Download The Bridges of Madison County Robert James Waller 8601410553425 Books

Product details Paperback 208 pages Publisher Grand Central Publishing (January 7, 2014) Language English ISBN-10 1455554294

The Bridges of Madison County Robert James Waller 8601410553425 Books Reviews

• ....I don't remember when. I saw this show based solely on what I read about the score, something about picking up the gauntlet thrown down by Rogers & Hammerstein to write songs, real songs, not leitmotif. I wasn't disappointed.
  
  I guess everyone has his/her criteria for what makes a great Broadway show (i.e., new shows, not revivals). For me, it's about hearing melodies I haven't heard a million times before. It's also about hearing songs that indelibly capture character in a single moment. This show did exactly that for me. I know this review is supposed to address the recording alone, but as the show is still running (and probably struggling for an audience while Aladdin will be SRO for the next dozen years) I can't help throwing kudos for the spare, deeply creative staging. I know that "beautiful" is the most overused adjective in the vernacular, but The Bridges of Madison County truly is that. The songs are simply lush, and every singer, especially O'Hara and Pasquale, render them with palpable passion. The show haunted me for days, and I can't wait to have the OBC recording on CD to treasure forever along with my other favorite shows of all time.
  
  As to the reviewer a few notches below who gave this a poor review, I'm certainly not "hating" him (or her), nor do I consider myself an expert on this composer's oeuvre, but I clearly see great worth in this musical score. My recommendation to others is see the show, buy the music, decide for yourself.
• I have been going to Broadway Musicals all my life and I have so many favorites - for so many different reasons. "The Bridges of Madison County" just moved to the top of my list. I wasn't expecting to be so moved when I first saw it during previews - But when I went back again this weekend, I was prepared. The music by Jason Robert Brown is absolutely gorgeous and at times even breath taking. I have seen the show twice and plan to go back again. The director found a team of collaborators including an amazing cast who understood and loved the material and translated it into a night of theatre that is now a part of me. The entire musical, on every level including the set, the staging, sound, lightening, every single element came together perfectly. Someone once asked me what I loved so much about theatre and I struggled to find the words to answer. I still struggle with finding the right words but the answer can be found in this beautiful musical. Paul Boynton
• I have seen the movie Bridges of Madison county, but to read the book and the actual details I was in awe. When I got my book I look to see how many page is it was. The total pages is 171 pages, before that evening was over I had read half the book. I could not put it down. I have a few more pages to go but I was so excited that I skip to the end to see about the guy named Nighthawk who was the musician that knew Robert Kincaid, testimony. I am so glad that he told about Robert and Francesca. I'm happy that her children decided to put this into a book and it was made into a movie.
  
  I remember in 1995 I went to see "The Bridges of Madison County with a companion of mine. And like Robert Kincaid could not forget Francesca neither could I forget the guy that I went to see the bridges over Madison county with. I love the movie and I love the book,!
• 5 stars I have loved musicals since first taken at a ridiculously young age to the original production of King and I, and have a huge collection of CDs. I miss the musicals that are not afraid of big, character-driven emotional expression. This is it. Soaring melodies and extraordinary lyrics whose subtlety becomes clearer on every re-hearing -- and for a while I could not stop listening to it. Now the melodies are in in my head and come back to me at unexpected moments. I saw the show once in Williamstown with a different lead (who was also wonderful) when Kelli O'Hara was having her baby and then again early in its run on Broadway. I loved it and everyone I recommended it to loved it. They were often surprised by their reactions -- like me they thought the book and/or movie cheesy and sentimental tear-jerkers or soap operas (though effective ones). But I realized that many big operas are also tear-jerking soap operas at heart - La Boheme, La Traviata, and so on. It is the music that makes the cheesy emotions soar and become human and significant. I have to go back to South Pacific to think of a show where the music is as big and beautiful as the score here. So sad it could not find an audience and reprehensible that it was not even nominated for a best musical Tony and especially that Stephen Pasquale was not nominated as best actor in a musical. His gorgeous big voice and sexy stage presence are extraordinary. (In the song where he sings Come with me! my wife whispered to me "'I'd go with him in a second!") Buy it and love it. I hope when it tours it goes to a place I can get to. I would love to see it again