"The Great Comet" Broadway Cast Recording
"The Great Comet" Broadway Cast Recording
leighmiserables
Broadway Star Joined: 4/26/17
#1"The Great Comet" Broadway Cast Recording
Posted: 5/13/17 at 11:50am
Apologies if this is inappropriate – this is my first time making a thread so I'm not sure of all the parameters – but with the Great Comet soundtrack coming out in a few days, I'd thought it'd be a good idea to create a thread for fans to talk about it. I've made it so early because of all the early released songs that I'd love to talk about --
Like "The Duel" which got released yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46A039riCUE
I believe this is the first song to be released with a lot of major changes from the original, especially the bit with Anatole and Hélène at the end. I like it, but I must admit I miss Amber Gray singing "the aiiiiir of a connoisseur." Oh well, haha.
#2"The great comet" Broadway cast recording
Posted: 5/13/17 at 4:13pm
There are some changes indeed! I think in the original recording Pierre said "oh, that charming young girl" and now he says "oh, Andrei's bethroted" (sp?). I'm still getting used to the new tracks.
#3"The great comet" Broadway cast recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 10:35am
Vulture has the full recording streaming.
Get a First Listen to The Great Comet’s Broadway Cast Recording
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#4"The great comet" Broadway cast recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 11:26am
No One Else is the prettiest love song I have heard in a very very long time. Denée Benton's voice is divine.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
#5Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 11:39am
Denee sometimes struggles with the high belted parts of No One Else in performance, but she nails it beautifully on this recording. I'm so used to the Off-Broadway cast/sound, but this recording sounds lovely and it's great to have it.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#6Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 11:45am
I'm also extremely used to the off-Broadway recording, so there's some adjustment to hearing this incarnation to the score, but by and large the recording sounds lovely and many of the returning performances just sound better than ever.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
eugenia2
Chorus Member Joined: 10/28/12
#8Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 12:44pm
Love it. imho, Malloy more than deserves each Tony.
Jtoth8922
Swing Joined: 4/16/13
#9Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 12:45pm
Plus the delicious Amber Grey! I adore the new high note in Charming, still the best song to me. Plus if you by the book they put out, the libretto includes the updated lyrics, with tons of notes by Malloy and comparisons to War and Peace.
DeepVSexyWitch2
Chorus Member Joined: 7/31/15
#10Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 2:42pm
It's absolutely delicious. I can live without it winning Best Musical but if Malloy doesn't take Score and Orchestrations I'll be truly shocked. In my opinion, it is leagues above Hansen just looking at construction alone.
#11Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 2:56pm
How are you liking it? I do miss some things from the Off-Broadway recording –inflections, mainly–, but I just passed Sonya Alone and, well, it was already a powerful song but this new version is breathtaking. I got chills.
Ziva56
Swing Joined: 11/14/14
#12Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 3:18pm
I honestly can't tell if I prefer the off broadway or the broadway recording. I love Groban but after being used to Malloy it's an odd adjustment. I definitely prefer Denee to Phillipa on this one though
#13Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 3:27pm
Perhaps because I so strongly disliked the production in the smaller tent venue and had such a drastic reevaluation of the show once it moved to Broadway, I never grew to like the original recording aside from a few things here and there. It doesn't quite capture the electricity generated by the new staging, in my opinion. This new recording is so rich, with its beefed up orchestrations and vocal arrangements, it feels so much more complete and cared for.
"No One Else" and "Sonya Alone" are reason enough to hand Dave Malloy the Best Orchestrations and Best Score Tonys, but the whole package is really a wonder of creativity and mood.
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#14Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 3:34pm
I agree, "No One Else" is probably one of my 5 favorite theater songs, ever. It's exquisite. (I didn't know Benton struggled in the theater. When I saw it, she was quite wonderful. It is rangy for her? Or is it the "At the Ballet" styled belt that arrives thus and challenges? A layperson's question, don't beat me up, singers.)
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
#15Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 3:37pm
I've really grown to like "Dust and Ashes" a great deal.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#16Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 3:49pm
Auggie, I don't think she looks like she is struggling, but I remember watching a video of her performing the song sometime last year for an appearance, and she was awfully pitchy on those high "You and I"s at the end of the song. She can clearly do it, but they're so high that it seems like it isn't that hard to be a little sharp or flat.
Kad, I agree on Dust and Ashes. The women get the better material as a whole, but that song is really gorgeous and suited so well to Josh's voice.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#17Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 3:52pm
Auggie27 said: "(I didn't know Benton struggled in the theater. When I saw it, she was quite wonderful. It is rangy for her? Or is it the "At the Ballet" styled belt that arrives thus and challenges? A layperson's question, don't beat me up, singers.)"
Singer friends of mine have said that much of the score sits in a weird part of her break, and they feel that because she has to spend so much time negotiating that, it gets in the way of her acting. Hearing her again with that in mind, I saw what they were getting at, though I never would have reached that conclusion on my own as a non-singer. All I knew was that something wasn't jelling for me.
(They leveled a similar critique at Annaleigh in SITPWG, and once it was brought to my attention, I understood what they were getting at there, too.)
CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES
#18Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 3:57pm
I'm finally done with my first run of the new recording. WOW, I love the new Pierre & Natasha. The hypothetical proposal nearly made me cry. The title song is what first drew me to the original recording and this version is even more beautiful.
#19Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 5:58pm
I've loved the 4 tracks that were available early, but this is really satisfying. It feels like a very big meal that you're stuffed from afterwards, but still very happy you got to enjoy 7 courses. Pierre and Natasha going into the title song is stunning.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#20Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 6:00pm
God, I hope this show wins Best Score. A "big meal" describes it perfectly. It's delicious and has so much goodness to offer.
leighmiserables
Broadway Star Joined: 4/26/17
#21Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 6:04pm
So happy to have a recording of the new section in "The Abduction." These orchestrations are killing me. Speaking of which—is it just me, or has Lucas's voice changed a lot from the original recording? I noticed it a lot in this song. Not in a bad/good way, it just sounds different to me? I dunno.
Updated On: 5/17/17 at 06:04 PM
willep
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/08
#22Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 6:14pm
I am finally home from work and on my first listen. I love the better sound quality than the original recording, but I miss the intensity of the music, which seems a bit toned down here. The changes are a mixed bag for me, for example I love the new ending of The Duel with its orchestrations, and I love the added ensemble in The Ball, and the changes (vocally and orchestrations) on Charming. Dust and Ashes is an incredible song and I just keep loving it more and more, although after hearing Dave Malloy sing it it's honestly hard for me to go back to Groban. As for the cast changes, I largely prefer the Originals, but the Broadway cast is certainly great.
I am looking forward to Act 2 and hearing the tracks we got to participate on!
Willie4316
Leading Actor Joined: 9/12/16
#23Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 6:21pm
leighmiserables said: "So happy to have a recording of the new section in "The Abduction." These orchestrations are killing me. Speaking of which—is it just me, or has Lucas's voice changed a lot from the original recording? I noticed it a lot in this song. Not in a bad/good way, it just sounds different to me? I dunno. "
I was hoping I wasn't the only one who picked up on that. Particularly in "Natasha and Anatole." Overall though the recording sounds fantastic.
willep
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/08
#24Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 8:04pm
leighmiserables said: "...I must admit I miss Amber Gray singing "the aiiiiir of a connoisseur." Oh well, haha. "
No need to miss it, it is simply earlier in the song! I actually really love the new ending to The Duel, the orchestrations are very beautiful and Russian.
#25Great Comet recording
Posted: 5/17/17 at 8:26pm
themysteriousgrowl, I agree that certain parts of this score can sit in Benton's break, but it certainly does not interfere with her acting, or at least it didn't when I saw the show. I thought she was sublime and was actually brought to tears by her performance in the final scene. Also, I definitely disagree about Ashford. The score sat perfectly in her voice and she acted it fantastically.
I absolutely love this album! It's warm, energetic, and sounds basically just like the show. The mixing is wonderful and the performances from both the cast and orchestra are brilliant. I hope Malloy wins score. This is an absolute masterpiece. It may be my favorite cast album of the year!
