5/5 Fantastic realization of a R&H "failure".
  by The Music Man (United States)
I'm listening to this as I type, and I have to say I'm loving every second of this brand-new recording of the complete score to Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1947 flop "Allegro". This CD has a fascinating genesis: begun as a tryout with a European orchestra who had expressed interest in recording projects, the orchestral tracks were recorded in 2006. Then, the producers put together a "wish list" of talent, focusing on performers' vocal qualities, as if they were putting together the ideal radio show. Since they were willing to wait for artists, they were able to get every single one of their wish list, including Audra McDonald, Marni Nixon, Judy Kuhn, Liz Callway, Nathan Gunn, ...even Stephen Sondheim! There is even a surprise vocal appearance by the late Oscar Hammerstein! The entire process took nearly three years, but the result is a testament to the producer's vision. The recording is a dream, I don't hesitate to say that it blows the Original Broadway Cast clean out of the water, with performances spot on, and not a weak link anywhere - tempos are perfect, voices are pristine, and the richness of the score, which was severely truncated on the original cast recording, is a revelation. Never-before-heard songs and dance music is all here, and the music, weaves seamlessly in and around scenes, is some of Rodgers most inventive and melodic. Accompanied by a thick booklet discussing the whole of the project, along with historical analysis, complete libretto, and color photographs, this set simply cannot be bettered. R&H fans, rejoice! This "Allegro" is everything you've been waiting for!

5/5 21st Century Allegro, Just In Time
  by bksellerguynj (new jersey)
I'm glad it's here. We should be thankful any project like this is being done in this era where even before the Crash of '08 a CD release on such a scale would not have been risked by a major label (Sony and the gang--even at cut-rate prices Ted Chapin has managed). I listened all the way through last night with the vocal score in my lap. First the voices and singing, Gunn and Audra M superb, Patrick Wilson incredible (hits and sustains a high G on two tracks! unbelievable!) the chorus sounds like a dream, all the ensemble singing sounds terrific (Joseph Taylor JR, One Foot, Wedding, etc. all wonderful chorus work). Marni Nixon has a charm voice for grandma, don't expect Patricia Neway power here, it's not necessary considering the music grandma is given anyway; this is not an anthem part in the usual R&H mold; in fact, nothing here is in their usual mode which is what makes this a different kind of R&H treasure.
Jenny and the nurse come across great vocally but they are more interesting dramatically or as character voices than as prima donnas. All the voice casting is sound. I want to move on to what is not on the recording that I certainly didn't expect to be here but some buyers may misunderstand. This is as full a recording of the score as possible, but not a full recording of the show. The book of Allegro includes a lot of chorus speech (not Song) you hear a little of this in the recording and it's tantalizing to hear because the recorded chorus speeches do come over as comic and dramatic and have a lot of expression so you'd wish you could hear a full performance to get this missing piece that remains missing and obviously meant a lot to Hammerstein when he wrote the choral speeches. This does not detract from the recording but little touches of drama and pathos and comedy are missing when even speeches that were written in the score are not always heard over this score in this recording. This is not a criticism. I think the producers made all the right choices here and have done an amazing job in view of the scope of this project. We are very lucky to get the score intact (some change of scene music, repeats and exit music are excised but nothing important has been left out). But I think the choral speeches and a lot of dialogue that complete the stage show will be missed by those unfamiliar with how well Hammerstein's book fills in the story, adds humor and pathos which won't be picked up on here obviously. I hope people who read the Synopsis rather than the "libretto" included are helped along with this aspect. I have always dreamed of a fuller recording of Allegro than the original cast album and this should exceed anyone's expectations other than those of a complete perfectionist or an insane person. The voice-only roles are so good and it was a great touch to include Hammerstein's recorded voice for the philosophy professor's line (or the first one, that is). R&H fans have no excuse but to own this.

5/5 A Landmark recording
  by Terry Carroll (Canada)
"Allegro" was only available in the original cast version until this recording was released. The original was probably the weakest version of any of Rogers and Hammerstein's scores. It was severely truncated (The new recording is about 100 minutes long -- The old recording is only about 30 minutes), very poorly recorded at 78 rpm, and filled with the pretentious singing of the 1940s. The original cast recordings of "Oklahoma" and "Carousel", although similarly recorded, had many newer versions to make up for it. "Allegro" did not.

Imagine a list of all 44 numbers from the score. Now highlight every fifth or so. You now have what was originally recorded in the 1940s.

The new recording is a revelation. At last you can understand where each number fits into the score, and understand every word that is sung. The orchestra and singers are state of the art. This is a recording I have been waiting for since 2006 when I heard it might actually come about. I just got it this morning, and have already played it three times.

I can't say enough good things about this version. Each singer in the dream cast fits their parts perfectly, and you will never get a better recording.

As far as the musical itself is concerned, it is still the weakest of R&H, but remember, their weakest is far better than many other teams.

The only quibble I have is the packaging. After you hear each long anticipated CD, and enjoy every moment, you are expected to ram the disk into a cardboard envelope, and it is almost impossible to take the CDs out without touching the playing surfaces. I am going to either make copies of these discs, or buy a double plastic case as soon as possible.

5/5 A Great Recording of a Seminal Musical
  by RareRare
I must say that I have been waiting for a complete recording of "Allegro" since I first found a vinyl recording in a record bin in Sears and Roebucks in the 1960's. Upon first hearing "Allegro" I knew something was missing and this new stunning version has proven me right. It is quite wondrous and I thank Ted Chapin for spearheading this momentous project.

Now I have all the pieces of the puzzle in place and, as I thought when I first studied the full score, "Allegro" comes up lacking. No amount of knowledge of 1940s music could possibly help in regards to making "Allegro" something that it isn't. It is indeed a lackluster score. It isn't even in the same ballpark of "Oklahoma!", "South Pacific" "The Sound of Music" and R and H's masterpiece "Carousel."

I cannot, however, disregard it's influence on the Musical Theatre World and would love to direct a production of it. I would love it if Stephen Sondheim would take on the task of weaving some of "Allegro's" musical themes into a song for Joe in which could be stated Hammerstein's true intentions concerning how public responsibilities sometime prevent us from following our true calling. I think that it would clear up the misconception of Hammerstein criticizing success.

Now to the performances on this new recording:

Marni Nixon is perfect for the Grandmother. Audra MacDonald is pure joy as the Mother. Laura Benanti is miraculous in the subtleties of her role and Norbert Leo Butz keeps boosting the show with his wit and candor. I especially liked Liz Calloway's reading of "The Gentleman is a Dope"--in fact I found it much more telling than Lisa Kirk's original take. Judy Kuhn does a good job with "So Far" which is a mediocre song in the R and H Songbook.

But the crowning achievement of this recording is the work of Patrick Wilson. He is absolutely thrilling and makes me realize how wrong R and H were in not giving Joe more. Wilson's voice is like a diamond. Why is he not doing more musicals and recording more? Well, you can't have everything.

And as far as possible this recording gave me everything great about "Allegro" which sadly sheds light on that fact that it is a flawed work. I encourage you to get this great recording as soon as possible.

Thanks again Ted Chapin.

5/5 A Noble "Failure"
  by Eileen Pollock (New York, NY)
Allegro is one of the rare Rodgers & Hammerstein "failures". Unbelievably, this is the first complete recording. The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization went first class to record the entire R&H score, including much orchestral material. The cast is stellar - Audra MacDonald, Nathan Gunn, Laura Benanti, Norbert Leo Butz, and Marni Nixon. The ensembles of adults and children enunciate perfectly, every word clear, with pinpoint rhythmic unison. The music direction is superb, the Eastern European orchestra skillfully capturing the romanticism of R&H's style. However, aside from this classy production, it is clear why Allegro was not a success. It's not so much the sung-through structure as the content. The story is very obvious, its anti-materialistic moral uncomfortably sanctimonious. The story line is awkwardly structured, with cartoon characters entering, delivering one knockout number, and exiting, never to be heard from again. The hero and his wife Jennie do not even have the bulk of the material oddly enough. The first act is too long with excessive orchestral numbers, though the second act is worse. And there is to me a feeling of futility about the plot, with hero and his wife marrying, only to be at cross-purposes - he high-minded, she utterly shallow. The feeling of loss, of Our Town, is there. Yet Allegro contains many wonderful songs that have entered the R&H canon: The Gentleman is a Dope, So Far, A Fellow Needs a Girl and more. This 2-CD set is first rate in every way, from the sepia cover photo of a small town doctor to the liner notes containing the history of the original Broadway show, pictures from the 1947 production, and photos of every cast member in the current recording. The casting of prominent theatrical personalities, including critics Howard Kissel, the late John Simon and R&H executive Schuyler Chapin who play college professors, is an effective inside joke.