The Sound Of Music – Rodgers And Hammerstein – Mary Martin And The Original Broadway Cast – Craft Recordings 

by | Dec 6, 2019 | Classical CD Reviews, Classical Reissue Reviews, Pop/Rock/World CD Reviews, SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews | 0 comments

The Sound Of Music – Rodgers And Hammerstein – Mary Martin And The Original Broadway Cast – Columbia Masterworks (1959) Craft Recordings (2019) CR00195 180-gram 45 RPM mono double vinyl *****:

(Featuring Mary Martin, Theodore Bikel and the original Broadway cast; Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Frederick Dvonch – musical director; Robert Russell Bennett – orchestration; Trude Rittman – chorale arrangements; Goddard Lieberson – record producer)

It is difficult to fathom the scale of the Broadway musical writing team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. In a storied career, they wrote Oklahoma, Carousel, South Pacific, State Fair, The King And I, Flower Drum Song and The Sound Of Music. Their legacy to stage was creating a score, where musical numbers were integrated into the “book”. Often, controversial subject matter (race relations, domestic abuse, teen pregnancy and ultimately The Third Reich) was paired with memorable songs. In 1959, Maria Augusta Trapp’s memoir (The Trapp Family Singers) was adapted for stage by the Pulitzer prize-winning team (State Of The Union) of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Originally, the concept for The Sound Of Music was to create a play with 2 or 3 songs. They hired Rodgers and Hammerstein II who convinced the show’s producers to make it a complete musical. The rest is Broadway history. With the beloved Mary Martin (South Pacific, Peter Pan) as Maria, The Sound Of Music played for 1443 performances and won five Tonys. This final collaboration of Rodgers And Hammerstein II would achieve even greater success with the motion picture in 1965.

Craft Recordings has released a 180-gram re-mastered double vinyl of The Sound Of Music. Featuring Martin, Theodore Bikel and the original Broadway cast, it is a state-of-the-art, analog update of a classic Broadway musical cast recording from its Golden Age. The story of Maria Von Trapp and her family is set in Germany during WW II. A young postulant (Maria) is sent from her Austrian Abbey to help care for the children of Captain Von Trapp. She fails in love with him and becomes involved with the children. Eventually the family escapes the impending Nazi incursion . As is the case with great musicals, the different emotions, dramatic events and ultimate triumph are rendered in memorable songs. Side A opens with a stunning a cappella “Preludium” which showcases a female choir. It is immediately apparent that the mastering from the original 3-track tapes has produced a vibrant sound. There are two movements to this vocal performance. As the orchestra strings are introduced, Mary Martin’s crystalline vocals take over on the lesser known verse of the title song. When she embraces the sweeping chorus, her modulation is controlled. The precision of her elocution and deft sense of phrasing underscore the innocent yearning of this young woman. Lyrical strings and reeds provide accompaniment with some counterpoint. Whimsy and humor (“late for chapel and sings in the Abbey”) pervade “Maria” as operatic-like vocals (especially by Patricia Neway) infuse a lighter touch with an adroit tempo shift. Harp accents are deftly placed. With a pizzicato intro, Martin returns with crispness and verve on “My Favorite Things”. Her voice is complemented by the lower-register of Neway. All of this is surrounded by an instrumental 3/4 time signature.

More songwriting gravitas is delivered on “Do-Re-Mi”. Martin’s vocal interaction with the young singers is exceptional. The underlying staccato rhythm is enhanced by impish flutes and a pairing of voice and strings. It builds to a resounding apex, before an unexpected very low-register finish by the Broadway legend. In classic old school duet, “I Am Sixteen” is a romantic story (of teenager love) with ballroom aesthetics. Brief interludes indicate dancing. Martin’s extraordinary pitch and overall versatility lights up “The Lonely Goatherd”. Her soaring yodeling and flexible voice inflection is mesmerizing. Supporting actors Marion Marlowe and Kurt Kasznar evoke humorous (“I cannot die for you like Camille) melancholy in the conversational duet, “How Can Love Survive”. The children take the first vocal lead on “The Sound Of Music (Reprise). Bikel is introduced and exchanges with the younger singers in his affable voice. A rare instrumental cut, “Laender” is a German-infused classical waltz with stately oboes, flutes and strings. With endearing charm, “So Long , Farewell” shines a light on the individual personalities of the Von Trapp children as they bid the party goodnight, once with alliteration. Patricia Neway returns for the aspirational, emotive “Climb Ev’ry Mountain”. Her trained voice adds dramatic shading to the composition. “No Way To Stop It” is Rodgers And Hammerstein II songwriting agility at its finest. The subject of foreboding doom is somehow imbued with philosophical (“Cockeyed circle around the sun), almost buoyant commentary. In a warm, intimate exchange, Martin and Bikel muse about marriage (“An Ordinary Couple”), with achingly beautiful string flourishes. A wedding celebration is represented in “Processional” with glowing female chorale and orchestral (brass) pomp. The reprise of “Sixteen Going On Seventeen” changes to maternal advice (Maria, Leisl). Theodore Bikel had established roots in folk music. His rendition of “Edelweiss” is just that, straight forward, earnest with acoustic guitar. The finale (“Climb Ev’ry Mountain/Reprise”) is succinct with a heavenly chorus.

Craft Recordings has done a superb job in re-mastering The Sound Of Music to 180-gram vinyl. The mix is extraordinary. It captures the brashness of the horns as well as the delicacy of reeds and strings. The focused directional sound is prominent with the vocals centered. RTI’s pressing is flawless. The replica of the original gatefold (trend-setting at Columbia at the time) is luxurious and eye-catching. The album is available in digital formats.

A legendary Broadway show gets even better with this release!

TrackList:
Side A:
Preludium;
The Sound Of Music;
Maria;
My Favorite Things

Side B:
Do-Re-Mi;
Sixteen Going On Seventeen;
The Lonely Goatherd;
How Can Love Survive?

Side C:
The Sound Of Music (Reprise);
Laender;
So Long, Farewell;
Climb Ev’ry Mountain;
No Way To Stop It

Side D:
An Ordinary Couple;
Processional;
Sixteen Going On Seventeen (Reprise);
Edelweiss; Climb Ev’ry Mountain (Reprise)

—Robbie Gerson




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