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3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 Sondheims 2nd Masterpiece Jul 22, 2006
By Tom George
An American classic, one of the greats, though I feel that Follies is Sondheims greatest acheivement, this is a close second. Saw a preview performance, then saw it again shortly after the opening. Several changes had been made, all for the better. The Flagellation Song had been removed, mercifully. It's been restored in subsequent productions, and always at the audiences discomfort. ?? Anyway, the original production was huge, in sets, performances and music, and it was grand in every sense of the word. Classic performances by Lansbury (one of maybe 3 of the great broadway actresses of all time) and Cariou.
As the other reviewers have already stated, this CD makes you want the complete recording. However, I enjoy this CD when I don't have the time or concentration to listen to the entire score.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
I have seen the world beheld it's wonders, and this is one Apr 29, 2000
By Donald
This is an absolutly amazing score. It is a once haunting, lush, lean, beautiful, moving, witty, and generally brilliant. Though some may bemoan the omissions for the highlights CD, this is still 73 minuits of great music, and the underscore music cna be tedious, as can "Green Finch and Linnett Bird" (a song I was not sad to see missing from the highlights CD.) This CD still has Landbury's and Cariu's stellar permormances and the true classics such as "Johanna," "Have a Little Priest," "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," "Pretty Women," and "Not While I'm Around." And to make things better, there is not a bad song on this CD. It may be missing some dialogue and the Judges Flagilation scene (a scene that I believe to missing from the video, though I could be wrong), but it is still amazing complete- to the point where one can easily follow the plot.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Flawless May 30, 2006
By Stephanie Hoffman
"Miss Hoffman"
Angela Lansbury is clearly the best Mrs. Lovett, her interpretation is on the dot. She is absolutely bone chilling. Len Cariou's strong baritone is thrilling and his portrayal of Todd is right on the dot. The only downer of this recording is the fact there is no Green Finch and Linnet Bird, a great modern aria sung by Johanna. This, in my oppinion, is Stephen Sondheim's best musical. The orchestration is one of Sondheim's most complex, his counterpoint is awe-inspiring. If you plan on getting this CD, don't. Get the complete original cast! You simply must hear it in its intirety.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Sondheim's incredible grand guignol masterpiece... Apr 22, 2006
By James Head
It's difficult to know where to begin when talking about a musical such as this one. Considered by many (admittedly, myself included) to be Stephen Sondheim's greatest masterpiece, the complexity and incredible depth, both musical and lyrical, of SWEENEY TODD is remarkable.
This 1979 Original Broadway Cast recording stars the incredible Angela Lansbury (cf. MAME) as Ms. Nellie Lovett, an off-kilter, darkly humorous, and downright goofy (at times) peddler of meat pies in her own shop in London. For those unfamiliar with Lansbury's singing voice, do yourself a favor and get acquainted with it here. Ms. Lovett's character calls for a certain quirkiness (she bakes people into meat pies, for goodness sake!), and Lansbury's vocals seem a perfect match for the role.
Len Cariou stars as Sweeney Todd (aka Benjamin Barker), a man pushed and pulled in every way by a life that has been anything but fair to him. A puppet to the whimsy of those around him, Todd's mental instability rears its ugly head in the form of murder when he elects to dispose of those who take a seat in his chair for a shave and haircut. Mr. Todd and Ms. Lovett soon team up, both having a somewhat obvious yet sad need for affection. A strong supporting cast rounds off this marvelous milestone recording.
In the end, SWEENEY TODD is nothing short of a musical theater gem. The vocals, particularly from Cariou and Lansbury, are top-notch and the lyrics and music from Sondheim are, in my opinion, some of the best ever written and composed. After all, creating a musical thriller that is creepy, quirkily humorous, suspenseful, and moving -- all at the same time -- is no easy task.
The only problem I find myself having is that I wish that George Hearn, who replaced Cariou in the role of Sweeney, had also recorded a copy of the cast album. Cariou's vocals, while strong, are still comparably weaker than Hearn's. Cariou's voice thins in his upper register, while it seems to me that Hearn's only becomes stronger at the extremes of his pitch range. This is not to criticize Cariou's performance at all, but just to point out that there are differences. Thankfully, though, Hearn's performance as Sweeney has also been released by Warner Bros. on DVD, recorded in 1982, co-starring Angela Lansbury as Ms. Lovett.
If you like what you hear from available samples, then I would suggest getting acquainted with SWEENEY, then move on to some of Sondheim's other outstanding musicals, such as ANYONE CAN WHISTLE (also featuring Angela Lansbury), INTO THE WOODS, PASSION, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, and many others. Very highly recommended.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
This should be your first Sondheim Oct 23, 2000
By D. Landrum
If you really want to know with one musical how Sondheim really works, get this CD. The music is so wonderfully and minutely constructed that you know it must have been Sondheim's baby. The music and the performances of the actors are stretched beyond conventional musical theatre limits, so the talents of all shine through and you get the effect of being in the audience. Try listening to the somber opening number without getting goosebumps. Best of all, each musical number furthers the storyline and the plot, something modern musical theatre often forgets to do. Favorite numbers: "A Little Priest" (twistedly funny), "Pretty Women", "Worst Pies in London", "God, That's Good" and Toby's touching "Not While I'm Around." This will be a good starter if you are new to Sondheim's work. If you like what you hear, the entire score will give you the full intended effect. After 'Sweeney', I would recommend 'Sunday in the Park with George' for the other spectrum of Sondheim's abilities.This isn't music you listen to, it's music you experience!
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