I know, for a lot of people the simple answer is Patti.
But I have been watching many of the Broadway Eva's now, and I really like Florence Lacey. She has such a pleasant, clear tone to her voice, and brilliant diction. She gets right on top of all her notes without fail.
Mine is definitely Patti, by a long-shot. Although, I must admit that my dislike for Elaine Paige, Florence Lacey, Elena Roger and Julie Covington could also be chalked up to my dislike for the tone and style their productions/recordings seem to have. Elaine Paige and the Original London Cast recording, for example, have a much more pop-rock sound than I really like for this score.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
I don't care for Julie Covington's vocal style on the Original Concept Album, but I am perversely fascinated by that recording as a whole. Mostly for the pronunciation of "descamisados" and the original version of The Lady's Got PotenTI-AL, but I wish Eva's Sonnet could have found it's way into some later recordings as well.
And no one grew into anything new, we just became the worst of what we were."
For some reason Julie Covington always sounds like she has a twang when she sings, which makes no kind of sense.
I've always really wanted to hear Terri Klausner's Evita, but my searches have been unsuccessful.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
Madonna. I know she's not Broadway and she didn't sing the songs as they were written, but she IS Evita and brought alot to the role. I love Patti but I still don't love her singing all the time and the way she shreds phrasing with her diction when singing.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
I love Madonna and I first heard rumors of her wanting to play the role long before she was actually cast and thought it was an inspired choice - I pictured her bringing the same power and energy of Express Yourself and Like A Prayer to the score, and I was rooting for her at a time when people like Meryl Streep and Faye Dunaway were still being considered.
That being said, I don't know if it was a directorial decision, Madge's pregnancy, her vocal limitations, or some combination of all of the above, but I was deeply disappointed in the finished product. Everything seemed so muted and held-back. The movie ranks as my LEAST favorite Eva, and that's coming from a dyed-in-the-wool Madonna fan.
And no one grew into anything new, we just became the worst of what we were."
Oh, I was rooting for Madonna like you won't believe. There was no doubt in my mind she would overcome whatever held her back before and deliver the performance of a lifetime. I hyped up the film like crazy. To top it off, my sis just happened to win tickets to the World Premiere at the Shrine in L.A. I rented my tux and off we went. We were beyond excited.
Got there saw ALW in the lobby, Antonio, Jonathan, Melanie. We only saw Madonna from a distance when she was sitting in the balcony while we were on the ground floor. Movie started. Chills.
I actually convinced myself that she was great. Everyone gave her a standing ovation at the end.
Saw the film at regular theatres 4 more times after that. By the 4th time, it was apparent she left much to be desired. It's the only time I've allowed hype to blind me. Never again.
Had seen a local production before the film starring Valerie Perri. Apart from Lupone, she's my fave.
Recreation of original John Cameron orchestration to "On My Own" by yours truly. Click player below to hear.
It wasn't Broadway, but I saw Florence Lacey in LA years ago. She was wonderful.
BTW, have you heard Karen Carpenter sing 'DCFM, A'? (PASSAGES album) If you can get past her brother's gushy, over-the-top orchestration, it's simply beautiful.
On my very first trip to NYC I had the great opportunity to see Patti LuPone- she was wonderful! Later a tour came to my town and it starred Florence Lacey- she was very good and remember both performances fondly. I've been lucky to see Patti in several other plays and a concert- I sort of feel I have watched Patti grow up thru her performances. She is GREAT !!
To be quite honest, I'm not really that familiar with the show, but I must say that I would give an arm and a leg to see Terri Klausner in the role, as she's sort of a mentor and friend to me.
Why didn't Terri Klausner take on the role full time when Patti left? Did she leave before Patti did?
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad