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Antonio Banderas comes across well as Guido Contini, the famous filmmaker, as do the other leads: Chita Rivera, Jane Krakowski, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Laura Benanti. I'm seeing this on Broadway in August and I only hope it's as good live as it is on disc. Standout tracks include "My Husband Makes Movies" and "Be On Your Own," both sung wonderfully by Mary Stuart Masterson, "Guido's Song," and "The Bells of St. Sebastian."

I highly recommend this disc, as well as the original, but I think this CD is a great point of entry for those hoping to enjoy this musical. The music is brilliant, and these performers bring out the best in the material.


Definitive NINE, a must have recording TEN STARS!!!!   June 19, 2003
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

This is the recording for which I have been waiting 20 years! I have always loved the music of Maury Yeston's NINE but have never been completely satisfied with any recording I had heard: not the original Broadway cast, the Australian cast or the Jonathan Pryce recording from London.

This brand new recording absolutely blew me away. Antonio Banderas is the greatest of all Guidos. He sings beautifully, with terrific musicality and superb diction, and gives a tremendous amount of soul, passion, and heart to his portrayal of Guido. Mary Stuart Masterson is heartrending and commanding as Luisa and also sings very well, her "Be On Your Own" is shattering in its dramatic effect, Jane Krakowski is fantastic and alluring as Carla, and Laura Benanti as Claudia must possess the most beautiful soprano voice on Broadway today. The duet between Benanti and Banderas "In a Very Unusual Way" is sublime and haunting. And to have Chita Rivera, who has 1000 watts of star power, as Liliane LaFleur is incredible luxury casting.

I saw the show about 1 month before I heard the cd, and I can say that the cd, conveys all the excitement, warmth and humanity of the highly praised and very successful Broadway production.

The cd is long, about 79 minutes of music, and there is a good use of spoken dialog to help convey the story for those not familiar with the show. It is a treat to get the complete "The Grand Canal" sequence, and one can see how brilliantly constructed is this scene. The cd booklet is beautiful, gorgeously illustrated and with (a rarity) the complete lyrics of all the songs. Sonically the cd is excellent, and special praise must go to the ravishing orchestrations (and excellent playing of the orchestra), as well as the extremely strong work of the other performers -- all who are excellent.

I know that Amazon only allows me 5 stars to rate this cd, but I would easily give it 10 if I could. One of the most important cast albums of the past 10 years!

Buy it -- you will love it, and return to it many times.


It's not a 9, It's a 10!!!   June 22, 2003
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Nine is one of my favorite musicals. This is the best recording of it out of the three recordings you can buy. Antonio Banderas can sing! He surpasses Raul Julia on the OBC and Jonathon Pryce on the OLC as Guido Contini by far. "Guido's Song" is phenomenal on how he gets his confused feelings across. But the real gem of this album is of course THE WOMEN! The amazing Chita Rivera (West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Kiss of the Spider Woman) is perfect as Liliane La Fleur. Her "Folies Bergeres" is the best you will ever hear. Laura Benanti (Into the Woods) brings an incredible Italian flair to Claudia Nardi. Her "Unusual Way" is unbelievable in it's feeling. Mary Stuart Masterson, in her musical debut, IS the Luisa Contini we've all been waiting for. Her "My Husband Makes Movies" is fantastic and her "Be On Your Own" sends chills down my spine every time I hear it. My personal favorite on the album is Jane Krakowski (Once Upon a Mattress, Company, Grand Hotel) as Carla, Guido's mistress. Her "Call From the Vatican" is so sensual and sexy and is awesome from start to finish. Her "Simple" is great as well. Other great songs are the hilarious "Be Italian", and the touching "Only With You". Nine is a must have for any musical theater lover and will be in your CD player forever.


Great Revival Cast!   June 11, 2005
 7 out of 9 found this review helpful

The cast & orchestrations are incredible for the Tony-winning 2003 revival of "Nine", surpassing even the original 1982 production.

Best tracks include:

My Husband Makes Movies
A Call From The Vatican [Jane Krakowski's Tony-winning number]
Only With You [Antonio Banderas' version outshines Raul Julia's original]
Folies Bergeres [Chita Rivera's big song]
The Bells Of St. Sebastian [though the original is somewhat better]
Unusual Way [Banderas/Benanti's beautiful duet & best song of the show]
Simple
Be On Your Own [Mary Stuart Masterson's gut-wrenching song]
I Can't Make This Movie

A truly beautiful score! ****+