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The Frogs / Evening Primrose (2001 Studio Cast) | 
 enlarge | Artists: Stephen Sondheim, Nathan Lane, Brian Stokes Mitchell
Label: Nonesuch
Category: Music
Buy New: $19.98
New (15) Used (9) from $6.99
Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 109257
Format: Cast Recording
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.6
MPN: 79638
UPC: 075597963823
EAN: 0075597963823
ASIN: B00005OM6W
Release Date: October 16, 2001
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Fanfare | | • | Prologos: Invocation and Instructions to the Audience | | • | Traveling Music | | • | Parados: The Frogs | | • | Hymnos: Evoe! | | • | Dialogue: "Pluto!" | | • | Parabasis: It's Only a Play | | • | Dialogue: "That Was Some Banquet!" | | • | Evoe for the Dead | | • | Invocation to the Muses | | • | Fear No More | | • | Exodos: The Sound of Poets | | • | If You Can Find Me, I'm Here | | • | I Remember | | • | When? | | • | Take Me to the World |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
After unearthing Stephen Sondheim's youthful effort, Saturday Night, a couple of years ago, producers desperate to bank on the name of one of Broadway's last living titans continue chasing after obscure offerings. The Frogs was a 1974 adaptation of a play by Aristophanes and was staged by the Yale Repertory Theater for a week. This recording, the first complete one, boasts the presence of Nathan Lane, Davis Gaines, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. In Broadway star power, that's like having Jim Carrey, Brad Pitt, and Tom Cruise in the same movie. Evening Primrose was a 1966 ABC special, which spawned a couple of songs ("I Remember" and "Take Me to the World") that made it into the cabaret and solo recital repertories. Granted, these two pieces are for Sondheim completists, but they do provide an interesting glimpse into the mind of one of the musical theater's most brilliant auteurs. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
 The Frogs May 8, 2008
I truly enjoy this recording of The Frogs. The complex yet small chorus makes each voice distinct. Each time I listen I hear something new. I also hear reminiscents of later works. I'm not as pleased with the Evening Primrose section, but admire NPH for tackling that character at a fairly young age.
I love Neil Patrick Harris! January 2, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I already own the original Broadway cast to The Frogs (Nathan Lane, Roger Bart), so all I have to say about that part of the CD is that there are not that many songs. Sure there are a lot of numbers, but a lot are just dialogue. The Broadway cast has a lot more songs. However, Nathan Lane and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Good cast.
Evening Primrose is very good! I adore Neil Patrick Harris, meaning that three/four songs are amazing. The female is also very good. Instead of the last four songs being a bonus, I think that the last four songs are the best while The Frogs is a bonus.
If you like Neil Patrick Harris, BUY IT! Or if you like any other cast member in this show...
Primrose Shines, Frogs Leaps! August 27, 2005
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This recording is arguably one of Sondheims greatest! The Frogs, which appears here with a brilliant cast (Nathan Lane, Brian Stokes Mitchell among others) is one of Mr. Sondheims oddest pieces of theater. Although it was recently revived on Broadway with a new book by Mr. Lane and that recording is probably better, the entire first half of this recording (which is The Frogs) is brilliant for nostalgias sake and for the amazing expierence of the music itself. Mr. Sondheim has created such music for The Frogs! Very grandiose and stunning!
But it is really the final four tracks on the album (The Evening Primrose) that shines. The Evening Primrose is also an interesting Sondheim show but this one is quite possibly worth the price of the album itself. This recording (the only LEGAL one i know of) of the show is... well... perfect. The music is Sondheim at his best, the singers (Neil Patrick Harris plays the lead) are terrific and it just sounds glorious!
The Frogs might be an interesting and entertaining reason to purchase this album but it will The Evening Primrose that will make you scream with joy!
 Can I sell it On Ebay!!!! June 1, 2005
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
Contrary to other reviwes posted I will tell you that the Evening Primrose on the Mandy Patinkin Cd "Dress Casual" IS the "Primrose" to own. This one was in my opinion under acted and undersung. While Mandy Patinkin is always over the tip, Ms Peters is one of the best Interpreters of Sondheim's works and the orchestration on this is much darker and deep, like the subject matter of the piece. I found this whole CD lacking, given that just like the "Dress Casual" I bought it only for the "Evening Primrose" selections. Thank the GODS for CD Burners so I can compile my own best of Sondheim CD.
 Very Good Evening Primrose April 14, 2004
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
I find the Evening Primrose here much better than that on "Dress Casual." Firstly, because the two performers--Neil Patrick Harris and Theresa McCarthy--are both amazing singers. Also, because both of these performers are younger and thus, their voices are more "youthful". For this musical, in particular, "youthfulness" is important; Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin are simply to mature to effectively do these parts. I find Neil Patrick Harris, in particular, absolutely superb, and his version of "Not While I'm Around" (on the NYP Sweeney Todd recording) is far and away the best I have ever heard (except for LuPone's dismal British accent). This Evening Primrose alone is worth the price of the CD.
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