South Pacific via the Grand Ole Opry

Yech. Stick to the fine cast recordings.Brian Stokes Mitchell and Jason Danieley are fine, but Reba McEntire was a bizarre chice for this leading role. Also, the recording is full of annoying applause.

a wonderful concert

I watched this concert on our local PBS station, and was completely captivated. Firstly, no one has sung the part of Emile like Brian Stokes Mitchell; forget what you think you know of "This Nearly was Mine". His version is simply the most beautiful one I've ever heard. He sang it with such passion that it moved me to tears.

Bright new recording of this classic; worthwhile despite a few flaws

I missed the TV special, but quickly had a chance to listen to this recording and bought it outright. If we consider this strictly for recording's sake, without regard of people "looking" the part, a more fair review can be made. St. Luke's Orchestra, conducted by Paul Gemigniani, first and foremost, is superb. Brian Stokes Mitchell is an excellent choice for de Becque, and his conviction for the part shows through his singing. I loved Reba in "Annie Get Your Gun," and she makes a sweet and wholesome Nellie in this recording. Her country charm is enticing, but her country vocal stylings sometimes get in the way of the beauty (or intent) of the songs. Nevertheless, she is highly appealing. Danieley makes a fine Cable; my only criticism is his pronunciation of the vowel sound oo, as in June or You, which he oddly sings as "eeeeewwww," which is very distracting to an otherwise flawless performance and a beautiful voice. White is great as Bloody Mary, one couldn't really ask for more. Alec Baldwin, however, is a disgrace. I don't think Rodgers and Hammerstein had a New York mobster in mind for the character of Billis. His acting and singing completely throw off the balance of an otherwise great recording. And it is a travesty that Lillias and White are relegated to the back cover of the insert, not even a mention of their names on the recording cover, where Alec Baldwin's sneering face is plastered on the cover as if equal in any way with McEntire and Mitchell. The concert style does not really take away from the performances, although we are not used to hearing so much dialogue. But it's a fairly thorough recording of the songs with lots of reprises, along with a full overture and entr'acte, and the splendid original orchestrations of Robert Russell Bennett and incidental music by Trude Rittman (thanks so much for not changing things on us).