Musicals meme

[winter]

*looks at last entry* Meep. All those... serious things. To counteract it, musicals meme swiped from musicallover6.


Part I- Favourite

Favourite musical?

For all that I adore Tanz der Vampire, Elisabeth gets equal billing. I know that, technically, Elisabeth's the better musical, but Tanz is the one that reduces me to incoherent squee.

Seen it how many times?

Tanz: 21 in Warsaw, 1 in Vienna, 1 in Berlin, got tickets to 2 in Budapest and am planning Berlin once more. Plus something like 10 times on various DVDs. Elisabeth, never live, but I have about 25 DVDs of it.

Favourite song?

This changes by the minute, but right now I'm back to Wenn ich tanzen will from Elisabeth (either Vienna revival or Maki + Yamaguchi), mixed with Jigoku no Butoukai from Datenshi no Namida. Tanz-wise, Carpe Noctem original Vienna.

Least favourite song?

From Elisabeth? Any of the sections based on the same melody as Szene einer Ehe. They do encapsulate the faults of the narrative there, in that such scrolling and recaps are needed.

Favourite character?

Elisabeth - Death. Tanz - Graf von Krolock.

Favourite performer to play that role?

I'm in the bad situation of having an armload of favourite Deaths. I've liked just about everyone in that role in some aspects, but I keep coming back to the first two I saw, Máté Kamarás and Maki Ichiro, who present completely different performances, but both manage to be their characters completely. It's a hell of a shock later to see Maki off-stage, giggling and bouncing like she's prone to. Other favourites: Yuichiro Yamaguchi, Masaaki Uchino, Nao Ayaki, Saki Asaji, Stanley Burleson, Tamás Mester, Szilveszter Szabó, Felix Martin, Jesper Tydén, Uwe Kröger.

For Von Krolocks, the two firm favourites remain Steve Barton and Lukasz Dziedzic. Yamaguchi's performance also made me think a lot, even if he played a completely different character. In the category of "someone give this guy a cape and fangs already": Máté Kamarás, Jakub Wocial and Ethan Freeman.

Least favourite character?

Depends on the production, really. In Western ones, Franz-Josephs are usually hit-and-miss. In Japanese ones, the only two Elisabeths I like consistently throughout the show are Maki Ichiro and Jun Sena. It also takes a lot to make me like a Sophie.

Part II- 2nd Favourite

Second favourite musical?

Phantom of the Opera was really what got me into musicals, by virtue of sucking Mother in completely. It's schmaltz, but it's schmaltz with passion, larger than life.

Seen it how many times?

Movie, something like a dozen. Live, so far small-stage version, twice. DVDs... probably something like a dozen again.

Favourite song?

All in all, I think that'd have to be All I ask of you. All Steve's fault, of course.

Least favourite song?

Wishing you were somehow here again. So far I've heard exactly one rendition that moved me, and that was a guy singing it.

Favourite character?

Depends on who's playing Erik and Raoul ;) My allegiances switch at the drop of a call sheet.

Favourite performer to play that role?

For both of them, Steve Barton (passion and mad crazy earnestness) and Jakub Wocial (passion again, plus voice-like-an-angel, natch).

Least favourite character?

I think it's a rare musical where I don't have any special dislikes.

Part III- CDs & DVDs

Do you own many cast recordings?

*checks list* 126 ^^;;;;

Which is your favourite?

All in all, I think Elisabeth 2004 Toho Orange Cast.

Why?

Hands down my vocally favourite cast - Maki and Yamaguchi accompanied by perfect backup. Lucheni took a moment of getting used to, but once I saw him on DVD, he's just perfect.

Can you sing the whole CD word for word?

...almost. And I don't speak the language :P I can also manage a fair rendition of Letzte Tanz in Hungarian.

What musical DVDs do you have?

At last count over a hundred, and the last count was a good while ago.

Favourite DVD?

2005 Toho Elisabeth with Maki Ichiro and Masaaki Uchino, closely followed by my entire Takarazuka collection. Of the non-bootleg ones, my new acquisition Datenshi no Namida / Tarantella!, Hikaru Asami's sayonara show.

Part IV- Performers

Favourite theatre performer?

Female: Maki Ichiro. Male: Steve Barton.

Have you seen him/her perform live? If so, in what?

Since she's in Japan and taking time off to raise her kid, and he's dead, probably no chance either way. On the other hand, I managed to see Thomas Borchert, Uwe Kröger, Jan Ammann and Lukas Perman already (not to mention all but stalking our brilliant Tanz cast), and have plans for seeing Máté Kamarás this year or the next, so not all is lost.

Least favourite performer?

It might not be fair to judge by one performance, but Kevin Tarte gets a "gahNOpleaseKthx".

Funniest performer?

Joint award for Asa and Kiriyan in Ernest in Love

Best voice?

Yuichirou Yamaguchi.

Comments

[assimbya.livejournal.com]

Phantom of the Opera seems to have gotten a lot of people into musical theater. It makes sense, somewhat, as it seems to exemplify some of the most recognizable qualities of musicals - larger than life romance and drama, music rich with passion, and stunning spectacle.

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*snickers* And I still remember your original response to a certain Empress-shaped musical... ;)

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

Great meme, but I can't answer it because I have way-too-many favorite musicals! ;-D

You have *25* versions of Elizabeth?! You are so hard-core! I love it!

[winter]

And looking to make it 26 or so with the new Snow production :) A girl I know went to see it and was very impressed, especially with how much Mizu learned from Mr Kamarás.

(And you do know that my Takarazuka collection is all your fault? As are the four Maki albums I own, all legally?)

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Oddly, I have always rather disliked Phantom. ^^;;; I remember being heartbroken when it beat Into the Woods for the Tony.

[winter]

In other words, drives it home that musicals are opera in a new dress ;)

[winter]

And I remember your original response to Tarakazuka revues. Shush :P

[assimbya.livejournal.com]

Exactly. ;)

(Really, the whole argument over where things are opera/operetta/musicals/'light' opera drives me crazy. They're all at different places along the same spectrum!)

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

And generally, that is still my reaction, so really, I'm consistant ;) I believe its usually along the lines of OMGWTFSPARKLYTURKEYS! :D

[amelia-petkova.livejournal.com]

All throughout your last post, I was wondering if you'd expected it to explode like that.

After reading the meme...damn, woman, I didn't realize your bootleg (and non) musical collection was that huge!

[winter]

No, I didn't. People are scary.

*snickers* The amazing thing is how little it all took to put together. Last year at this point I had a total of three DVDs.

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

What, my fault? Hey, wait, didn't you ask me for that copy of Yukigumi Elizabeth because you were curious? Well, Maki is special, there's no doubting that.

Which reminds me, I have like four Takarazuka musicals I need to review.

I was thinking about getting the new Yukigumi production of Elizabeth, but my hubby weighed in and said he'd prefer I get something that was totally different. So now I dither and save my dollars (and pray the dollar/yen ratio doesn't get worse).

Hooked on Takarazuka--crack would be cheaper! ;-D

[winter]

Well, there are cheaper options ;) I paid a total of less than 60 EUR for three CDs someone got me second-hand in Quatre Reves, and I just snagged three programmes off e-bay for USD 10 each.

[winter]

I have to say that from the original cast, I only liked Steve Barton as Raoul. It takes a good cast to bring it to life, plus the staging could use updating.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I forgot which cast I saw, I ought to look for the playbill. I mean other than the excerpts from the Tonys. Into the Woods just happens to be one of my favorites and overall I think it is a better show. It's like I do like Wicked, but overall now think Avenue Q deserved to win the Tony for Best Musical.

[shirabyoshi.livejournal.com]

I saw you comment on the Takarazuka community and came here to try to work out where I've heard the name "B. Winter" before and why there are attached to it certain favourable associations. I haven't remembered yet, but the little people inside my head are still on the case, and in the meantime:

Elisabeth, never live, but I have about 25 DVDs of it.

25?! 25?! I only have six!

... It is, however, some consolation to reflect upon the fact that most Takarazuka fans, when they become aware of the depth and breadth of my collection, sit down and have a good cry. ;)

[winter]

*snickers* I have to admit that I may have a few too many ;) I've never even watched the Stuttgart closing, for example. But unlike, say, Tanz der Vampire, Elisabeth is so different with every cast and year that I want them all.

[shirabyoshi.livejournal.com]

... All right, when I say six, actually I have a seventh on the way. But it won't be here for days and the suspense is not doing my blood pressure any good.

I keep reading the title Tanz der Vampire typed in an awed sort of way by people who love Zuka and sometimes I think I ought to up-look it. The trouble is that in the last couple of years I've, well, gone off musicals that have blokes in. Given a choice between "Japanese women in sparkly trousers" and "anything else", there are no prizes for guessing which way I leap.

If I do organise myself to investigate it, which in your considered opinion is the best cast recording to look for? I realise this question may keep you occupied all week, and for that I apologise.

[winter]

Heh, I can guess which one that is ;) I'm waiting until someone I know is in Japan to get it for me.

As to Tanz, the question is simplified by the fact that there are all of three cast recordings in existence, with a fourth one going on sale soon.

I have to admit a bias for the Warsaw one, but I also admit that the music director took it in a slightly more pop direction than the live show, and probably hired a 10-ton elephant to sit on the main actor and not let him sing with his full power. The Vienna recording (two-disc for preference) is more rock-oriented with a very strong cast except for Herbert (as noted by my icon, I'm very biased towards the Warsaw one, who'll be Abronsius in Berlin next month). The Tokyo one - I'm not fond of the musical direction they took, not enough kick to it, though Yamaguchi is a superb Krolock and the rest of the cast are strong. Then there's the upcoming Vienna anniversary live recording, and since I attended the performance, I can tell you that too has weaker and stronger actors.

Personally I'd start off with a certain video recorded on 20 November 1998, because by that time the Vienna production got a good Herbert and the energy in that boot is superb. If not that particular one, Vienna double-CD for a start, followed by Warsaw for a more operatic take on the lead role.

[shirabyoshi.livejournal.com]

Ahh. I feel... informed. Thank you. :) It's so often the case that the live version is more satisfying. The Takarazuka musicals I've seen in person were all better live than on CD, and I hear that's even more the case with the Yukigumi Elisabeth. Mizu especially is said to have grown into the role vocally after the taping.

(I will not become one of those people who go around asking where they can get bootlegs. I will not. I will not.)