Any Elisabeth fans on here?

[BkCollector]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:26pm

I found the Original Vienna CD at a garage sale, im pretty impressed, the music is 90's dated (European 90's dated, so that's even older for USians, but I still like the story (what I can make out with my poor German) and the music, I think it could work here if it were done well and advertised well and if the critics dont crucify it.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:46pm

Yup! Me. And many others.

Chances are slim of it ever coming here after what happened with Tanz der Vampire I reckon...I read that the English libretto is locked up in the Netherlands somewhere. Such a bummer.

[BkCollector]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 1:47pm

Well, Tanz in German isn't the show that opened on Broadway at all, even with my poor German, I can see that. Crawford kinda ruined it because he didnt want to be a tortured villain again, apparently.

Rebecca might do quite well here, come to think about it.

So how many recordings are there? and which one is the most complete in any language? Updated On: 2/6/08 at 01:47 PM

[viola13]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 2:13pm

According to castalbums.org, there's 45 recordings of Elisabeth, counting cast recordings, videos, and demos.

And there's 20 Japanese cast recordings alone.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 2:14pm

OH yeah...love Elisabeth -- especially Pia Douwes!

[evic]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 2:57pm

I listened to the Vienna cd over and over when I first got it.....some really impressive music and orchestrations....Pia is incredible and her top note on I belong To Me just gets higher and higher on subsequent performances...lots of Pia on Youtube- her Defying Gravity will make the hair on your neck stand up- too bad she is too old for Elphaba- a truly talented woman!

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 3:10pm

Thanks for posting. Add me also as being a fan.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 3:19pm

Pia can't be older than Ana Gasteyer...but I'm sure that's been argued about already on some Wicked thread somewhere.

But yeah...I saw Pia in 3 Musketiere in Stuttgart last year, and she's truly incredible. One of the best musical actresses I've ever seen. And she speaks English beautifully!

[amalou]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 4:36pm

I love Elisabeth! And don't get me started on Tanz/DotV. Crawford DID ruin it. If he didn't want to be the tortured villain again...then he shouldn't take tortured villain parts maybe? I loved every scene he wasn't in.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 4:39pm

I have the recording (blue cover, titles and logo in white) and just can not get into it. I have really tried.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 4:41pm

Pia Douwes is currently 43 years old, and will be playing Elisabeth again this April in Berlin!

Elisabeth is a musical masterpiece that the English-speaking world is missing out on. The original version (both '92 and '03) in Vienna is exceptional and absolutely mesmerizing. I think the perfect production would be (for English speakers) the German libretto with the physical Vienna production with minor tweaks for coherency.

[rabymon10]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 5:43pm

Yay for Elisabeth! I am absolutely head over heels in love with this show, it's not funny. No matter what anyone else says, Pia will always be the one and only true Sissi up there on stage, despite an entourage of capable performers that have followed after her. I REALLY want to go to Berlin to see the new production; everything I've heard of it so far makes for an interesting show... and Uwe as der Tod again - count me in.

I've never really been much into the Japanese productions much, maybe because the orchestrations seem a bit more sparse to me sometimes, and there's a certain lack of tension within the show - I find those problems are more evident with the Takarazuka productions though. Hmmm, maybe I'm just not accustomed much to them yet.

I recently acquired the Toho 2004 Orange Troupe cast recording, and kudos to them for keeping the original Prologue intact. I love the original, and in Japanese it is nothing short of haunting. I play that track with all sorts of LOVE, haha.


Updated On: 2/6/08 at 05:43 PM

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 5:45pm

I'm trying to organise a trip to Berlin to see it - I've never had a chance to see it live, but love the score...

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:06pm

Personally, I could do without Uwe Kroeger (whose name must be German slang for "ham and cheese"). I'm going to miss the new Berlin production by only a few weeks. GRRR!
Updated On: 2/6/08 at 06:06 PM

[rabymon10]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:20pm

It is touring after the Berlin engagement, but without Pia and Uwe; perhaps you could catch it then.

[threatXthree]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:31pm

if this show ever gets translated in english...Stephanie J. Block. Hands down. OR an even better option would be to get Pia to play the role in english (since she obviously can).

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:47pm

^^ And Adam Pascal as Death.

[rabymon10]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 6:47pm

You know, for some reason... as much as I would want to hear it in English, I feel as if the show would lose something. In the European languages, it has a certain air and tension about it that lends itself so openly to the story. 'Die Schatten Werden Langer' sounds absolutely lethal in German (and somewhat in Dutch too), and yet in the Japanese productions it seems to play second best to it's German counterpart. I can't help but feel that that song alone wouldn't be anywhere near as effective on stage in English, for the words alone.
Updated On: 2/6/08 at 06:47 PM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:19pm

Stephanie J. Block always comes to my mind, as does Elena Shaddow who looks a lot like Pia Douwes.

Other ideas:

Michael Shawn Lewis as Franz Joseph
Drew Sarich as Lucheni
Judi Dench as Sophie (or another "non singer". I find the character so much more powerful when she's not a belter).

This show is 16 years behind schedule! It would be strange to hear it in our language, but a good translator could work around it and make it something great.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



Pia Douwes; "Star Dress", 1992

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/561317634kpkent?start=36

Updated On: 2/6/08 at 09:19 PM

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/6/08 at 9:48pm

Wow -- Drew would be a perfect Lucheni. He and Adam in the same show? With Pia? I think I'd explode.

[rabymon10]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 6:02am

You can keep Adam out of it as far as I'm concerned. I liked Mate, yes, but if that's the type of der Tod that we'd be expected to see from now on, I'd take that as a cop out. Keep the rock-like edge and vocals to Lucheni if it needs to be in there.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 11:24am

You might be right, as far as their voices being too similar. I'm just not a fan of Uwe at all, and since he and Mate are the only actors I've seen/heard play that role, I don't have another frame of reference. I just know that Mate reminded me a bit of Adam at times, so I made the connection.

This might get me whacked over the head, but how about Josh Strickland as der Tod? He's certainly pretty, and has perhaps a little more of der Tod's asexual seductiveness (without being as hammy and overpowering as Uwe).

[cremi]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 1:56pm

YES I love Elisabeth, maybe they will try to open it if Rebecca succeeds on Broadway. In November VBW announced that they closed the deal on a B'way production. Micheal Kunze is now working on the new translation.

[cremi]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 1:56pm

YES I love Elisabeth, maybe they will try to open it if Rebecca succeeds on Broadway. In November VBW announced that they closed the deal on a B'way production. Micheal Kunze is now working on the new translation.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 2/7/08 at 2:45pm

Well, Tanz in German isn't the show that opened on Broadway at all, even with my poor German, I can see that.

Yeah, I know, I was just being lazy.

'Die Schatten Werden Langer' sounds absolutely lethal in German

Agreed! The German really sounds awesome.

Whoever suggested Elena Shaddow as Elizabeth -- I can totally see it now that you mentioned it.