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Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast) | 
 enlarge | Artists: Stephen Schwartz, Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel
Label: Decca Broadway
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $9.89
You Save: $9.09 (48%)
New (52) Used (23) Collectible (1) from $8.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  862 reviews
Sales Rank: 40
Format: Cast Recording
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.7 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 602498613436
UPC: 602498613436
EAN: 0602498613436
ASIN: B0000TB01Y
Release Date: December 16, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new, factory sealed. Fast shipping!
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| Tracks:
| • | No One Mourns the Wicked - Cristy Candler | | • | Dear Old Shiz | | • | The Wizard and I - Idina Menzel | | • | What Is This Feeling? - Kristin Chenoweth | | • | Something Bad - William Youmans | | • | Dancing Through Life - Michelle Federer | | • | Popular - Kristin Chenoweth | | • | I'm Not That Girl - Idina Menzel | | • | One Short Day - Kristin Chenoweth | | • | A Sentimental Man - Joel Grey | | • | Defying Gravity - Idina Menzel | | • | Thank Goodness - Kristin Chenoweth | | • | Wonderful - Idina Menzel | | • | I'm Not That Girl (Reprise) - Kristin Chenoweth | | • | As Long as You're Mine - Norbert Leo Butz | | • | No Good Deed - Idina Menzel | | • | March of the Witch Hunters | | • | For Good - Kristin Chenoweth | | • | Finale - Kristin Chenoweth |
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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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 857 more reviews...
 Mostly satisfying souvenier of a supremely entertaining musical July 24, 2008
Stephen Schwartz is nothing if not predictable. His Broadway scores follow a formula: a slam-bang opening number, a solo number (sort of an "I want..." type of song) that serves to reveal the hidden fears, hopes and dreams of the show's deceptively complex protagonist, and at least one song that defines the show's message -- almost an anthem of sorts. This formula served Mr. Schwartz well in the 1970's, when he penned the scores of the Broadway hits "Godspell" and "Pippin," before taking a hiatus from stage composing to make a go of the more challenging genre of motion pictures. With "Wicked," Stephen Schwartz has turned in a predictable, but supremely enjoyable, and -- for lack of better word -- approachable musical score that does everything it shoud do: explores and exposes what makes the characters tick, moves the story along, and ultimately leaves the audience with something to remember -- a tune to hum on the way out of the theater, or even a turn of phrase to internalize and repeat later on.
"Wicked" is by no means great theater. Stephen Schwartz's work will never be comparable to even the most mundane works by Sondheim, or the better works of Lloyd Webber. But it's fun theater -- easily assimilated, easily appreciated, and easily remembered. He may follow a formula, but at least he has the good sense to follow one that works.
In many ways, "Wicked" represented a return to the traditional book musical, i.e., a musical with a spoken script as well as songs. This was an all but dying artform when the show opened in 2003, as audiences had come to expect the near operatic structures of shows like "Phantom of the Opera" and "Miss Saigon." Most surely, as much of "Wicked's" story is told by the spoken dialogue as by the songs. Maybe more.
Perhaps that is why the producers of the Original Broadway Cast CD were careful to eliminate passages of dialogue that were in the midst of songs, and rearranged and re-edited most of the numbers to effect a streamlined, purely musical experience that stands separate from the show upon which it is based.
Much like many of the original Broadway cast recordings of the Columbia hey-day in the 1950's and 1960's, this is no audio rendering of the stage show. It is an entirely distinct piece of work that stands on its own feet. One needn't have seen "Wicked" on stage to enjoy this CD; all that's needed is an ear for infectious tunes and lyrics that make some bold statements without ever becoming preachy.
Some have hypothesized that the pre-record editing of the "Wicked" score was an intentional effort to preserve the surpise aspects of the storyline for those who hadn't yet seen the show. This theory is partially supported by the fact that the CD jacket does not contain a synopsis. Yet, this seems unlikely, as almost everyone at all familiar with the show knows it as a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," and we ALL know how that turns out. Safer to say that the CD was carefully crafted to avoid dialogue or musical passages that would only serve to confuse listeners that had not seen the play; better to clear the way for unadulterated appreciation of the songs -- beautifully rendered by skilled vocalists and an expert orchestral back-up.
Leading ladies Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel give powerhouse readings of some very challenging material. Ms. Chenoweth's pristine coloratura is given its best showing to date in a performance that is as near perfection as any human voice can get. Even the most discriminating listener would be hard-pressed to find even one off-key note emanating from her vocal cords. Her superb comic timing -- no secret to Broadway audiences since her performance as Sally in the 1999 revival of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" -- is on fine display.
Equally impressive is Idina Menzel, whose dusky mezzo soprano fleshes out a complex character without ever descending into overacting or camp. Whether crooning the show's romantic ballad "As Long As You're Mine," or belting the finale of "Defying Gravity" to the second balcony, Ms. Menzel displays an astounding control of material that would reduce less adept singers shrieking histronics. Surpassing mere singing, she injects her songs with pathos and true humanity. It may be a performance with "Tony Award" written all over it, but it works -- and it works well.
The entire CD is well-mixed, with an appropriate balance of voice and orchestra that sometimes eluded the sound engineers at the cavernous Gershwin Theater, where "Wicked" makes its Broadway home. For the most part, the deletions of material that is not purely musical are appropriate and well-chosen. One might carp about a few editions here and there (Madame Morrible's missing speech to the people of Oz condemning Elphaba as wicked at the beginning of "Defying Gravity," or the absence of Elphaba's defiant cry of "It's me-e-e-e-e!") But these can only be minor flies in an otherwise expertly-formulated ointment.
"Wicked" may not be the greatest show ever written; it didn't break new ground or make theater history in the eyes of drama scholars (as did shows like "Oklahoma" or "Sweeney Todd"). But it stands as a splendidly enjoyable and memorable work, whether seen in its entirety in a stage production or listened to on this delightful CD.
 Amazing songs and perfomances July 21, 2008
When me and my family were visiting USA a couple of weeks ago we saw this musical. It was actually my first musical I'd ever seen. It blew me away. The day after the show we went to a CD store and bought this soundtrack to bring home so we all could have something to remember it by. I can't stop listening to it.
First of all, the perfomances (especially the two lead female vocalists together) are amazing. They bring so much emotion to their songs so it's impossible not to sing along. And the songs themselves are incredibly well written and arranged. In my opinion, especially the song "Defying Gravity" stands out. All the songs are worth their five stars, but this song is worth seven.
A good thing is that in the following booklet, you can follow the lyrics.
 Hype Gone Wild July 11, 2008
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a classic example of people jumping on the bandwagon for a play which despoiled the great Oz of L. Frank Baum, and music which was humdrum and un-memorable. But because most humans are herd animals, it becomes a classic. It even hand a song which goes like this.....[see, Spamalot].
WONDERFUL July 9, 2008
I know that some people out there have said they didn't like the score from this show......How can you NOT! To be fair the first time I played I said OK...........could be better. Then I played it again and read the words and listen to it and you know what? A hole other part of me took over, this show is just wonderful and looking at the book of the stage show and playing the cd I couldn't wait to see it. I did get to see it in Phila. the touring company and they were just, just.....there are no words to say how wonderful this show is. Watching this show there is no way it can't effect you, enless you are as hard as a rail. If you can pick up the cd buy the book of the musical or just go see it...it truly is great fun to sit and just watch this piece of magic weave its songs and visiual spell. I can't and haven't heard anyone come out of this show and say it wasn't entertainment. To Stephen Schwartz and company I can only say they did one HELL of a job bring this to the stage...............Now wheres that movie?
Wicked is Wickedly Wonderful July 8, 2008
Just Awesone! You can't go wrong - if you love this musical, you'll love this!
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