Aspects of Love w/ Michael Ball - Lyric

[magnificentdonkey]

Jun 15, 2023 10:12:14 GMT anita said:

Jun 15, 2023 9:43:15 GMT magnificentdonkey said:

What gave you the impression? Could you provide a link, please?

Can't find it now. It was film of orchestra & Rose & Alex in what looked like a recording studio, singing.

The video has been released a couple of months ago. I don't think it guarantees we're getting a new cast recording, sadly.

[theatreian]

Really enjoyed this on Tuesday night. Not as familiar as other ALW shows but noticed some of the changes.

[chernjam]

Jun 15, 2023 9:31:47 GMT anita said:

New Cast CD? Looks as if they are recording according to facebook?

I tweeted Michael Ball, Aspects of Love London and ALW the other day asking about a new recording, no response yet.  Maybe some other fans can start bugging them too and ask on twitter/facebook

[magnificentdonkey]

[Alejo]

I'd be very surprised if there was a cast recording for this. I don't think it's a popular enough show to merit another recording, and this production hasn't really set the box office alight.

Even with Michael Ball involved, it wouldn't offer his fans anything better than what's already on the 1989 one. And based solely on that clip above from West End Live, you're going to get a significantly inferior Alex on a new version.

[theatrefan62]

Jun 17, 2023 23:45:23 GMT magnificentdonkey said:

After Hamilton this is the worst performance I've seen from this years WEL. Confirmed fears about the Alex casting

[mrbarnaby]

He’s just dreadful. Poor Laura P P.

[Alejo]

I really want to catch this in July. I've read the reviews on here saying Jamie Bogyo was better than expected, but watching that WEL clip, I couldn't sit through a whole show of that. Has he posted any holiday dates on social media?

[max]

He sounds good to me. Sings and acts it like a young American abroad discovering things. Arguably, when Michael Ball played it that lion's roar of a voice was too knowing/self-aware, though equally it could be said he was singing the inner passion that Alex's speaking voice wouldn't have. They're different takes, and both seem valid to me.

[max]

As for Cast Recording - I can see a highlights single CD coming out, starting with Michael Ball's original recording of Love Changes Everything, and ending with the current version played as George. Hinging it all around Ball with the other cast as guests seems a sellable prospect.

[anthony]

Surely cast albums are relatively cheap nowadays? They've clear professionally recorded several songs. Look at the Think of Me performance for the closing of Broadway's Phantom; within 24 hours the decision was made to release it on streaming platforms and 24 hours after that, it was released - despite it not being the original plan.

[richey]

Jun 18, 2023 8:35:31 GMT Alejo said:

I really want to catch this in July. I've read the reviews on here saying Jamie Bogyo was better than expected, but watching that WEL clip, I couldn't sit through a whole show of that. Has he posted any holiday dates on social media?

Vinny Coyle who is cover Alex posted the other day about finishing cover rehearsals and roll on July 15th so would assume that's one date.
I actually didn't think Jamie was that bad when I saw the show last week. He's certainly not the worst part of the show.

[longinthetooth]

I saw this last week. I'd not seen it before, which may or may not have been a good thing. Can't say I fell in love with it, but I thought the performances were all very good, yes, even JB. I loved the orchestra and most of the music. I actually think they should have kept the original young ages, as it would have had a larger impact, particularly in today's climate. However, I wouldn't rush to see it again. As far as I'm concerned, it's ticked a box and that's all.

[newyorkcityboy]

They've clearly recorded the new orchestrations, as the WE Live clip shows, so a new CR can't be too much work, especially if it's download only. Even a 10 track highlights package would be better than nothing. (Phantom, Sunset, Cats and EVITA all have tons of different recordings, whereas Aspects only has two!)

[Boob]

omgthiswassobadijustcant

[ceebee]

Saw this tonight and enjoyed it. Good performances all round - moved me in places. I'd be happy with a recording - the strength of the cast and orchestra merits it.

[chernjam]

get people's desperation that they're willing to settle for a highlights. But Aspects as a through-composed piece, they really have to do the full score. There's so much beauty, exquisite beauty in those motifs

[PhantomNcl]

I saw the show last Thursday and really enjoyed it.

I'd seen the original London production and the David Essex tour, plus I've been a fan of the OLC recording for many years.

I wasn't too keen on the fairground and circus ensemble numbers, but the rest was superb. Lovely to hear a decent-sized orchestra (with harp!), and I thought all of the leads were excellent.

[richey]

[magnificentdonkey]

Jun 22, 2023 18:32:10 GMT richey said:

Wow, finally some footage, thanks so much for posting this, it looks and sound GORGEOUS!
I want this production filmed and released to the public so badly!!!
Also, here's the uncropped YouTube version:

[BVM]

Sadly I think chances of a cast recording of this are zero - probably less than zero!

The UK has a pretty terrible record with cast recordings generally, revivals even more so and ALW revivals even more than that. Compared to Broadway where SO much more gets recorded including flop shows and small off Broadway shows. There's not much I find better on Broadway than West End but this is one area I really do.

Really the only ALW revivals that have been recorded are shows that he's never previously had full control over putting on record, so ones that came out before the Polydor/Really Useful records era. Palladium Joseph (original one), Lyceum JCS and Elena Roger Evita (in fact amazingly that also got a Broadway recording though the London one wasn't complete).

Cats and Sunset Boulevard had USA cast recordings in addition but they are the only two. Since then nothing has had a new English language recording other than one offs (films, DVDs, Phantom 25th concert).

I find it such a shame. Not just ALW though, in general we are hopeless at getting recordings out. Or often we announce them and nothing happens (From Here To Eternity, Bonnie and Clyde....)

Also for non RUG produced shows, it seems almost impossible for them to get the rights to make a CD. Starlight Bochum has been trying to record the 30th version for 5 years and RUG keep stalling on giving them permission.

Cam Mac is the one person who does do a good job recording his revivals with Miss Saigon, Oliver, Mary Poppins all being recorded again. And he does record his news shows like Half a Sixpence. ALW - not so keen.
Dunno if
- there simply isn't demand to make it work
- it's too complicated with royalties to cast, band, creative team.

I'm always defending MT being a business that has to be profitable to exist - though that's an acceptance rather than a I don't wish it wasn't different. Cast recordings are the one thing I wish they'd put posterity over profit though as I think it's so important to have these things preserved.

The 5 year Starlight tour was so different to the closing London version I wish they'd recorded it. Cats Palladium and Broadway, JCS OAT, Woman in White Charing X, the Whistle tours with the new songs, new Palladium Joseph etc etc.... all went non-recorded. (The fans, such as we were, were desperate for a Bad Cinderella CD with the new songs and arrangements..... that was never gonna happen). So yeah, sadly, this ain't happening.

My consolation re Aspects is that I don't think the current arrangements are better than the original, in fact whilst still lush, they are a little bit worse IMHO.

Do agree with Chernjam above though, if you were to do a CD should be the whole thing. It's a body of music, hard to carve into a highlights CD. And I would love for one day for a new Aspects recording to materialise.

Very happy to eat my words when Baz announces the CD today lol.

[singingbird]

Jun 23, 2023 7:34:16 GMT BVM said:

Sadly I think chances of a cast recording of this are zero - probably less than zero!

The UK has a pretty terrible record with cast recordings generally, revivals even more so and ALW revivals even more than that. Compared to Broadway where SO much more gets recorded including flop shows and small off Broadway shows. There's not much I find better on Broadway than West End but this is one area I really do.

Really the only ALW revivals that have been recorded are shows that he's never previously had full control over putting on record, so ones that came out before the Polydor/Really Useful records era. Palladium Joseph (original one), Lyceum JCS and Elena Roger Evita (in fact amazingly that also got a Broadway recording though the London one wasn't complete).

Cats and Sunset Boulevard had USA cast recordings in addition but they are the only two. Since then nothing has had a new English language recording other than one offs (films, DVDs, Phantom 25th concert).

I find it such a shame. Not just ALW though, in general we are hopeless at getting recordings out. Or often we announce them and nothing happens (From Here To Eternity, Bonnie and Clyde....)

Also for non RUG produced shows, it seems almost impossible for them to get the rights to make a CD. Starlight Bochum has been trying to record the 30th version for 5 years and RUG keep stalling on giving them permission.

Cam Mac is the one person who does do a good job recording his revivals with Miss Saigon, Oliver, Mary Poppins all being recorded again. And he does record his news shows like Half a Sixpence. ALW - not so keen.
Dunno if
- there simply isn't demand to make it work
- it's too complicated with royalties to cast, band, creative team.

I'm always defending MT being a business that has to be profitable to exist - though that's an acceptance rather than a I don't wish it wasn't different. Cast recordings are the one thing I wish they'd put posterity over profit though as I think it's so important to have these things preserved.

The 5 year Starlight tour was so different to the closing London version I wish they'd recorded it. Cats Palladium and Broadway, JCS OAT, Woman in White Charing X, the Whistle tours with the new songs, new Palladium Joseph etc etc.... all went non-recorded. (The fans, such as we were, were desperate for a Bad Cinderella CD with the new songs and arrangements..... that was never gonna happen). So yeah, sadly, this ain't happening.

My consolation re Aspects is that I don't think the current arrangements are better than the original, in fact whilst still lush, they are a little bit worse IMHO.

Do agree with Chernjam above though, if you were to do a CD should be the whole thing. It's a body of music, hard to carve into a highlights CD. And I would love for one day for a new Aspects recording to materialise.

Very happy to eat my words when Baz announces the CD today lol.

Sadly this is so true - especially the well made point about him only really releasing revival cast recordings of shows that pre-date RUG - so we have lots of English language Evita and JCS recordings, but fairly slim pickings after that. Funnily enough, though, the original recordings of Evita and JCS, predating the stage shows, are the ones where he was most heavily involved artistically (and, of course, both were made like conventional albums over several months, rather than recorded quickly as cast recordings), so although RUG probably don't own the rights to them, they sound amazing and probably can't be beaten as listening experiences, no matter how many times the scores get re-orchestrated and re-recorded. 

Aspects probably is the show that most deserves a new recording, but as RUG didn't produce the show I think it's extremely unlikely, although a sad decision.

I do agree, by the way, that the new orchestrations aren't quite as good as the original ones. Just a little bit too syrupy somehow. I'd have liked more woodwind and fewer strings, but that's just personal taste. 

 

[David J]

Finally saw the musical on Wednesday evening. Also finally ticked off the Lyric Theatre off my theatres to visit list.

Matt Lucas was in as well with presumably family.

One of the projects stopped working half way through the first act so half the projected images would flicker incessantly. 

As the musical came to that abrupt, awkward ending I thought to myself this should be called 'Karma is a b**** the musical'. Once their bohemian lifestyles were established it was easier to digest their behaviours (though I choked a few times during the gun scene and the times Alex and Jenny were alone) but otherwise I felt indifference to them. Which created some lulls in proceedings, especially once Michael Ball, whose charm you can always rely on, dies off.

So another theatre I've visited and another musical I've seen and have no need to see again.

Good production values and performances otherwise

3 stars

[BVM]

Jun 23, 2023 10:21:21 GMT singingbird said:

Jun 23, 2023 7:34:16 GMT BVM said:

Sadly I think chances of a cast recording of this are zero - probably less than zero!

The UK has a pretty terrible record with cast recordings generally, revivals even more so and ALW revivals even more than that. Compared to Broadway where SO much more gets recorded including flop shows and small off Broadway shows. There's not much I find better on Broadway than West End but this is one area I really do.

Really the only ALW revivals that have been recorded are shows that he's never previously had full control over putting on record, so ones that came out before the Polydor/Really Useful records era. Palladium Joseph (original one), Lyceum JCS and Elena Roger Evita (in fact amazingly that also got a Broadway recording though the London one wasn't complete).

Cats and Sunset Boulevard had USA cast recordings in addition but they are the only two. Since then nothing has had a new English language recording other than one offs (films, DVDs, Phantom 25th concert).

I find it such a shame. Not just ALW though, in general we are hopeless at getting recordings out. Or often we announce them and nothing happens (From Here To Eternity, Bonnie and Clyde....)

Also for non RUG produced shows, it seems almost impossible for them to get the rights to make a CD. Starlight Bochum has been trying to record the 30th version for 5 years and RUG keep stalling on giving them permission.

Cam Mac is the one person who does do a good job recording his revivals with Miss Saigon, Oliver, Mary Poppins all being recorded again. And he does record his news shows like Half a Sixpence. ALW - not so keen.
Dunno if
- there simply isn't demand to make it work
- it's too complicated with royalties to cast, band, creative team.

I'm always defending MT being a business that has to be profitable to exist - though that's an acceptance rather than a I don't wish it wasn't different. Cast recordings are the one thing I wish they'd put posterity over profit though as I think it's so important to have these things preserved.

The 5 year Starlight tour was so different to the closing London version I wish they'd recorded it. Cats Palladium and Broadway, JCS OAT, Woman in White Charing X, the Whistle tours with the new songs, new Palladium Joseph etc etc.... all went non-recorded. (The fans, such as we were, were desperate for a Bad Cinderella CD with the new songs and arrangements..... that was never gonna happen). So yeah, sadly, this ain't happening.

My consolation re Aspects is that I don't think the current arrangements are better than the original, in fact whilst still lush, they are a little bit worse IMHO.

Do agree with Chernjam above though, if you were to do a CD should be the whole thing. It's a body of music, hard to carve into a highlights CD. And I would love for one day for a new Aspects recording to materialise.

Very happy to eat my words when Baz announces the CD today lol.

Sadly this is so true - especially the well made point about him only really releasing revival cast recordings of shows that pre-date RUG - so we have lots of English language Evita and JCS recordings, but fairly slim pickings after that. Funnily enough, though, the original recordings of Evita and JCS, predating the stage shows, are the ones where he was most heavily involved artistically (and, of course, both were made like conventional albums over several months, rather than recorded quickly as cast recordings), so although RUG probably don't own the rights to them, they sound amazing and probably can't be beaten as listening experiences, no matter how many times the scores get re-orchestrated and re-recorded. 

Aspects probably is the show that most deserves a new recording, but as RUG didn't produce the show I think it's extremely unlikely, although a sad decision.

I do agree, by the way, that the new orchestrations aren't quite as good as the original ones. Just a little bit too syrupy somehow. I'd have liked more woodwind and fewer strings, but that's just personal taste. 

 

Yes I hear the same thing - they are very string heavy (despite band only having 1 x violin/viola/cello) and do sound syrupy. Certain scenes especially could do with more oomph! They lack light/shade/variety I think.

Totally agree with you re the work that went into the original concept albums of JCS and Evita - both wonderful albums that you can tell have been so carefully crafted. 
(Though interestingly for me personally I prefer Lyceum JCS and Grandage Broadway Evita just as I prefer the updated orchestrations. I know Elena Roger and Ricky Martin weren't everyone's cup of tea but they did do it for me; the latter voice wise, I never saw him on stage. Was also thrilling to finally get a new complete Evita CD).

Back to Aspects - yes, is most def the ALW score most deserving of a new cast album (almost 35 years since the OLC). I just feel it can be better than this current production! (Though sadly I also feel there won't be another production for a very very long time....)

(Will be interesting to see if Scherzy Sunset gets recorded. Again I find it unlikely. They'll probs make a massive meal of her going into the recording studio.... and it will be just Norma's two big songs. Still, better than nothing I guess. Her Memory recording is breathtaking). 

[BVM]

Jun 23, 2023 11:20:05 GMT David J said:

Finally saw the musical on Wednesday evening. Also finally ticked off the Lyric Theatre off my theatres to visit list.

Matt Lucas was in as well with presumably family.

One of the projects stopped working half way through the first act so half the projected images would flicker incessantly. 

As the musical came to that abrupt, awkward ending I thought to myself this should be called 'Karma is a b**** the musical'. Once their bohemian lifestyles were established it was easier to digest their behaviours but otherwise I felt indifference to them. Which created some lulls in proceedings, especially once Michael Ball, whose charm you can always rely on, dies off.

So another theatre I've visited and another musical I've seen and have no need to see again.

Good production values and performances otherwise

3 stars

You sure they were broken as that doesn't sound a million miles off how the projections normally look ;-)