Product Description: No Description Available No Track Information Available Media Type: CD Artist: WICKED Title: ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING Street Release Date: 12/16/2003 Domestic Genre: CAST RECORDINGS
Amazon.com: One of the most common complaints about musicals is that the books are flimsy pretexts from which to hang numbers. Wicked runs into the opposite problem: it has a great plot, but too often the songs just get in the way. Based on Gregory Maguire's novel of the same name, Wicked tells us what happened between Glinda the Good and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, before Dorothy showed up in Oz. And the show is lucky to boast a pair of ace leading women in the main roles. As Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth delivers a sensational star turn, displaying a crystal-pure voice and sharp comic timing; Idina Menzel lends her powerful pipes to the tricky role of Elphaba. Unfortunately, you wish they had better material to work with. Stephen Schwartz's pop score is often dragged down by overly synthetic orchestrations and sentimental lyrics (think Chicken Soup for the Witch). Still, at its best Wicked is a seductive slice of popular entertainment that could well give a younger audience a lasting taste for musical theater. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Can't wait to see the show live!
I'd heard the arguments both for and against "Wicked" (people love it or hate) so thought I'd have a listen. I really enjoyed it. So really great songs (and some fun ones too) as well as great singing. Even as I was listening to it for the first time I wanted to sing along!
Really enjoyed it!
Rating: - Best Broadway Musical Cast Album ever!
"Wicked" gets my vote for the best musical, possibly of all time!
Saw the play in NYC, bought the cast recording.
I've seen maybe 100 plays on Broadway and our local Tony Award-winning venue, Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park, but...
I have never seen, after a song ("If only for this moment"), the entire audience standing, cheering and most of us crying - and this is not the end of the play, just one of several songs that brought tears and cheers from most of the audience. To say the music is exceptional would be a vast understatement! Never heard better! ... Read More
Rating: - I didnt like this at first
I knew there was a musical called wicked that came out fairly recently but I didnt take much notice to it until this year. I live in Los Angeles and saw a few commericals on tv. The commercial had a clip of the song Popular. I thought it was kind of catchy so I downloaded the soundtrack. Except for popular, I didnt like any of the other songs. I then started watching some clips of the play on youtube and started to really like other songs such as defying gravity and the wizard and I.
I'm not sure why I didnt like it at first,maybe because I didnt know what was going on at first, but ... Read More
Rating: - Los Angeles "Wicked" as good as CD-mostly
I saw "Wicked" at the Pantages in Los Angeles yesterday and it was marvelous. I couldn't help comparing the leads to this CD which I have owned and played relentlessly since I first saw "Wicked" in 2006. The L.A. stars acquitted themselves quite well. And proof that synchronicity lives in The Emerald City, Elphaba the green witch was played brilliantly by a Cali belter by the name of Teal Wicks.
Honorable mentions go to "No Good Deeds" "Defying Gravity" "As Long as You're Mine" and "For Good". My very favorite (this month anyway) "Thank Goodness" got a rather tepid response from the matinee ... Read More
Rating: - Great soundtrack!
If you are a fan of the musical Wicked, this CD is a must have! I bought this copy as a gift for my niece who is also a fan. Great music, great fun!
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