Alain Boublil - Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast)
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Artist: Alain BoublilComposer: Claude-Michel Schonberg
Conductor: Martin Koch
Orchestra: Miss Saigon Pit Orchestra
Performer: Gerard Casey
Performer: Ruthie Henshall
Performer: Inocian Junix
Performer: Ray Shell
Performer: Claire Moore
Performer: Lea Salonga
Performer: Simon Bowman
Performer: Jonathan Pryce
Performer: Claudia Cadette
Performer: Nick Holder
Performer: Keith Burns
Performer: Glyn Kerslake
Performer: Greg Ellis
Performer: Johnny Amobi
Performer: Jimmy Johnston
Performer: Peter Polycarpou
Performer: Isay Alvarez
Edition: Music CD
Format: Cast Recording
CD Release Date: 1990-02-02
Music Label: Decca U.S.
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Saigon-April 1975: Overture - Orchestra/Martin Koch
- Saigon-April 1975: The Heat Is On In Saigon - Jonathan Pryce/Pinky Amador/Ruthie Henshall/Suchitra Sen Sawrattan/Shukubi Yo/Antoinette Lo...
- Saigon-April 1975: The Movie In My Mind - Isay Alvarez/Lea Salonga/Pinky Amador/Ruthie Henshall/Suchitra Sen Sawrattan/Shukubi Yo/Antoinette L
- Saigon-April 1975: The Dance - Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga/Jonathan Pryce
- Saigon-April 1975: Why God Why? - Simon Bowman
- Saigon-April 1975: This Money Is Yours - Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga
- Saigon-April 1975: Sun And Moon - Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga
- Saigon-April 1975: The Telephone Song - Simon Bowman/Peter Polycarpou
- Saigon-April 1975: The Deal - Simon Bowman/Jonathan Pryce
- Saigon-April 1975: The Ceremony (Dju Vui Vai) - Lea Salonga/Simon Bowman/Pinky Amador/Ruthie Henshall/Suchitra Sen Sawrattan/Shukubi Yo...
- Saigon-April 1975: What's This I Find - Andy Lanai/Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga
- Saigon-April 1975: The Last Night Of The World - Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga
- Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: The Morning Of The Dragon - Bobby Martino/Jay Ibot/Jon Jon Briones/Chooi Kheng Beh/Robert Sena/Lyon Roque
- Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: I Still Believe - Lea Salonga/Claire Moore
- Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: This Is The Hour - Jonathan Pryce/Lea Salonga/Andy Lanai/Bobby Martino/Jay Ibot/Jon Jon Briones/Chooi Kheng Beh...
- Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: If You Want To Die In Bed - Jonathan Pryce
- Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: Let Me See His Western Nose - Jonathan Pryce
- Ho Chi Minh City-April 1978: I'd Give My Life For You - Lea Salonga
- Atlanta-September 1978: Bui-Doi - Peter Polycarpou
- Atlanta-September 1978: The Revelation - Peter Polycarpou/Simon Bowman/Claire Moore
- Bangkok-April 1978: What A Waste - Jonathan Pryce
- Bangkok-April 1978: Please - Peter Polycarpou/Lea Salonga
- Saigon-April 1975: The Fall Of Saigon - Peter Polycarpou/Simon Bowman/Lea Salonga
- Bangkok-October 1978: Room 317 - Lea Salonga/Claire Moore
- Bangkok-October 1978: Now That I've Seen Her - Claire moore
- Bangkok-October 1978: The Confrontation - Claire Moore/Simon Bowman/Peter Polycarpou
- Bangkok-October 1978: The American Dream - Jonathan Pryce
- Bangkok-October 1978: The Sacred Bird - Lea Salonga
- Bangkok-October 1978: Finale - Lea Salonga/Simon Bowman
Music reviews of Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast)
Music Review: WONDERFUL MUSICAL AND AN EXCEPTIONAL RECORDING
Rating: 5 Stars
"Miss Saigon" was the second musical conceived and written together by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg; the marvellous duo, whose earlier work, "Les Miserables", conquered London's West End and Broadway by storm in the second half of the 80-is. Just like with "Les Mis", the authors chose an interesting subject mater. This time it wasn't a novel; they decided to re-work Giacomo Puccini's famous opera "Madame Butterfly". This opera, placed in the 19-century Japan, tells a story of a young Japanese geisha called Madame Butterfly, who marries an American naval officer Pinkerton, who eventually leaves her, returns to America and re-marries. Butterfly has born him a son, and when Pinkerton returns to Japan with his new wife, she, after finding out that he didn't come in order to reunite with her, kills herself, so that their son could leave a happy life in America.
Not many people would dare to take an opera masterpiece in its own right as a basis for a new musical, but Boublil and Schönberg knew what they were doing. They set the story in a more modern and familiar background of the Vietnam War. The year is 1975 and we are taken to Saigon, the capital of the South Vietnam. It's days before the communist North will invade and it is in this framework that we meet our main characters. Engineer is a sleazy pimp who runs a bar with girls that is frequented by the American marines stationed in Saigon and he holds a competition called Miss Saigon for the better prostitution of the girls he is offering to the marines. Among them are two friends, Chris and John. One of the bargirls is a 17-year old Kim, who lost her parents in the horrors of the war. Her and Chris are immediately attracted and spend a night together. They fall in love and are married according to the Vietnamese costumes. However, Kim's late father promised her to Thuy, a Vietnamese boy, who won't let her go. Kim refuses to leave Chris and they plan to leave for the USA together, but, in the frenzy that follows after the Communists attack and the Americans pull out, Kim is left behind despite Chris's desperate attempt to reach her. After a while, Kim bears a son called Tam to Chris, kills Thuy who threatened her son's life and she and Engineer leave Vietnam and settle in Bangkok, because Engineer wants to use the fact that Tam is half-American and leave with them to America and start a new life. Meanwhile, back in the USA Chris has remarried with Ellen, who doesn't know anything about Kim. Through his friend John, who dedicated himself to the cause of Vietnamese-American children, Chris finds out about Kim and Tam and comes with Ellen to Bangkok. Kim and Ellen meet accidentally and Kim is shocked with the thought that all that time she loved and hoped that Chris will return for her and their son, only to find out it will never happen. Determined to give her son a better chance of life with his father in America, Kim shoots herself, just as Chris is entering her room and dies in his arms. The show opened in London in 1989 and was soon transferred to Broadway. It is currently touring the UK and the USA.
The above description is as brief as it could be and I've left out some things for the listener to find out. One has to admit that the authors succeeded in giving an old story a new life and meaning. Of course, the very fact that the plot takes place in the East determined the shape of the music, in whose melodies a clear Asian influence and sound can be heard. The score is simply fantastic; it consists of the wonderfully orchestrated lush arias and orchestra crescendos that will grab you at the first listening and will hold you from the big gong beat at the beginning of the overture to the final note in the end. Some of my favourite musical numbers here are: "The movie in my mind", a moving duet between Kim and an older bargirl, Gigi, about their hopes of a better life; "Why God why?", Chris's examination of his life in Vietnam; two lovely duets between Chris and Kim, "Sun and the moon" and "The last night of the world", an equally touching duet between Kim and Ellen called `I still believe"; Kim's heartbreaking vow to her small son, "I will give my life for you"; "Bui-doi", sung by a male chorus and Chris's friend John; "Please", a exquisite harmony of music, sung by Kim and John; and many more.
Alain Boublil worked with Richard Maltby, Jr. and crated powerful and reasonable lyrics that work very well, just like in "Les Mis. I have to point out that one of the main reasons for the sheer beauty of this recording, besides, the score and the lyrics, is the cast. This was one of those rare moments when the cast members all fitted perfectly and managed to produce a miracle. First, we have Lea Salonga, who plays Kim and for whom this was a theatre debut. Her performance here is extraordinary. She seemed to find a right measure of emotions to pour into her character, so her voice ranges from strong to almost angelically sweet, but without any pathos. She really was an excellent choice for the role. She remains the only character you can sympathise all the way through. Simon Bowman plays Chris very convincingly and sounds very American, even though he is from Wales. As the show slides through its second act, one doesn't feel as much for him as at the beginning. Jonathan Pryce is the sleazy Engineer. It's a very interesting character to portray: He's without any moral or other principles, so you dislike him for the most part and yet you can't help but feel a bit sorry for him, after hearing his life story in "The American dream". Pryce managed to put a very "Asian" sound to his voice and pronunciation and succeeded to form a sinister and at the same time very funny character. Also, he has a very pleasant singing voice, as seen in the movie version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Evita". Peter Polycarpou must be mentioned; he plays Chris's friend John and his rendition of "Bui-doi" is very passionate and will certainly move you. All the people assembled here did their best to make this recording such a fine piece of musical performance.
The result of the score, the lyrics and the cast is a powerful musical extravaganza, which will, at some moments, bring tears to your eyes for sure. This was the first musical that actually managed to that for me. The booklet contains libretto, though not full, since some small parts have been cut. There are also some production photos.
"Miss Saigon" thus remains one of the best musical heritages of the 80-is and shouldn't be bypassed. It's a must-have for every musical collection.
Description of Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast)
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.It's probably best known for raising the stakes for 1980s blockbuster shows by landing a helicopter on stage, but Miss Saigon is also a good show with good music. As a follow-up to their international smash Les Misérables, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg (with an assist from Richard Maltby Jr.) adapted the tale of Madame Butterfly to the Vietnam War, realized here by the original 1989 London cast. While it may seem overheated at times, the despair and passion fit the tragic story, and Schönberg's pop-flavored style receives its most appropriate setting. Leading the cast are Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer (a Eurasian character whose casting generated some controversy when the producers wanted to have Pryce, a Caucasian, reprise the role on Broadway), Lea Salonga (in her first major role) as the young Vietnamese bride, Simon Bowman as her lover, and Claire Moore as his American wife (and a young Ruthie Henshall as one of the sweaty bargirls). The songs include the bawdy opener "The Heat Is on in Saigon," "The Movie in My Mind," "Why God Why," the romantic duet "The Last Night of the World," the female duet "I Still Believe," the male chorus number "Bui-Doi," and the Engineer's mocking "The American Dream." The booklet includes photographs and full lyrics. It's also available in a 58-minute highlights version. --David Horiuchi
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