Yesterday, I was absolutely giddy with musical-fan ecstasy as I found not only the original Vienna recording of Elisabeth in my possession, but also the 2009 cast album of Roméo Et Juliette! (There was jumping up and down involved. Be sure of it.)
The recording is just about whole. Acts 1 and 2 are on separate discs. What struck me first about the song list was how many new songs there were - "A La Vie, À La Mort", "Tybalt", "La Reine Mab (Je Rêve)", "Les Poupées", and those are just in the first act.
I was definitely excited to listen to it because, from what I'd seen and heard online, I really loved the Asia Tour cast already. (I was particularly taken with the trio of Damien Sargue, John Eyzen, and Cyril Niccolai).
Now that I've listened all the way through it, I think it's time for a review of the individual songs and arrangements. Before anyone asks, the songs were studio-recorded, not taken live. And of course, this can be both a blessing and a curse. But let's get on with my opinion.
1.Ouverture - There isn't too much to say about this song, as it doesn't particularly change cast by cast. It's pleasant as always, but I still think the show overall could do without it.
2.Vérone - Aw yeah, now we're talkin'! I actually like this arrangement better than the original French one. It amps up the harsh, rock feel of the guitars (closer to the German arrangement), and the percussion is more staccato and emphasized. Stéphane Metro comes in as the Prince. At first, you might think he's a little overdramatic - but I think he's perfect for the role. He sounds rightly angry and frustrated singing about how hard it is to rule Verona, and has a nice strong voice at that. And the chorus, well - it's freaking Vérone, how can it not be awesome? Overall, this is so far the best version of the song I've heard.
3. La Haine - I'm in the camp that thinks the Hungarian production did right by putting this song before Aimer - otherwise, it's just another "Everyone in Verona hates each other!" song, even after we've just heard a whole song singing about that. But, that's not the point. I'm neutral on Stéphanie Rodrigue's performance as Lady Capulet - she has a nice voice, but it's nothing particularly amazing or suited to the role. She could sound just a bit more emotional as well. Then Brigitte Venditti comes in as Lady Montague, and I am damn impressed! She does perfectly, bringing the right amount of feeling to the song. She has a rougher voice, but it works with the song. Then the chorus comes in - I must say that I wasn't fond of how they seemed to just have men and women with very low voices singing in the background. It doesn't have that same full sound, leaves you feeling like you wanted more. The orchestration was pretty much the same as it was originally. Overall, very nice!
4.A La Vie, Á La Mort - This is where I start to really wish I could see what was going on on stage during this song. Because I really have no idea how this fits into the overall musical - what are Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio doing? But, that doesn't stop it from being a pleasant song. Note that I said pleasant, not wonderful, because I'm not overly fond of it. I just doesn't hook you like so many of the other songs in this show do. This is also the introduction of John and Cyril for new listeners. If this is the first time you heard them, you might be disappointed. But don't! This song doesn't showcase how great their voices can be - and they can be really great, as I'll talk about later. Overall, a fluff song. Nice fluff, but still fluff.
5.La Demande En Mariage - What is there to say about this song? I noticed that it uses the chorus much more than any of the other arrangements. I'm frustrated because I can't find out who plays Paris, but oh well. Overall, not better or worse than any of the other arrangements.
6.Tybalt - I'm all for Tybalt's character having more songs, and more screentime. But I can't say that this was a good way to do it. I mean, give him a whole sparsely orchestrated song that could be used for all sorts of character development - and then have him just repeat "Tybalt, I am Tybalt!" for most of the time? Not a good idea. And Tom Ross...let me explain that I don't dislike his Tybalt. But I can't say I really love him either. It might be his voice, or how he seems to play the character slightly flat (C'est Pas Ma Faute seeming like a whiny attempt at gaining sympathy, C'est Le Jour seeming to be just wanting to get Juliet, etc. Actually, that's probably more the fault of the writers than it is the actor. So I can't blame him for that. Never mind...) Overall, not impressed. Not impressed at all.
7.Tu Dois Te Marier - Another song I don't have much of an opinion on. I think I should say it again Stéphanie Rodrigue has a very nice voice, but doesn't seem to use it to express her character that well. I like that the violins and piano were put more in the foreground of this arrangement, though. Overall, pretty but not much more than that.
8.Un Jour - It's funny. I hated this song the first time I heard it. Then I grew to tolerate. And now I actually like it. But - and this goes for all versions of this song, not just this one - I like the instruments more than I like what the singers are doing. Going back to those singers, we've got the duo of Damien Sargue and Joy Esther. Of course I love Damien, so I wasn't worried about him, but I'm historically quite picky about my Juliets. And Joy surprised me with how much I actually like her. She sounds dreamy, but not head-in-the-clouds optimistic, and has a naturally nice voice without straining to sound pretty. Overall, very good!
9.Les Rois Du Monde - Aaand now, for the song we've all been waiting for. It's so funny - what is probably the most well-loved song in the show has had a history of being very badly arranged on cast recordings. (*Cough* AUSTRIA I'm looking at you *cough*) But this managed to capture a pretty awesome orchestration. The instruments, especially the bass line, get more attention during the verses. And I'll say this quite a bit, but I really love John and Cyril. In this song, they sound like they really mean what they're saying. I really believe that they believe all this about the kings of the world - add that to the fact that all three of The Boys have great voices, you get awesomeness. Overall, love it, and incredibly arranged!
10.La Reine Mab (Je Rêve) - My reaction when I learned that Mercutio got a new solo song: YES! My reaction when I heard that solo song: HELL YES! First of all, the song itself is both beautiful and incredibly catchy. And now this turns into the Eyzen-fangirl-fest: I really love this man's Mercutio. He extends that carefree feeling heard in Les Rois Du Monde into this song, and amps it up. He laughs in the face of everything (it's worth noting that you can find a video of him during Le Duel where he's laughing even as Tybalt tries to choke him), and this song shows that. And GODS HIS VOICE. WHY DO I LOVE IT SO? Overall, loveloveloveawesomeyay.
11.J'ai Peur - This is another song that I hated the first time I heard it, and now love. It's also one I'm quite picky about - I hadn't found a version of the song I really, really thought was great. Until now. First, the orchestration is wonderful. They don't let the violins or guitar take over everything, and there's actually more electric instruments than in the original arrangements, and that really works. Towards the end of this song, Damien sings a slightly new melody (with the words "Que nos ombres si légères, demain se changent en pierre, que le vent du hasard se prenne dans nos guitares"), and it is absolutely gorgeous. And slightly sexy. (Yes, I have thing for voices. Sue me.) Overall, wonderful in every way, and the best arrangement I've heard so far!
12.Bal 1 - I think whoever was responsible for the arrangements has been spending a lot of time in dance clubs. Because this is a full out techno dance song. Looping beats which are given more focus than in any other arrangements I've heard, and lots of distortion and effects. Overall, this probably is not how the song sounded on stage, and you would absolutely not think it came from a Romeo And Juliet musical, but still very good.
13.L'amour Hereux - Let me let you in on a secret: I hate this song. Not just this arrangement, not just any version - I hate every single version I've heard of it. Because it's the song itself I don't like, not the singers. So I couldn't objectively measure this particular version. So..... Overall, I guess it has Damien and Joy, so yeah.
14.Bal 2 - For a brief moment the audience was reminded that this is Romeo And Juliet, and now they're transported back to the 2009 Dance Rave. Overall, just as fun as Bal 1.
15.C'est Pas Ma Faute - Again I'm the picky Hungarian-version lover, because no Tybalt so far has managed to beat Szilveszter's awesome interpretation of the character. But that doesn't stop me from liking this version. The one thing that threw me off in this arrangement is that, for the first half of the first chorus, they cut of most of the electric instruments, so it's just Tom Ross's voice, an acoustic strumming guitar, and the background guitar line. It sounds like something that could have been on MTV unplugged. Now, as much as I love sparse orchestration - that choice sort of left Tom's voice alone up there, and put too much emphasis on it. And let's face it - he does not have a strong voice at all. So that little bit was a bad choice, but otherwise the rest of the song was great. Overall, wonderful, but with a bit of a "huh?" moment.
16.Les Poupées - Honestly, when this song came on, I checked to make sure I had the right CD in the CD player. I thought I had accidentally put in a Midnight Syndicate album. Because that is what it sounds like, completely. Of course, that's why I love it. It's gloriously creepy, and catchy. But again, I really wish I could know what the hell is happening during this song. Because I absolutely cannot think of anything in the Roméo Et Juliette I know that would have this song accompanying it. Overall, slightly out-of-place in the show, but that doesn't stop it from being awesome.
EDIT: I found a video of this song. Apparently, it's a sort of "Bal 3" where everyone just dances around like robotic puppets and Mercutio and Tybalt have a brief dance-off. Actually pretty fun! It takes place after C'est Pas Ma Faute, which was moved to the place it is in the German production (everyone freezes and Tybalt knocks them over like dolls.)
17.La Poète - I know I'm jumping on the fan bandwagon by saying this, but...why? Honestly, I just can't think of what purpose this song serves. And unlike other useless songs I'm willing to forgive because they're still great songs, I can't say the same for this, because I also don't like the song itself. Serge Leborgne has a nice voice as the poet, and of course there's Joy, but....seriously, why? Overall, nice singers, useless song.
18.Le Balcon - Hey, another song I hated then loved! I have to start out by admiring the guitars in this song - the arrangement let them come out a little more, and the acoustic picking really gives Joy's voice a beautiful floating effect. And interestingly, there's a small moment before the last chorus where the piano is made the only instrument - a nice touch! Overall, pretty song , pretty arrangement, and pretty singers.
19.Par Amour - Oddly, I think that Frédéric Charter's voice is almost too strong for Friar Laurent. Other than that, nothing much to say about this song. Overall, another one without much to comment on.
20.Les Beaux, Les Laids - I love this song so much. This is one song where I love every version I've heard equally, actually. Including this one. I think that the only complaint I have is that Ida Gordon doesn't sound pissed off enough at the beginning - tear into 'em, Nurse! (And again, I must praise John's ability so sound so annoyingly cocky while still making you love him. That is very hard to do when you're as picky as I am.) Overall, great song, good arrangement.
21.Et Voilà, Qu'elle Aime - Awwwww. No, that's the reaction I always have to this song. Ida Gordon is another member of this cast with a fantastic voice. However, she doesn't use it as well as she could on this song. And I really miss the belting. Really, this is one song where belting is right at home. And Ida seems concerned with sounding pretty (ah, remember that post?), which sounds like it's holding her back. Overall, beautiful, but not as powerful as it could be.
22.Aimer - It might come as a surprise that this is another song I don't know what to say about. Um. It's pretty? Okay, I have to do more than that - I don't really like how Joy uses her voice in this song. Another time where I feel like telling her "Sing out!" The song is supposed to be passionate, and instead I just hear (from Damien too - don't think you're getting off scot-free, man!) "Must...be...pretty". Overall, nothing special.
And so ends the first act. Next I'll be taking on the second act - I love this recording SO MUCH.
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