'The Bridges of Madison County' original cast recording -- EXCLUSIVE FIRST LISTEN- Page 2

[matineeidol2591]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 4:04pm

I was comped into Bridges twice during previews- decided to actually purchase a ticket and make a return trip last weekend to catch the show well into its run. The show has improved immensely. Performances have blossomed (Kelli O'Hara is simply perfection) and lordy that score and the orchestrations! I appreciate the music more with each listen. JRB, this score has made me a fan. I think the adaptation is quite elegant and sophisticated, the dialogue very naturalistic and perfectly building into heightened emotion with every sweeping song.

I suppose I am the only person who thinks the final 20 minutes of the show work exceptionally well. Everyone seems to have qualms when the story diverts away from the central romance. I agree with this as well (to an extent) and felt that the rapid passage of time during "When I'm Gone" served its exact purpose- to quickly bring us back to Robert and Francesca years later.

Bridges is certainly one of my favorite shows of the season- I think its worlds better than the milding Gentlemans Guide, which I feel aimed high but ultimately fell flat in all aspects. How sad that Bridges won't be with us much longer. Rush to see it while you still can. I feel like this is a show and score people will eventually come to appreciate after its too late.

[musikman]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 4:26pm

Such a pleasant surprise to get to listen to this today. I've seen the show several times already and just can't get enough of that score. It's getting better with each listen. The CD has also been produced beautifully.

Siiiiiigh, I wish this show was doing better at the box office.

[avyrocks]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 4:29pm

O.O They added to "Who We Are And Who We Want To Be." 0:55-1:20

LOVE THE CAST RECORDING. It's so beautiful. :) Can't wait for it to come out next week!

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 6:02pm

Count me among those that think the final 20 mins of the show works wonderfully and, to me, heightens the show by making it about how these characters changed...it's WHY we just watched their three days together. And "It All Fades Away" and "Always Better" are masterpieces, and the book in this section sets them up beautifully.

[Steve721]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 6:15pm

Perhaps I was not paying enough attention to it or just flat out didn't get what they were trying to do, but I found the timeline of the last scene--the wedding, her husband's death, Robert's death, etc.--to be confusing. Of course there was no way to age O'Hara and the other characters while the scene was playing, so I didn't get a real sense of how many years had passed. To me, the whole thing just felt rushed and lacking in context.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 6:36pm

Steve, I'm not sure where you were sitting but they grey both Kelli and Steven's hair. But, thinking about it now, it did feel slightly rushed. I guess they wanted to spend at much time as possible on their love story?

[Steve721]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 7:01pm

I did notice the gray in his hair, but not in hers. Any way, even with the flaws, it was still a lovely, memorable show.

When the first promo versions of some of the songs were posted on SoundCloud, I converted them to mp3s and have been listening to them on my iPod ever since. I understand that the full cast album will be released next Tuesday, and I can't wait. JRB's score is amazing.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 7:04pm

Interestingly enough, the SoundCloud cuts are very different than the ones on Entertainment Weekly. It's a bummer because I actually like the SoundCloud version of Another Life more. Any chance you could hook me up with those mp3s, Steve?

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 1:02am

Yeah, I prefer some of the SoundCloud versions as well.

[jdrye222]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 2:38am

These sound gorgeous. I hope this recording gets people to realize how beautiful this music is and get themselves to the show.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 12:06pm

These sound phenomenal, but I will definitely be putting the SoundCloud version of "Another Life" in place of this one. I'm surprisingly disappointed with Bashor's vocals in the recording. They just doesn't fit the song...way too riffy.
Updated On: 4/12/14 at 12:06 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 1:30pm

I agree, I also preferred the SoundCloud version of A Million Miles. They both sounded better to me.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 2:31pm

It still is not listed for pre order on Amazon. Ordering a few cd's @ a time and want this one to show up.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 2:40pm

It's there...
Amazon pre-order link

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 2:47pm

Thanks

Just saw it. Putting on pre order

Updated On: 4/12/14 at 02:47 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 2:53pm

This was my first time listening to any songs from the show aside from the little bit in the TV commercial. I really like "One Second and a Million Miles." "It All Fades Away" is stuck in my head too. It's a good score and I found it fairly easy to follow along with the story without having seen the show which isn't always easy to do with some cast recordings.

Updated On: 4/12/14 at 02:53 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 3:18pm

But, you still should see it, it's so beautiful live.

It's always good to fully support labels like Ghostlight, which is why I will order from their website. Amazon has enough money. Plus, it's 4 dollars cheaper on Ghostlight, and I'll get it sooner.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 6:51pm

I am with Growler here--I've had zero interest in this show partly because of the subject matter, and partly because I find JRB very over rated (the only score I like is Parade as well.) But this immediately made me order the cast album. Stunning music.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 6:52pm

It's funny that Brown brags about how much he hates Passion--cuz that is the show that this reminds me of music wise.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 6:57pm

Yeah, it reminds me a lot of Passion and The Light in the Piazza. Two of my favorites, so no wonder I'm in love with this score.

[binau]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 6:58pm

I know I made this comment in the preview thread but BRIDGES in my opinion is actually the kind of show people probably expect when they hear of a musical called "Passion".

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 6:59pm

I wasn't enthusiastic about this show initially, since I wasn't into the novel or movie prior, and people had sort of dissed JRB on here (I'm not overly familiar with him), but I adored both of them in Far From Heaven, so I figured why not, and I have to say, I am a convert.

This is a show I am telling everyone to see, especially since it seems on the verge of closing. It was just such a beautiful, intimate show. It isn't flawless, but just a passionate score, with such luscious orchestrations and two amazing performances.

I'm definitely going back, but so far we seem to have a small passionate group who want to go again, which isn't enough to keep it open, so I hope a small word of mouth campaign is building... but the grosses seem to indicate if it is happening, it isn't catching on quickly enough.

[Steve721]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 7:03pm

I have to admit I also had doubts about the show--given the subject matter, you'd expect gooey, overwrought ballads. But then I heard the tracks on SoundCloud. The score is certainly lush and romantic, but IMHO it's not least the bit cloying. In that respect, it's similar to the music from The Light in the Piazza, although the scores obviously don't sound alike. I hope more people discover the wonderful score to Bridges before the show is forced to close.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 7:04pm

For those who had no interest but are not considering seeing it - SEE THIS. I wasn't too interested when I first heard about this, and even the positive preview reviews on here didn't really spike my interest. However, I decided to see this -mainly for Kelli O'Hara who I had never seen live before. Not only did Kelli's performance surpass all my expectations, but the show as a whole did too.

This show is a gem in a season full of big splashy musicals. From the second Kelli enters the black stage lit only by a faded light and sings the first notes of the opening in that glorious voice, I was swept away by the acting, score, and stunning simplicity of the production.

[binau]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 7:07pm

I agree. I wasn't really interested because I didn't know anything of the source material, the horrible (original) marketing and being scarred by other 'romantic' musicals (DR ZHIVAGO, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMEN). But this is a real knockout.