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 | Title : Camelot (Original Broadway Cast)
Author : Loewe, Frederick
Release Date : 19980602
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $11.98
Amazon.com Price : $9.84
(18
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Editorial Reviews :
For one brief, shining moment, there was a place known as Camelot--and this 1961 recording is the only document available of JFK's favorite musical, the one that's been used to describe his presidential administration ever since. Truthfully, Lerner and Loewe's musical score for this retelling of the King Arthur story doesn't measure up to My Fair Lady, which was still playing when Camelot opened on December 3, 1960. That being said, the three principals here were stronger musically than their 1968 film counterparts--Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet (who became a star as Lancelot, thanks to 'If Ever I Would Leave You') could sing, while the pre-Liz Richard Burton could recite those great lines with Shakespearean flair, even if he never scored a hit with 'MacArthur Park.'
Buyer Reviews :
Where to begin with this lovely work of art? Well, I suppose we must begin with the actors...
Richard Burton, as Arthur, is stunning in his powerful, lordly acting, is incredible, and he sings so well that I find it astinishing that this was his first singing role. Julie Andrews is as wonderful as Guinevere as she is anywhere else, perfectly distilling both the joy and wit of 'Lusty month of May' and 'You may take me to the fair', and the quiet melancholy of 'Before I gaze at you again' and 'I loved you once in silence'. Roddy McDowall is impishly delightful as Mordred in the deliciously profane 'Seven deadly virtues'. But Robert Goulet's proud, passionately performance, very reminiscent of Richard Kiley's Don Quixote a decade later, has made Lancelot, potentially a boastful, insipidly sappy boor, into my favorite character from 'Camelot'.
Since there is little of the play's dialogue on this CD, the other aspect of its greatness is the songs. Guinevere's slow, tragic romantic ballads are a bit bland, but they have quite clever lyrics and are stunningly well-performed by Julie Andrews. Still, my favorite songs remain 'Ce'st moi', Lancelot's self-praising solo, and the heart-rending finale, 'Camelot (reprise)'. Ironic, isn't it, that the song I like the least is the original version of the song 'Camelot'.
Also high on the list is the sardonic, maliciously hilarious 'Fie on goodness', which is sung by Arthur's traitorous knights, and which gives a rather persuasive argument in favor of the human need for sin and guilt. Yet more favorites are the bitterly tragic 'Guinevere' and the joyous 'Lusty month of May', both of which are a true joy to listen to. The only songs that are lacking are 'Camelot' (although, as I said, the reprise was stunning), and 'The simple joys of maidenhood', whose brilliantly witty lyrics are marred slightly by a rather lackluster tune. Still, this CD comes highly recommended, as even those two songs are quite adequate efforts, and there is not a single song truly lacking in value. Get this CD; you'll almost certainly enjoy it (unless you're a cretin entirely lacking in good taste), and it is certainly the best performance of this musical available anywhere, at any place or time. Richard Burton IS Arthur! Julie Andrews IS Guinevere. And Robert Goulet is DEFINITELY Lancelot! Ce'st moi forever! Camelot forever! And for the last time--leave this review, go back to the top of the page, and GET THE CD! _NOW_!
(by W.S, Deaver)
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