Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific: In Concert From Carnegie Hall

Be still, my heart! Brian Stokes Mitchell *is* Emile de Becque, and his two big songs are perfect with Paul Gemignani conducting this performance. South Pacific has never been sung better. And if you've paid attention for the last 68 years, you know how great the other singers were and are.Casting Reba McEntire may have been a gamble, but she "has us at 'hello.'" Her accent and even her twang do sound like a smart southern girl whose mom is connected to the newspaper's society editor. Remember, Mary Martin came from Weatherford, Texas, and had learned to modulate her voice and accent by the time she brought Nellie Forbush to life onstage.Bloody Mary has never sounded this good -- Lillias White delivers.Jason Danieley is a passionate Lt. Cable. I do miss "My Girl Back Home" because it explains so much about his life and expectations, but that may have been a trade-off for the time needed for dialgue that delivers the story.Alec Baldwin was distracting as Luther Billis, often on book, though well cast as a self-absorbed performer, a cog in the wheel of a greater drama.If you haven't heard South Pacific sung from start to finish, or if you've seen the best known performances live or on video, get this and have the story illuminated for you.

I have read a few of the online reviews that tell us that Reba McEntire was miscast as Nellie Forbush, in the Concert Version of South Pacific at Carnegie Hall.My response is pointed -- horse manure! Her vivaciousness, skillful and emotive singing and especially at the end when she had many tears in her eyes -- I assume because she had become so emotionally involved in one of R & H's masterpieces.Maybe those people would have been more pleased with a young Madonna. Not likely. Non of them made a mention of Mary Martin's performance in South Pacific on CD. And I believe Reba's was note for note as good and even better at conveying emotion at times.I am so happy to have this DVD performance, since I have seen several staged versions and must admit how "dated" this musical can be in the wrong hands.My salute to Reba McEntire for bringing Nellie Forbush to emotional life and all of the rest of the cast (with one exception, and we all know who that was) brought back to life a musical first performed in 1949.Thankfully, we have this DVD record of the "Concert" performance that night in 2005

South Pacific is a great show with great music. This is a very good recording with a good cast. It is worthwhile watching. Jason Danieley is a believable Lt. Cable, and his voice is pleasingly dramatic when he sings "Carefully Taught." I'll give Brian Stokes Mitchell and 8 as Emile de Becque, and the same to Reba McEntire, who is a little bit too "hickish" as Nellie for my taste. Alec Baldwin has an entertaining moment when he loses his place in the script, and McEntire ad libs until he finds it while the Seabees in the background are about to crack up. When Lillias White lifts her voice in "Bali Hai," you are transported to "...your own special island, and you will not want to return.

I am a huge fan of Musical Theatre, with a special passion for Rogers and Hammerstein. I did not think I would like a concert version of South Pacific, but when I saw clips online, I immediately, absolutely loved what I saw and it has to do with powerful voices of the singers. If you loved the film version, you will be blown away by this concert version.It will make a difference if you play the DVD on a worthy sound system, you will feel the "you are there experience."

What a fun evening these actors must have had! Brian Stokes-Mitchell and Reba McEntire make the DVD worthwhile. However, the orchestra and the whole cast was great! The man who played Lt. Cable impressed me with his voice--I will need to look him up! The improvisation and relaxed good humor helped throughout too. Don't expect the movie--just expect great voices, a great orchestra, and a fun time!

I am so glad I did not listen to a negative review and not order this concert. I have seen a live production of South pacific with Robert Gullet and the movie many times, this concert is great, The producers cast every roll great, especially Reba. This concert DVD is like being on the front row. With my poor eyesight if i'm not on the first few rows I can't see who is on stage, on this DVD the sound is great and so is the picture.

OK, there are no stage sets, only a few costumes, the orchestra is directly behind the characters ON THE STAGE, and the characters read their lines right from a hand held printed script. How can this possibly succeed? Oh my, does it ever succeed - just beautifully!!! Reba is great, Lillias White as Bloody Mary & Jason Danieley as Lieutenant Cable perform wonderfully. Even Alex Baldwin as Billis is good (despite losing his place in the script in one scene, and making an obscene gesture in the "Honey Bun" number). But the the real show stopper Is Brian Stokes Mitchell as Emile. For many who have seen South Pacific over the years, "Some Enchanted Evening" is the spotlight of this musical. Not this time. Although Brian deserves high marks for this song, it pales in comparison to his rendition of "This Nearly Was Mine". Although you don't see faces in the audience as Brian sings, you can tell everyone in the theater is mesmerized by his performance. And when he finally reaches the end of the song, the audience just gasps in admiration and a thunderous applause reverberates for several moments. Well deserved, indeed. You may already have a recording or DVD of any number of South Pacific performances, but this one deserves a special place in your collection. Buy it, view it, and you will agree.

This is a good watch . Alex and Reba are very funny and make this show , They should do a remake of the movie with a good budget! I know it would be a big holiday hit , It is needed in the time we live in . I think Bill Mare would be great as chief Luther .Billitt

This 2005 performance of 'South Pacific', semi-staged at Carnegie Hall, contains all the music but a slightly truncated script. The war scenes at the end of the musical should not be an anti-climax but usually are. Here the lead-in to the final 'Dites-moi' is well managed. Not a dry eye in the hall.This musical has tremendous songs boosting a less than perfect book. Whereas Nellie's 'conversion' is acceptable because you feel she and Emile really love each other, the sub plot of Cable and Liat leaves a nasty taste. Rather like Gigi herself in the film 'Gigi', Liat is being bartered. Sympathy for the two lovers cannot change this.The acting is always acceptable but the singing is on another level. Reba McEntire is delightfully sassy throughout, even in 'I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair' which could well be up for a raspberry award as R and H's worst hit song. Lillian's White is rapturous in her two songs whilst Jason Danieley realises the beauty of 'Younger than Springtime'. However the crowning achievement is Brian Stokes Mitchell in 'Younger than Springtime'. When the show first appeared I could never understand why this song lost out to 'Some Enchanted Evening'. This performance puts it at the top of R and H's achievements where it belongs. Its reception is thunderous, as indeed is the final applause for the whole performance. Highly recommended.

Discovered this version of my favourite musical while trawling through YouTube, and immediately ordered the DVD. I had not heard of it before and was quite surprised to learn of its existence. I had to alter settings because it was was not specifically set for the European region, but that's a minor detail.I assume the cast members are well known on the US stage, but I'm afraid I had never before heard of any of them before I learned of this performance. So I approached the show with a completely open mind.This is a wonderful rendition of South Pacific, primarily because Reba McEntire is so exactly right as Ensign Forbush. She tackles the role with enthusiasm; she is sassy; her facial expressions are great. She may not be a fantastic singer (although she is pretty good) but to my mind she is precisely the sort of performer R&H would have been looking for. The men are all good, too, although they don't really 'own' their parts as Reba does. For instance, Alec Baldwin as Emile de Becque is no Ezio Pinza. The chorus is particularly strong.This is a semi-staged version, and the cast all carry their books which is slightly off-putting but I soon got used to it. However, 'semi-staged' really does not do the performance justice. The limited space around the orchestra on stage at Carnegie Hall is used to enormous effect by principals and chorus alike. However, if you want a fully staged 'realistic' show to watch do not buy this DVD.The orchestra is excellent and I was very interested to hear the different versions of the arrangements used, particularly of the overture. Not what I was used to, but all enjoyable.I understand the show received only 4 days rehearsal and it shows in places. Nevertheless, this is certainly the version of South Pacific I would choose.

I bought this having watched a few clips on You Tube, a longtime fan of the movie that I saw in, of all places, in Bombay when I was 12. Stokes Mitchell sings wonderfully, but I couldn't quite believe him as Emil De Becque. This Nearly Was Mine is a knockout. But Reba McEntire is an absolute treasure. I have never been a fan of the ping it through the nose style of country and western singing, but here it works perfectly. She really makes you believe in the character, that she is a hick falling in love with this charming older man, and her singing, against the odds with her non musical comedy voice, suits her songs and sounds lovely. The little twangs just suit the character and make her more believable. As for her acting.. her stillness, her commitment, her truthfulness, her charm... Absolutely marvellous.

I first watched parts of this concert on You Tube and liked it so much I then purchased the DVD, the cast are really good so if you liked the original South Pacific take a look at this, you will not be disappointed.

I thought I already reviewed this great CD.Anyway.It would not play on my DVD player and for a while I could only play it on my computer. A couple of months afterwards I copied it as a backup using the computer and somehow the copy works on the DVD player.The show is great. I have love the show ever since I first saw the film at Leeds Majestic in (Todd AO) when it first came to England.