Show Boat 1988 Studio Cast

Show Boat lives! This has long been my favorite show since I first saw a local, though professionally, staged production in my hometown. I was ten but its story moved me for reasons unknown as its period and time were long passed...but had it? The genius of this musical drama was to capture the time in which it was written..the jazz scene, vaudeville, operetta that were forming and shaping American musical theater and build it out of a theme that continues to resonate in our own time. The genius of this recording was to recreate that era in which it was written. I recall the first time I heard a recording of Helen Morgan, the original Julie, sing. I was surprised to hear her thin reedy soprano as I had come to think of her in modern terms. In fact, it was odd that Ann Blyth, who portrayed her in a film, was dubbed as her own soprano voice was far better suited. Funny how our sense of history is endlessly being reshaped. One of the goals of this recording was to present the show as it was and it succeeds. It was also done at a time when many musical classics were being recorded complete with all star casts. Many of those recordings were miscast but here everything is right. There are extras too. For example, scenes in which underscoring is present are presented complete with dialogue and the language is of the time which to say offensive at times. Hammerstein wanted to reach his audience at a gut level and this led the way to his other masterpieces that dealt with similar themes of racism and isolation. I love the cast but my only misgiving is that the original black chorus chose to withdraw from the project as they found certain words racist. Those words in the lyrics and dialogue are racist but intended to make a point and I applaud the producers of this album to reinstate them. Our sympathies are clearly with the outcasts of this story and the words make it very clear that for some to play, many must work, a reality that is still present. This is a recording that I consider essential in any musical theater library.

i was leery of spending [money] on this version of showboat when i already had two other versions of it, but i am glad i did. this three cd boxed set provides the most complete version of the show and gives you the best sense of what jerome kern and oscar hammerstein had in mind for their epic 1927 broadway opera.more than ever, after listening to this set, i am convinced that showboat, the first real broadway show, is still the best. were it ever to be done the way it was envisioned, it would be too long and controversial, but at the same time, cathartic and overwhelming. it would be too much for an overly sensitive and overly dulled and sated audience to handle.at first i did not think i would like all the talking before and after the songs, but i got used to it and, with the musical bridges, it provides the context of the songs, continuity and a virtually complete story, like opera sets do.i unqualifiedly recommend frederica von stade, the best magnolia since jan clayton, and also teresa stratas as julie. the other voices are good enough; some of the previous male leads, Gaylord and joe on earlier versions have maybe been better (robeson's and warfield's 'ol'man river' are still tops), but there is no bad voice on here, unless you count nancy culp as parthey -- she sounds like a cross between julia child and mr. bill, absolutely ridiculous.the third cd in this set is a grab bag of various songs cut and pasted since the show was first performed, historical footnotes to an epic that started out as our musical 'gone with the wind', but which became more of a shallow minstrel show as producers and directors grew leery of its harsh racial content and did not know what to make of it.i recommend you buy this if you collect versions of showboat or want to get a sense of what the show as originally conceived is really about, or just want some extended listening to beautiful music, beautifully arranged and performed.

An absolutely fabulous recording of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's "Show Boat", which the music director/conductor has painstakingly researched and restored to its ORIGINAL version, from archived documents thought to be lost.Alternate version are also, here, for the FIRST TIME presented as alternates, obtained from painstaking reconstructions of the orchestrator's original scores.The three disks also include a lot of dialog with the music/vocals, and which give important CONTEXT to the music.Songs which were deleted from the various incarnations are also included.Given that there have been numerous revivals over the past nearly a century, and at least three film productions, each of these being somewhat different, ALL have been provided on this three disk set.This set presents the original orchestration, thought to be lost, as its principal content, with an additional disk with the deleted (revivals), or replacement (films) materials.The included libretto is also an important documentation of the pains to which the producer went to restore this seminal work to its original glory.Those familiar with "Show Boat" will not be disappointed. Those new to "Show Boat" will be astonished.

Was disappointed in the use of operatic voices for this. They are really too stiff and strident for American musicals. I'll live.

Excellent. A truly complete showboat. The book that comes with it is worth the price alone. A must have for anyone who loves Show Boat. I listened to it so much it took me two weeks to get the songs out of my head.

In the opening chorus you will hear an un-Pc racial word used, as it was (innocently) used in the original Gershwin version, and it is a testimonial to conductor John McGlinn's determination and courage to produce authentic versions of classic American musicals. I always revered the 1962 studio cast recording with John (Bonnie's father) Raitt, but this is the one to own. Hear pre-wireless microphone, "legit" singing, and pre-synth orchestras, as nature intended it.

An amazing set of discs. I've had the cassettes for a while, but have only just been able to get this on CD....second hand with no booklet. Luckily I already have this. The show is complete - word and music. The playing and singing is superb. Radio three thought I was a little "four square" I disagree, just listen to Queenie's first solo with Nola and Julie. I wish this had been a DVD, but one can imagine everything almost as well. It is expensive new, since it is a rarity but there are a few second hand copies on the site.

What a wonderful set! This is the original "Show Boat" dialogue and all, with magnificent performances. True, there have been other valid approaches over the years on stage and in film but none I have heard even approach this. Yes - this is for me.

This is the definitive recording of the classic 1927 Jerome Kern musical. The set arrived on time, intact and is now giving me so much pleasure.

All the songs and more are included here! As somebody who hates a song being omitted, this was a huge treat for me. The singing is pretty fine too.

Very high quality recording with excellent principals and support cast. I was particularly anticipating the performance of Frederica Von Stade and very much enjoyed it.Although the box and discs were not new they were in excellent condition.The provider is to be commended.Complete satisfaction!Thank you.