[.ca] Kiss Me Kate - Music By Cole P

From Amazon.com:
This terrific new recording of Cole Porter's greatest show grabs you from the beginning: shimmering strings lead straight into "Another Op'nin', Another Show" before the orchestra takes over. Then it's on to many of Porter's best-loved melodies and wittiest lyrics, including "Wunderbar," "So in Love," "Always True to You (In My Fashion)," and "Why Can't You Behave?" Art imitates life in this story of a troupe's performance of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, as the stars quarrel as much offstage as they do onstage, and Porter's score reflects this with both contemporary '40s songs ("Too Darn Hot") and Bard-inspired stage songs ("I've Come to Wive It Wealthily in Padua"). Similarly, Don Sebesky's marvelous new orchestrations alternate a jazzy band with Elizabethan-period drums and recorders. Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie (both alums of Ragtime) are in glorious voice as the feuding stars, while Amy Spanger and Michael Berresse shine as the secondary couple. Surprisingly, when this production debuted on Broadway in the fall of 1999, it was the show's first-ever major revival. The original 1948 cast recording is still great listening, but this is a Kiss Me, Kate for the new century. --David Horiuchi

great revival recording of the classic show!:
I saw this musical in New York a few years ago, and completely loved it! the actors/singers are excellent, in particular Marin Mazzie. she does a terrific rendition of "I hate men!". truly a classic!

a great musical show!:
I really like this cd. The tunes are catchy and beautiful. It's well worth getting, and a wonderful revival done, for the musical, "Kiss Me Kate."

New orchestrations are revival cast album's undoing:
The 1999 Tony award winning revival of KISS ME KATE managed to show there was still life in this 50-year old show. Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie are ideal as a modern day Fred and Lilli. Amy Spangler has the proper saucy style for Lois. There was some (needless, though minor) tinkering with the book and the show's famous Overture was dropped. (That Overture must be jinxed: on both the Columbia and Capitol cast albums it was replaced by the Entr'acte. The 1987 London cast uses a new Overture.) The "updated" arrangements by Don Sebesky are no improvement on the originals, although the use of Elizabethan styled music for the Shrew sections is appropriate. The new recording includes more dialogue than previous releases. The production moved to London after its Broadway run and that edition was taped and has been released on DVD and is well worth checking out.

Excellent, but...:
I thought this was great, I love this musical, however, the only flaw I noticed was in "Another openin'" seemed to be a little high in range for atleast one of female cast members in parts. But it doesn't detract from the performance too badly.

Brava, Brava:
I went to London this April with my family, and stayed very near to the theatre district. In Lemeonster Square, there was a listing of the hundreds of shows performing in London on that day. Kiss Me, Kate, was one of them. As I sat in the half-filled auditorium, waiting for the show to begin, I felt this overwhelming sense of excitement and euphoria only explained by my love of theatre and Cole Porter. His lyrics have got to be the funniest and sweetest words ever put into songs, with words that couldn't possibly rhyme in rythm amazingly make a line of music that is near perfection: "Another show that you hope at last/ will make your future forget your past/ another pain where the ulcers grow/ another opnin' of another show," The Broadway cast of Kiss Me, Kate moved their show to London after the September 11th attacks, and have been causing a sensation to everyone who sees. This CD is an amazing expression of the artist's talents, and makes you feel like you'd like to get up and dance along with the music. Brava, brava!!!

• Another Op'nin', Another Show - Hattie & the Company
• Why Can't You Behave?
• Wunderbar
• So in Love
• We Open in Venice
• Tom, Dick, or Harry
• I've Come to Wive It Wealthily in Padua
• I Hate Men
• Were Thine That Special Face
• Cantiamo d'Amore
• Kiss Me, Kate
• Too Darn Hot
• Where Is the Life That Late I Led?
• Always True to You (In My Fashion)
• Bianca
• So in Love (Reprise)
• Brush up Your Shakespeare
• Pavane
• I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple
• Kiss Me, Kate (Finale)