Best Evita Album

[harmonyfye]

Which is the best Evita Album to own? There are so many out there and I don't want to just go for the "obvious" original cast recording. I want some feedback..thanks guys and gals

[bobby_luvs_bway]

I have the concept, original london, broadway, korean, 89 touring, 2001 european touring, dutch, japanese, spanish language (i think it's Brazil or Argentina), the recent revival, and the film soundtrack. The only one I listen to with any regularity is the OBC. Patti is Eva for me, although there are things i like about all of them, this performance is my personal favorite. I do not like Elena Roger in the Revival recording, and the korean cast is very operatic (at times it is at odds with the musical style). You can never go wrong with the OBC; and although I love the OLC, it is painfully truncated.

[harmonyfye]

You seem highly qualified to voice your opinion. HAHA..thanks Bobby. I think I'll just stick with what I know.

[bobby_luvs_bway]

Ya...i'm a little obsessed. I guess I love my Diva vehicles.

[harmonyfye]

Love me a Diva..But I was more interested in the Ches' performances.

[bobby_luvs_bway]

Well, I like Mandy's acting on the OBC, but I've never been a fan of his singing. I like Colm Wilkinson and David Essex on the Concept and OLC respectively. I like my Che to have a more "rock sound" than legit.

[Muhlethaler]

[jv92]

"Bobby, Evita was never staged in Argentina. NEVER. It's forbidden by the government."
Really? I mean, it doesn't portray her to be a saint, but it doesn't portray her to be the devil either.

Anyway, LuPone and Patinkin are the way to go. They make Webber's junky tunes and Rices banal and witless lyrics sound like Sondheim (Okay, that's going too far).
The concept album is bizarre. The singers are all very badly miscast. The "bug repelant" subpot involving Che is laughable. Did I mention the singers are badly miscast? Covington, especially. Perhaps the album should be titled EVITA, or HOW MANY TIMES CAN JULIE COVINGTON PRONOUNCE "DESCAMISADO." (Is that spelt correctly?)

[bobby_luvs_bway]

As I said, I wasn't sure. I am at work and do not have access to my cd's so I was guessing. I should know that there will always be someone who is more than willing to point out when others are incorrect, please be respectful when you do it. All I can remember about the cd (i do not listen to it frequently) is Paloma was the name of the actress who played Eva and she was quite good. It could be Madrid or Mexico. I live in SoCal so I know spanish when I hear it, and yes I am aware that Portuguese is spoken in Brazil.

[bobby_luvs_bway]

JV, as much as an avid EVITA fan as I am, I do agree about the bizarre concept recording. I disagree about Colm being miscast. I think vocally he fits, Murray Head (the first choice) would've been more interesting.

[Muhlethaler]

[SporkGoddess]

The bug repelant subplot is because in real life Che Guevara really did try to sell an insecticide.

And yes, the Argentines hate the musical Evita because it makes her look bad--also it bashes incidents like kicking the British businesses out of the country.

As for the best recording, I guess the OBCR. I wish that the London had been better: I can't stand Matt Rawle's performance or his mangling of the Spanish language.

Descamisado is how it is spelled, yes.

[BkCollector]

For me, the best recording is the 2006 London, hands down. Despite not being complete, it has the most convincing eva.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I say go with the OBC. I think it's the score at its most thrilling. I can't stand the sound of Julie Covington's voice, so I never listen to the concept album, and I can't deal with the London revival. Roger seems to indiscriminately punch random words, so I always get the feeling Eva's not 100% sure what she's singing about. I heard she was better on stage, though.

[givesmevoice]

I also think the OBC is the best, but it's really interesting to listen to the other recordings. I'm surprised no one's mentioned the OLC with Elaine Paige, though. I'm not a big fan of the entire sound [which I've now chalked up to being a West End thing], but it's always fun to compare Evas, I think.

I've also found it fairly enjoyable to listen to the OBC and compare it to what Patti sounds like now.

[puppetman2]

The OBC cast is great, but I prefer the performance of Florence Lacey on the European cast CD. She was the Evita I saw in a touring version before she went on to do it on Broadway at the end of the run and she was FANTASTIC. She acted and sang the heck out of it. I've seen 4 others, but none came close to Ms Lacey

[musical_devotee]

Each of the recordings has something interesting in its own right. The OBC is among my favorites beacause of Patti, but I really don't like Mandy Patinkin's singing or Bob Gunton rolling his 'r'. I also prefer a Che with a deeper voice.

The concept album with Julie Covington is interesting because it has the extra lyrics (in EVA'S SONNET and LAMENT in particular), plus the score is played by a much bigger orchestra than in the later recordings (except in the movie soundtrack).

I like the London 2006 revival mainly because of the new orchrstrations and Elena Roger's approach to the role is refreshing, if not all together perfect. Plus, Philip Quast made a perfect Peron when I saw the show on the stage.

As for the original London Cast Recording with Elaine Paige, it makes a nice addition to your Evita collection, but the orchestrations are minimalistic and Elaine Paige is good, but not exceptional.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

LuPone and Patinkin, hands down.

[bobby_luvs_bway]

Muhlethaler, I must apologize as well. I shouldn't be so sensitive. I've re-read your post and realize I may have over reacted. (I have a flair for melodrama)

Puppetman2, I love Florence Lacey's take on Eva. It's absolutely maniacal.

The 2001 European tour with Caren Lyn Manuel is the worst Eva i've heard recorded. She simply can't sing the roll, her Che is Nicholas Rodriguez. He is better than she, but still quite a bland singer. Also, the music is very oddly arranged and the tempos are all over the places. But, it's a live recording, which for me is a plus.

[Weez]

See, I go with the London revival, but then I'm a huge Philip Quast fangirl. Also, sometimes it's nice to have a highlights recording rather than a full one. Sorrysorry. XD

[Urban]

Patti.

Eva.

Nuff Said.

:)

[EponineAmneris]

The OBC.

Patti and Mandy.

No contest.

[BrianIdol]

I prefer the original concept album. I think Julie C.'s voice is drastically different than any other Evita, and I love that. The sound on the cd also has a sort of grand, vintage sound like an old movie or something....I love it!

[RevolutionaryCostume]

I prefer the film soundtrack.

:: ducks ::

~Jacob.

[colleen_lee]

I have every English language album released and far and away the one that gets the most play is the OBC. Patti and Mandy are just too divine for words.

The concept recording gets frequent play too because I like hearing the cut material and the larger orchestra.