On www.musicalzentrale.de they gave report on an official Pre-Cast CD of "The Count of Monte Christo" featuring Pia Douwes, Thomas Borchert, Patrick Stanke, Jesper Tyden, Mathias Edenborn, Mark SeibertAlexander Goebel and Brandi Burkhardt. All well known musical actor and actresses in germany/austria.
Furthermore the Recording will be in english!
The release is set for November 7 2008.

The CD is already beeing pre-sold at soundofmusic.de :P
I just dunno if I will order it or not... I never heard any material of the show and I dunno if I'll love it (wich will happen if its in the style of Pimpernel or Dracula) or hate it (if its in the style of Civil War and Alice) :unsure:

You can't judge a demo, and especially not a working recording with Frank.

My point was more like the feeling of the show. Frank never made any drastic change in the type of score in his shows. Pimpy and Dracula for example have kept their "Symphonic-type" of score, while Civil War has always been very country. And I don't expect Alice to change from that modern tone it has.
And that's my concern...I don't like those modern tones to shows even less the country moods. That's why I would like to know if Count is in the lign of Music of the classic shows, or if its part of those more modern up-beated Frank shows like Carmen or Alice... :P

I've heard that it is more along the lines of Scarlet Pimpernel and Cyrano.

And the Release was postponed to somewere in December...
I have a bad Dracula-Concept-feeling about this... <_<

I hope they change the album cover. Eeeew.

That cover on SoM is a ficticious cover ;)
SoM said it on their news letter. They took it from the Poster of the production. I love the poster though. Its really pretty. The cover will probably be inspired by it but it won't be that one, relax :D

Oh, nice. I don't like the poster for the production either. I just think there's nothing imaginative about it. "Carmen" and "Rudolf" have amazing posters, IMO.

I don't think we need to worry about this going the way of the Dracula concept CD. That's been a really unusual, extreme case. We've seen other CDs and productions get rescheduled, and they do end up happening.

I've checked on this one, and I'm told that there was a delay in working out the distribution, because of the slow economy right now. It doesn't affect the record company or the CD being produced, and I'm told that yes, we will see it.

As Frank would say, keep the faith.

The Cover is out http://www.soundofmusic-shop.de/s04.php?sh...pp=aa&bnr=15107

Sorry rockfenris, but its basicly the same as the fictional one. The title is in english of course. I honestly like it, its very nice :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3KrDmkUTM8 Here's a couple of interviews made during the Recording of the CD. They are all in german (Frank has his voice covered by a german guy) but you can still hear pieces of one song sung by Thomas Borchert and Frank saying its the first time he wrote a song with a male voice in mind. :D

According to SoundofMusic the CD will be released December 14th! :D

I know that the 14th of December is the official releasdate by sound of music, but it would be pretty senseless to release it on 14th, because it is a sunday.

According to Thomas Borchert the CD will be released on the 12th December and in SoM fisical store they said the same. So probably they'll only start to seel it online on the 14th dunno... :rolleyes:

I also don't think SoM is closed on Sundays...

I checked into this, and I heard the same... the official release is the 12th, and SOM decided to start taking online orders on the 14th.

The download release (iTunes, etc) may take a few more weeks... but I'm told that it will be released that way as well.

Ah good news indeed! I have it pre-ordered online for months :P

The CD is absolutly AMAZING. Wildhorn really did a great job again. Just the Prologue is enough to take your breath! :D

Now...the Prologue to me should be took from Monte Cristo and placed in the beggining of Dracula. I think it would fit there even better :P

Review to the CD will be done when I think I've listened to it enough times to emmit an opinion. But at a first listening its amazing! :D

Now...how about starting to think in a English Concept of Cyrano? :lol:

This is definitely some of Brandi's best work to date with Wildhorn. Perhaps it's not fair to compare her to Linda Eder, but it's almost impossible not to. Overall, I feel like Linda was better equipped vocally to handle some of Frank's "heavier" works, but Brandi manages to impress me with some of the power ballads on this album. It's just a fact that she has a "lighter" voice than Linda. I feel like Brandi is just trying to carve out her own spot as a Wildhorn "diva," and I wish her the best even though she has some big shoes to fill.

Tom Borchert is overall very good on the album. His accent comes out a bit in some of the vowel shaping, but it's not too distracting. It's obvious that he gives everything he can into every track, and it works overall. At times, I just feel like Jesper's voice would work better for the role, but Tom really shines at times where I don't think Jesper could either.

Unfortunately this album isn't anything too special for Pia Douwes. She only has one song on the recording, and it's not anything too special. Her voice is also a bit too big for the track, but I'm glad they gave her SOMETHING. Jesper only gets a duet as well. The album is really about Tom and Brandi.

So what about the music?

Keeping in mind that this is just a concept album (very similar to a demo album), I'm not going to be too harsh on it. The orchestrations at times are lush and full (Prologue), but they're a little too minimal for my tastes at other times. This album doesn't suffer from as much bad digital orchestrations either which is nice. So has Frank broken out of his box with this one? That's debatable. At times, I feel a certain freshness in the music, but overall it's a bit too familiar. Still-- lots of potential, and I'll have to have more listens before I can give a good review as well.

Here's my review! (warning, its big!) :P

A couple of months before the premiere in german language of Wildhorn's new Musical based on Alexandre Dumas classic novel, it was released an english Concept CD of the show, in english. The Cast is a Concept cast, apart from Thomas who's the only one confirmed in the role of Edmund Dantes.
I got myself the CD and so this is my review. I remember almost nothing of the book apart from one scene or other, so I am not going to judge if its faithfull or Wildhorn changed it as usual =P

Thomas Borchert - I really liked him in this CD, although I'm not acostumed to hear Thomas singing love songs. Nevertheless, Wildhorn came up with some wonderfull ballads for him wich actually AREN'T boring as normaly they are. My favourite has to me "I will be there" and "Every day a little death". Of course, then we have the "Thomas-Edmund-goes-nuts" song "Hell to you doorstep" wich is just wonderfull...

Brandi Burkhardt - I love her. In every way. She's gorgeous, sings wonderfully and doesn't annoy me as Linda Eder or Lyn Liechty. I already liked her a lot in JEKYLL & HYDE Ressurection CD, and in this one she's even better! She has the wonderfull duet "I will be there" to sing with Thomas as well as "Every day a little death". Her big solo, "All this time" didn't impressed me much nor did "When the world was mine" though...

Pia Douwes - Honestly Pia was a bit of a waste in this CD. She's one of the best European voices and I think that's why she's in this CD...to sell more. She has only one song "Pretty lies". Her voice isn't by far used as it could be. Nevertheless its a pretty song.

Jesper Tydén - Again, only one song, a duet with Thomas called "Ah, women"...I will comment on this latter. Again, Jesper does a fine job, but doesn't have much to sing really.

Alexander Goebel - He sings "When we are kings" with Thomas. Its a marvellous song and the lyrics are actually good. I can REALLY imagine the song on stage. Really nice and Alexander does a beautifull job.

Patrick Stanke, Mark Seibert, Mathias Edenborn - Again only one song. Lucky them, they got to sing the BEST song in the entire CD. "A Story told" is just one of those tunes you'll get stuck in your head for days and its in my mp3 on repeat...

About the songs:

Prologue - This track is probably my second best in the CD, and my favourite Wildhorn Ouverture EVER. The classical symphonic aproach along with the chant in latin is marvellous and makes me wish he has this written for DRACULA instead. Since he got the show close to Copollas movie he could have used this Ouverture to explain in the backgroud all that Dracula loves Mina stuff, Mina dying etc etc...

When Love Is True - Its a nice love song. Typical Wildhorn. I can't say its one of my favs, but at least the song explains something instead of just love chat. Of course ligns as "I'm empty as my pockets, without you" aren't very romantic but alas...its normal in english lyrics to Wildhorn's shows.

A Story told - This song is, as I've said already, the BEST in the CD. As usual, Wildhorn wrote the better song for the "bad guys". If you're familiar with RUDOLF this song will remind you a little of "Master of the Strings" even though its different. The english lyrics are also, probably one of the best lyrics I've seen in Wildhorn's shows (in english). You'll for sure have this tune stuck in your head for days!

I Will Be There - The love duett that is actually NOT annoying. The lyrics are very nice and the music is just exquisit. Its without a doubt one of Wildhorn's best love duets from his work since "A perfect life/loving you keeps me alive" from DRACULA (though this Dracula one is better =P).

Every Day A Little Death - This is another beautyfull song. Thomas really makes you feel his own anguish and Brandi totaly corresponds to the mood set by him. In the middle Patrick Stanke also sings, but you barely notice him because his voice is becoming better and better and in this song he sounds almost similar to Thomas.

When The World Was Mine - A Brandi solo. Its nice and not as boring as "All this time". I don't have much to say about it. Its one of those songs that I listen in the CD...without really caring for it. Besides...the songs recalls me something coming out of JEKYLL & HYDE...

When We Are Kings - As I said its a beautifull song. Its moving and transmits the idea of force and conquering adversity. At some point I could imagine "This is the moment" coming after this song.

Hell To Your Doorstep - And here comes Edmund Dante's Hyde time! The song is really powerfull and I like the lyrics A LOT. BUT, for those who heard "Be afraid" in Wildhorn's Carmen, this song will be strangly familiar. I like them both a lot though so I really don't care if they sound similar =P But its a great song!

Ah, Women - Ok. Thomas called this song "Wildhorn meets Sondheim". Honestly I disagree. This is more of "Wildhorn copies Sondheim". Probably it wasn't Frank's intention, but this song and Jack's lyrics are AWFULLY similar to "Pretty Women" from SWEENEY TODD. Although Sondheim does great lyrics, Frank writes much better music than him, so I really don't see the point of this song. Sure Sondheim picked elements of Monte Cristo and mixed them with Sweeney but I don't think having a song about women is necessary. I would cut it right away. After all this IS a Concept...

I Know Those Eyes/This Man Is Dead - Again another pretty duet. Not as nice as "Every day a little death" but still... Thing with this song to me is that...it reminds the of DRACULA's "The mist". They are both great songs, but Frank sometimes just lets himself go and repeat his own tunes. Even though, when Thomas comes the song changes his tune, and the mix of the music from "A Story told" with this tune, makes it wonderfull.

Pretty Lies - Pia's song. A nice song but, to me, rather pointless. It has a nice message but that's it.

All This Time - Brandi's second big solo. I don't like it that much, mainly because it reminds me "No One Knows Who I Am".

The Man I Used To Be - The CD ends with a beautifull balad by Thomas. A moving song were Thomas really excedes himself. This song is probably the new "This is the moment" but without being boring as JEKYLL's song.

Last notes:
A last word for Koen Schoots orchestrations. The guy does WONDERS to Wildhorn music. He turned the lame "Master of the Strings" from the english demo into the hipnotizing great song it is now in RUDOLF; did the wonderfull job we can hear in re-orchestrating DRACULA, and now in COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. Frank should really consider having Koen as musical supervisor in all the world and not just Europe.
Another word for Jack Murphy who exceeds himself here. The lyrics to Count of Monte Cristo are probably the best ones he wrote so far. They just need some twitching here and there and they are perfect. I am very curious to see how will this come out in german.

Overall the CD deserves a 4 out of 5!

The only thing that annoys me about "A Story Told" is the pronunciation of "man" at 1:25. Why he chooses to sing "may-ann" is beyond me, but I'm being picky.

Overall, I agree with the majority of your review after having listened through several times now.

I really don't hear him saying "may-ann"... He simply says "History is a story told by the men who make the Laws"...

Thing with most of the cast I notice is that they mainly sing using the british english pronounciation, specially Thomas. Maybe that's by it sounds "may-ann" to you? Dunno I can't hear it... :unsure:

Really? I don't hear "men" at all. To me it sounds like a little child saying "maaaaaaaan" with an extremely bright nasal vowel. Just sticks out of the whole texture of the song in my ears, but it may just be me. There's so many dialects of British that it's tough to say if that's his attempt to do so, but it doesn't make me think cockney or the others that I've been exposed to.

I was trying to understand some parts of the lyrics of "A Story Told" but I can't. I asked my girlfriend for help and even her, who's british isn't sure of some things. Could anyone help?
Its these parts marked with (?)

You imply
A little lie
A little justifying
Why a little sailor…(?)


With the softest things (?)
He’ll touch stones and darkness


A little lie
To help the gullible (?)
to buy
a little fable


History is a Story told
By the people who survive
Let me sign and then initial (?)


What is the “Cast”/ guards (?)
Doesn’t want young men
(?) survive
It’s a price we have to pay


He will stand in a way
...(?)
So goes the Story

thanks! :P

It really is tough to make out those sections. I hear something like:

You imply a little
Lie a little
Testifying (or justifying)
Why (or Broil) a little sailor

With the softest things
He'll touch (are) stones and darkness

To help the gullible
to buy a little fable (same)

History is a story told
By the people who survive
Let me sign and then initial
is it true that it's officially the story

What if the cast doesn't want young men
So Every mormon can survive (?)
It's a price we have to pay

He was standing in the way
of ______ (that would say) ???????????
So goes the story

Reviewing as I go along, first impressions.... :D

1. PROLOGUE

Utterly brilliant and driven! I love the "Carmina Burana" feel it evokes. This is a fantastic opener that will have the audience's attention from the moment the curtain rises. I see something brilliantly visual here.

2. WHEN LOVE IS TRUE

Nice song, continually evoking atmosphere and mood. I can really see it happening onstage, as well as a single. This is a good thing! PS. Almost reminds me of some music from "Star Wars".

3. A STORY TOLD

Wow, this score is continually energetic. Love this song. It's thrusting, melodramatic, excessive but tight, accomplished and, most of all, unforgettable and addictive :D PS. Reminds me of "Falcon In The Dive" in SP. :D

4. I WILL BE THERE

Reminds me of "Dangerous Game" and "If You Only Knew" from Jekyll. Good, but least-liked track so far.

5. EVERY DAY A LITTLE DEATH

It feels like a combination of "Sweeney Todd", and "The Girls Of The Night" from Jekyll. I can imagine this becoming a musical standard later on.

6. WHEN THE WORLD WAS MINE

I can imagine Linda singing this. I do agree with the person who said Brandi is a better singer/actress but, sometimes, I just want to hear Linda... I can't explain it but this is one of those moments. PS. Reminds me of "Gold" from "Camille Claudel".

7. WHEN WE ARE KINGS

It's subtlety is its majesty! I love the way it builds. It's like a combination of "Letting Go", "Deep In The Darkest Night", "Life After Life" and "Into The Fire".

8. HELL TO YOUR DOORSTEP

Haha! Yes! This is the Jekyll showdown like "Alive" and "The World Has Gone Insane". It's like they've taken the "Resurrection" concept to symphonic heights. This is worth the price of the CD alone!

9. AH, WOMEN

"Pretty Women" from "Sweeney Todd"? :D I think this is the reason I can't appreciate this, lyrically at least. The music and the arrangements on this album are consistently stellar.

10. I KNOW THOSE EYES/THIS MAN IS DEAD

"I Know Those Eyes" reminds me of "The Mist" from Dracula. Actually the whole thing reminds me of Dracula. But it's a killer intense moment in the show!

11. PRETTY LIES

Nice. It sounds a bit like the 11 o'clock song. So far, there hasn't been a true dud in this score. I think that's incredible.

12. ALL THIS TIME

Again, this reminds me of a Linda ballad, especially "Gold" and "Only Love".

13. THE MAN I USED TO BE

It's like "Measure of a Man" from Rudolf and "This is the Moment". Love this song. Love it. Brilliant mythic climax, a panorama of emotions and statements.

This and the Broadway cast recording of Pimpernel have to be some of my favourite Wildhorn-related recordings ever.

You will not regret purchasing this album, AT LEAST if you LOVE Frank's music!

I've written down the whole lyrics from 'A story told'

You can make additions and corrections.





3. A Story told

Patrick Stanke as Fernand Mondego, Mark Seibert as de Villefort, Mathias Edenborn as Baron Danglars

Fernand Mondego
We are friends, are we not?

Baron Danglars
And our interests are the same

de Villefort
We collaborate

Baron Danglars
And trust in fate
To parcel out to the blame

Fernand Mondego
There are ends we forgot
That can justify the means

Baron Danglars
Will it go she hates

de Villefort
Then fabricate the facts behind the scenes

Fernand Mondego
Keeping all the details wake and secrets hidden

Baron Danglars
Save in the balanced sheet of those she trust
Because history is a story told by the winners of the fight

You imply a little

Fernand Mondego
Lie a little

de Villefort
Justifying
Why a little sailor

Fernand Mondego
Who’s gonna question what goes on in the middle of the night
Not a tinkle

Baron Danglars
Not a tailor

Fernand Mondego
Not it’s father on it’s say this

de Villefort
Or a jailer

Fernand Mondego
So we all are agreed
Let’s be victual and in wise

Baron Danglars
We must all pretend
Our knighty friend
Who is caught in his own lies

For a plan to succeed
We must share but one believe

And where Dantes days
And anxious days inside the shafforties

Fernand Mondego
With the softest things
He’ll touch stones and darkness
Deep in a cracky island dungeons keep

de Villefort
Because history is a story told by the men who make the laws

Baron Danglars
With a pile little lie

Fernand Mondego
To help the gullible
to buy a little fable

de Villefort
What will become of the rightist man
Who’s farship Dantes floors

Baron Danglars
Too rich

de Villefort
A well respect

Fernand Mondego
And no more to be rejected at a table

Out be a comfort in her time
Of grief and anguish
Out we must see this ever faithful echo light
Every night

de Villefort
A part of me whishes Dantes didn’t
Have to languish

Baron Danglars
Part I can see
It’s him or me

de Villefort
Let him sit there
And rock till he’s forgot

Fernand Mondego
Let him rock

All
History is story told by the people who survive

de Villefort
Let me sign in then initial

Baron Danglars
it true that it's officially the story

Fernand Mondego
What if the cast doesn’t want young man
So fee more than can survive

de Villefort
It’s a price we have to pay

Fernand Mondego
So let him find another way
For love and glory

Baron Danglars
He was standing in the way
Our friendship is just a simple say

de Villefort
So goes the story

Fernand Mondego
Stick to the story

All
Here wents a story

Ok, some corrections ;)

Not a tinkle
Not a tailor
Not it’s father
on it’s say this
Or a jailer

Not a thinker
Nor a tailor
Nor his father
or Mercedes
nor will Sheila (just dunno who she is, so "nor the jailer" would make sense)

So we all are agreed
Let’s be victual and in wise
We must all pretend
Our knighty friend
Who is caught in his own lies

So we all are agreed
Lets be vigilant and wise
We must all pretend
Our naïve friend
Was caught in is own lies

And where Dantes days
And anxious days inside the shafforties

Edmund Dante’s stays
And ends his days
Inside the Châteaux d’If

Baron Danglars
With a pile little lie

Who will supply
A little lie


What will become of the rightist man
Who’s farship Dantes floors
Too rich
A well respect
And no more to be rejected at a table

What will become of the righteous men
Who fashion Dante’s flaws?
The rich
And well respected
are no more to be rejected
At our table

Out be a comfort in her time
Of grief and anguish
Out we must see this ever faithful echo light
Every night

I’ll be a comfort in her time
of grief and anguish
I’ll be Mercedes
ever faithful acolyte
Every night.


Part I can see
It’s him or me

BUT I can see...etc

Let him sit there
And rock till he’s forgot
Let him rock


Let him sit there and rot
‘till his forgot
Let him run!

What if the cast doesn’t want young man
So fee more than can survive

What if the cast
doesn’t want young man
suffering more than can survive (still not sure here)

So let him find another way
For love and glory

So live and fight another day
For Love and Glory

All
Here wents a story

Here ENDS the story.
_________________________

anyway welcome to the boards! And congrats you are member number 500!!! :D

Thank you

very nice... :)

Update: as of this Tuesday, the album is now available from iTunes. Direct purchasing links are set up at FrankWildhorn.com

Some more corrections of the posted lyrics above:

FERNAND MONDEGO
There are ends we forgot << (i hear "There are ends we've all got", but I'm not sure about that)
That can justify the means

BARON DANGLARS
WE'LL NEGOCIATE

DE VILLEFORT
Then fabricate the facts behind the scenes

FERNAND MONDEGO
Keeping all the details wake and secrets hidden

BARON DANGLARS
Save in the BALANCE SHEET of those WE trust
Because history is a story told by the winners of the fight

FERNAND MONDEGO
You imply a little lie

DE VILLEFORT (<< here is some lyrics missing - but i can't hear it out, neither)
Justifying
Why a little sailor

FERNAND MONDEGO
Who’s gonna question what goes on in the middle of the night
Not a TINKER

BARON DANGLARS
Not a tailor

---

FERNAND MONDEGO
To help the gullible
to buy a little fable

DE VILLEFORT
What will become of the righteous men
Who FASHIONED Dantes' floors

BARON DANGLARS
The rich

---

DE VILLEFORT
Let me sign in then initial

BARON DANGLARS
it IS TRUE AND it's officially the story

FERNAND MONDEGO
What if IT COSTS US ONE young man
SO THREE more MEN can survive

DE VILLEFORT
It’s the price we have to pay
...

Yes makes sence!

I got the album via iTunes, and I love it! The cast is fantastic, and I think the score and lyrics are some of the best of any of Frank's shows so far. I especially love "When We Are Kings," "A Story Told," "The Man I Used To Be," "Hell To Your Doorstep," and the Prologue. Alex Goebel is my fave in the cast (probably because I worship his Phantom), and Thomas, Brandi, and the rest of the cast are great as well. Fantastic recording, and I can't wait to hear more from this show. :D

One more correction:

Keeping all the details wake and secrets hidden

Keeping all the details VAGUE and secrets hidden


Y'all have been a huge help to me as I try to decipher the lyrics to this one!
It's just sung so fast it's hard to catch all the words.

Ok, let's recap. Here's what I have so far. There's one line I still can't quite make out at the end, and I have it in italics. See what y'all can make of it.

We are friends, are we not,
And our interests are the same.
We collaborate and trust in fate
To parcel out the blame.

There are ends we've all got
That can justify the means.
We negotiate and fabricate
The facts behind the scenes.

Keeping all the details vague
And secrets hidden,
Safe in the balance sheet of those you trust.

Because history is the story told
By the winners of the fight
You imply a little
Lie a little,
Justifying why a little sailor.

Who's gonna question what goes on
In the middle of the night?
Not a tinker, not a tailor
Not his father or Mercedes
Or a jailer.

So we all are agreed,
Let's be vigilant and wise.
We must all pretend our naive friend
Was caught in his own lies.

For our plan to succeed,
We must share but one belief:
Edmund Dantes stays and ends his days
Inside the Chateau d'If

Where the softest things he'll touch
Are stones and darkness
Deep in a craggy island dungeon's keep.

Because history is a story told
By the men who make the laws.
We supply a little lie
To help the gullible to buy a little fable.

What will become of the righteous man
Who fashions Dantes' fall

To be rich and well respected
And no more to be rejected at her table.

I'll be a comfort in her time of grief and anguish,
I'll be Mercedes' ever-faithful accolyte, every night.
A part of me wishes Dantes didn't have to languish,
But I can see it's him or me,
Let him sit there and rot till he's forgot,
Let him rot!

History's a story told by the people who survive.
Let me sign it and initial,
It's the truth if it's official in a story.

What if the cost is one young man
So three more men can survive?
He's the price we have to pay
To live and fight another day for love and glory.

He was standing in the way of precious justice
(And we say?)

So goes the story,
Stick to the story,
Here ends the story.

Why can't Frank work with Nan? I just don't like Jack Murphy's lyrics because they don't make sense to me half the time.