e. The Sound of Music, An American In Paris and the list is endless. I do and have enjoyed musicals live on-stage however. I thought that Cats, Phantom Of The Opera, Hair and Jesus christ Superstar were fantastic in a live venue.

It's really kind of weird as I love concert films and music in general.

John

I prefer musicals on stage but I disagree with you about the movies, I like musical films of all ages: Chicago, Rent, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Oklahoma, Carousel, Brigadoon, Evita, Grease, Hair, Guys and Dolls, Moulin Rouge, Tommy, Hairspray, Across the Universe and many more that don't remember right now.
I think stage musicals and films is something totally different. For example I own South Pacific the movie, and a concert from Carnegie Hall with Reba McEntire and Brian Stokes Mitchell. I love both, but you can't compare, there are a whole different things. The same with Sweeney Todd the film and the stage in San Francisco with Patti Lupone. You can't compare singing Patti Lupone with Helena Bonham Carter but the film have a rhythm, climax and images that the stage production can't. IMO of course.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by pere

I prefer musicals on stage but I disagree with you about the movies, I like musical films of all ages: Chicago, Rent, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Oklahoma, Carousel, Brigadoon, Evita, Grease, Hair, Guys and Dolls, Moulin Rouge, Tommy, Hairspray, Across the Universe and many more that don't remember right now.
I think stage musicals and films is something totally different. For example I own South Pacific the movie, and a concert from Carnegie Hall with Reba McEntire and Brian Stokes Mitchell. I love both, but you can't compare, there are a whole different things. The same with Sweeney Todd the film and the stage in San Francisco with Patti Lupone. You can't compare singing Patti Lupone with Helena Bonham Carter but the film have a rhythm, climax and images that the stage production can't. IMO of course.

And PERE..you're entitled to that opinion. I think it's great that you enjoy them. It's just that I don't. IMO of course

[pere]

Originally Posted by John72953

And PERE..you're entitled to that opinion. I think it's great that you enjoy them. It's just that I don't. IMO of course

Of course

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by pere

I own various stage musicals on DVD:
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Cats, Jesus Christ Super Star, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.
Stephen Sondheim: Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd (not the film), Passion.
Leonard Bernstein: Candide.
Jeff Wayne: War of the Worlds.

( - Fill us in on this one?)

Cole Porter: Kiss me Kate.
Rodgers & Hammerstein : South Pacific.
Boublil and Schönberg: Les Misérables.

Assume you're leaving out the official SD version of "Sunday in the Park with George", which is understandable?
(The reason, that is, not the musical.)

As for, um, lesser-known musicals on SD (and originally filmed from Euro/JP HD-cable), there's also:
David Hassellhoff in Jekyll & Hyde
Michael Crawford in Barnum
Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria: the Stage Version
the original Kevin Kline/Linda Ronstadt stage version of Pirates of Penzance,
the Duke Ellington Sophisticated Ladies,
and Hugh Jackman in Oklahoma (which he was doing before Wolverine)

[pere]

Originally Posted by EricJ

( - Fill us in on this one?)

That’s an adaptation for stage of the Jeff Wayne’s 70’s work, recorded at London O2 Arena and directed by himself with the original recorded voice of Richard Burton and some of the original performers like Justin Hayward( Moody Blues). Perhaps isn’t a truly musical, but I have it classified that way (at my own risk ). The disc is very good the sound is top notch for a DVD.

Assume you're leaving out the official SD version of "Sunday in the Park with George", which is understandable?
(The reason, that is, not the musical.)

As for, um, lesser-known musicals on SD (and originally filmed from Euro/JP HD-cable), there's also:
David Hassellhoff in Jekyll & Hyde
Michael Crawford in Barnum
Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria: the Stage Version
the original Kevin Kline/Linda Ronstadt stage version of Pirates of Penzance,
the Duke Ellington Sophisticated Ladies,
and Hugh Jackman in Oklahoma (which he was doing before Wolverine)

The problem I find with many old stage recordings is the quality.
Before I buy one I read the reviews to assure decent quality, but there is no guarantee. I can bear a little blurred picture, but I can’t support bad sound (it’s a musical isn’t it?).
Thanks for your list.
A little surprise about David Hassellhof (Jekyll & Hyde) and Hugh Hackman (Oklahoma), I didn’t know they could sing. Seams good recordings, I’m thinking to buy both of them.
About Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies I already own that, but the quality it’s so poor that I even mentioned it. It’s like a bad pirating VHS recording.

[Joe Cain]

Originally Posted by pere

Been a fan of Sondheim, I don't know why, I was a little unwilling to get this one.
I think there's no musicians, right?

There's no dedicated orchestra; the actors are the orchestra. It sounds gimmicky, and it is, a little. There are one or two moments in which it really doesn't work for me, but surprisingly there are many more moments that it does---especially Raul Esparza's turn at the piano for "Being Alive;" it's the first time Bobby actually plays anything over the course of the evening, which is fitting, isn't it?

At the absolute least it's worth a rent; if you like the show anyway, you'll find a lot to enjoy in this production.

[Sushisake]

Originally Posted by pere

Recently in a poll about the preferences of the movies genre I was the only guy that voted for Musicals.
In my country people don’t like very much musicals I know that, but I thought in US and UK and other English countries people were more fond of this genre.
Now I’d like to know if people in this forum like stage musicals.
I own various stage musicals on DVD:
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Cats, Jesus Christ Super Star, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.
Stephen Sondheim: Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd (not the film), Passion.
Leonard Bernstein: Candide.
Jeff Wayne: War of the Worlds.
Cole Porter: Kiss me Kate.
Rodgers & Hammerstein : South Pacific.
Boublil and Schönberg: Les Misérables.
Recently I discovered a lot of superb French musicals: Notre Dame de Paris, Dracula, Don Juan, etc.
I’d wish to know if I am a specie in process of extinction or if is anybody in this forum that have similar taste.
I’d also like to know if somebody has some information about shortly releases on BD of stage musicals of any kind. I think for now there is nothing out there.

Thanks to all of you.
(Sorry for my English)

Pere

Hi Pere:

Please get in touch with me via private message - we have lots to talk about! I LOVE musicals also!

Ed

[pere]

Originally Posted by Joe Cain

There's no dedicated orchestra; the actors are the orchestra. It sounds gimmicky, and it is, a little. There are one or two moments in which it really doesn't work for me, but surprisingly there are many more moments that it does---especially Raul Esparza's turn at the piano for "Being Alive;" it's the first time Bobby actually plays anything over the course of the evening, which is fitting, isn't it?

At the absolute least it's worth a rent; if you like the show anyway, you'll find a lot to enjoy in this production.

Nice tip Joe.
Perhaps I rent it. Thanks.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by pere

About Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies I already own that, but the quality it’s so poor that I even mentioned it. It’s like a bad pirating VHS recording.

Like "Pirates", Sophisticated was one of Showtime's series of live still-running Broadway concert shows (they usually did plays), back when that WAS the standard for early-80's cable TV--It may not be great, but it's archival.

(ISTR, Sophisticated was also part of the early 80's experiments with "Pay-per-view cable will change the entire entertainment industry! ", and the gimmick was that it was a live broadcast of that night's stage performance--
Which caused the unions to howl so loudly, restrictions that later came out of it singlehandedly crippled Hollywood's ability to make a movie musical for literally the next twenty years...)

[pere]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Like "Pirates", Sophisticated was one of Showtime's series of live still-running Broadway concert shows (they usually did plays), back when that WAS the standard for early-80's cable TV--It may not be great, but it's archival.

You are right, but I prefer watch to archive. The show is great but the pleasure cannot be complete.
Other similar show is Smokey Joe's Cafe, this one is posterior in time and is far better audio/video quality. I seen it many times.

[Teabaggins]

Tommy!