WIW worth buying?

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 6:47pm

I'm looking into getting the Woman in White CD...is it worth it? Details are great! Thanks all!

[Becky2]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 6:50pm

I haven't had a chance to give it a good listen, but what I have heard I enjoyed!

[Anthony3]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 6:50pm

I didnt buy it because I didnt like the show. I thought the music was boring. If you ask me, its not worth buying it.

[Amy3]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 6:51pm

Yes and NO. The Broadway cast id MUCH MUCH better but there is only the one London cast recording. Too Bad. I would have thought Michael Ball would have sold lots of copies.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 6:55pm

i also say yes and no. it is not on the top of my list for reccomendations, but id say get it if you have the extra money. if you are a ALW fan, you should get it.
so yeah, if you do get it, hope you enjoy it! maria friedman's singing is worth it!

:)

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 7:10pm

"I would have thought Michael Ball would have sold lots of copies."

Why? He didn't sell many tickets, obviously.

[grizzabella]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 7:30pm

It took me a few hearings to warm up to it, but yes, I'd recommend it. It takes careful listening to understand the entire plot if you haven't seen the show, so listen to it when you have the time to take it all in. Many people think this is ALW's best score since Phantom, and I tend to agree with them. Some of it is derivative, but there is some solid writing here, too, such as "All For Laura". The performances, especially Maria Friedman's, are excellent, though whether you prefer Michael Ball or Michael Crawford in the Fosco role is a matter of taste. However, it is Crawford on the recording.

[*MuSiCaLs_FaN*]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 7:52pm

I would buy it as I think the soundtrack is worth having as I love the show - however i disagree about Maria I think she sounds terrible, especially on the soundtrack! It was recorded live from the sound desk on opening night and they play a part of it on repeat outside the Palace theatr and there is one section where she goes for a note and it's a total train wreck! I saw Maria do the role originally - but after seeing Ruthie Henshall as Marion - NOTHING can compare, she is AMAZING!!I also think Michael Ball is much better than Michael Crawford so it's a shame he isn't on the recording as well!

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 11:59pm

I've heard it compared to Phantom, but from what I've heard of it, some sound like pop diva numbers, i.e. "Song that goes like this" from spamalot...is it at all like this?

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 12:02am

It is a good recording but I loved the Broadway cast with Lisa Brescia much more. I love some of the music.

[little_sally]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 12:40am

No. Save your money. It is the most tedious, repitition score I have ever heard. I've never been so bored during a show before. The only songs I actually enjoyed were "All For Laura" and "Evermore Without You".

[chernjam]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 1:45am

BroadwayNick - as a huge ALW fan, I can tell you this score really has grown on me. At first listen, over a year ago, I wasn't thrilled with it. But a few days later, some of the music kept coming back to me, and I listened to it again, and then again. And now, after seeing the show twice, it's one of my favorite scores. The music is really some of ALW's most sophisticated and underappreciated.

If you liked Aspects of Love, I would suspect you'd like the Woman in White. It's true the Broadway cast would have made a better recording, and they made a lot of nice changes to the score since the recording was made, but since this is the only one that exists... it's worth the money.

Jim

[SayitSomehow]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 2:58am

^^^ Agree completely

[Poodle]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 3:28am

Most of the cd is in the form of sung dialogue rather than songs and if you're not into listening to that, it could be dreary and boring. If you're expecting another Phantom, this isn't it. There are few complete songs and they aren't very striking. The score worked quite well on stage but to listen on cd, is only for the determined theatre fan, I think.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:41am

Absolutely!

If you enjoy complex musical theatre with an inteligent story, you'll love it!

The cd is almost the entire opening night performance in London.

The cast is superb and it's a great show. Mind you, you have to enjoy thinking and not bieng presented with an answer.

[AnotherDay46]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:44am

I love it, and you won't know if it's worth it until you do buy it. If you hate it, sell it on ebay or something. It's a great show, in my opinion.

[SayitSomehow]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 11:31am

I bout the Phantasia CD just to hear the orchestral Woman in White suite. So many lush melodies, definitely the best ALW since Phantom.

While Phantom is obviously a stronger show as a whole, I find many of the WIW orchestrations to be far more powerful and sweeping. Good stuff.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 12:14pm

This is the best IMO ALW score. I find I can listen to this a lot more often than Phantom. IMO, TPOTO is overrated and WIW is underrated.

It's such a great show. Can't wait for tomorrow!

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 12:19pm

I have it, I don't like it.

It's boring.

(Keep in mind this coming from a teenager, though). I saw some of the songs performed at a recent ALW concert, and I thought it was boring just watching it.

[Pippin]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:29pm

it takes a few listens to get used to it, but the rewards are great.

[bestnurse]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 11:39pm

Just buy it. IT is amazing and it is really sad that the show didn't make it. I listen to it all the time and I saw the show which I loved even though I didn't see Maria in it. Like every other show it was not for everyone but the music is beautiful.

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 11:58pm

Thanks all for your opinions! We'll see what happens though...

Posted: 2/19/06 at 12:30am

Definitely agree that it takes a few listenings to warm up to it, but I enjoyed it. The women are a little shrill for my liking. I would have loved to hear Michael Ball's Fosco recorded though!

~Rosalynn

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 12:36am

No. Tedious and repetitive - that's exactly right.

It's just god-awful. Not even Webber's usual catchy tunes (with horrible lyrics) - this is like Webber didn't even try. So bad.

[children&art]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 1:41am

no, i bought it from dress circle in london before christmas - have listened to it once, it is BORING!

if i were you, go for "aspects of love" and "sunset blvd" instead.

Updated On: 2/19/06 at 01:41 AM