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Mistress

Epiphany Comparison

I have to say, Cariou is my favourite. I've started listening to what i can find of the OBC, and I really enjoy his vocals.

Anywaym here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1_bXe-8uIw&feature=related

Debate and enjoy!
Little_Nell

Hmmm... interesting. Tried listening to this with 'new ears' as it were.

Cariou is still my fave but I guess I'm slightly biased as he's my first Sweeney. I really liked Depp in comparison with the others, which I'm surprised about because I can't remember thinking he was that good while I was watching the film. Maybe it's because the recording has been touched up and fiddled with to perfection or maybe it's because he adds a new dimension to the character... I can't quite decide.

(I can't believe I used used the words 'touched up and fiddled with' in the same sentence...)
Reclusive

I like Cariou and his vocals.

And his laugh in Epiphany.
actor

Hearn's Epiphany is amazing.
GinnyWeasley201

I just bought the orignal cast recording yesterday. Len Cariou's Epiphany was the first i ever heard. I like it. I haven't heard George Hearn's. But I love Johnny Depp's.
Pannic

Hearn's Epiphany is spellbinding. Simply the best one there is, plain and simple.

After that, I can't decide.

Also, is Cariou the only one who actually sings the "all right, you sir... etc" lines?
Ghost

Cariou is the ultimate in my book. His Sweeney is so brooding and menacing. Listen to his "no-one in the chair, C'MON, C'MON!!" in the OBC. It's just brilliant.

Hearn's non-stop screaming isn't nearly as effective.
Jeronimus

Ghost wrote:
Cariou is the ultimate in my book. His Sweeney is so brooding and menacing. Listen to his "no-one in the chair, C'MON, C'MON!!" in the OBC. It's just brilliant.


Yep, that one line is the very reason to prefer Cariou over whoever else. I do like Hearn though as I saw his version first, however the part he sings it in this video really does not do it for me, it's the concert version (the original stage play version however!) Hearn's strong point is how he does the "not a hundred can assuage me" in the 1982 video. Amazing.
actor

Hearn's whole Epiphany is amazing. Granted, so is Cariou's but Hearn wins.
qmechanic

Jeronimus wrote:

I do like Hearn though as I saw his version first, however the part he sings it in this video really does not do it for me, it's the concert version (the original stage play version however!) Hearn's strong point is how he does the "not a hundred can assuage me" in the 1982 video. Amazing.


I thought Hearn was over the top with the arm action while singing "not a hundred can assuage me" in the 1982 stage video.

I can only compare George Hearn and Johnny Depp since there is no good quality video of Len Cariou (you can't see Cariou's acting close up). I would say it's a tie between Hearn and Depp. It all depends on what one prefers. Depp is really good at romanticizing killing and Hearn is really good at being menacing and angry. They both do a great growl in their voices. I definitely prefer Hearn in the concert as opposed to the stage video.

If I just pay attention to the audio, Len Cariou is definitely the scariest, the most chilling. You feel like you're only hearing the tip of the iceberg of his violence. (That was probably the worst sentence I've ever written, but I hope you get the idea.)
pennypingleton1994

I liked Hearn's Epiphany the most, closely followed by David Hess's.
dolbinau

Recording wise IMO:

1. George Hearn (New york) - Such a powerful performance. Genuinely Scary.

2. Johnny Depp (Movie) - I find it very melodic, especially during the "And I'll never see Johann;, I will have vengeance"

3. Michael Cerveris (2005 Revival) - Entertaining, I don't like it how my favourite part of the song, (now becoming a cliché as Johnny Depp's line is plastered around the place) "I will have vengeance, I will have salvation" deviates from the original melody to seem angrier. I do like the orchestrations (or lack thereof Razz?) which a lot of people seem to hate.

4. Len Cariou OBC - Very faithful to Sondheim's score, I think he is the only one out of the four that sings the octave notes "I had him" and though the "You sir, too sir" etc.. I just don't like the excessive vibrato - Some people like it though. I've recently warmed to it, appreciating the originality of it and noticing how 'warm' his voice is so I might put it about Cerveris.
KevinMHofer

dolbinau wrote:
Recording wise IMO:

1. George Hearn (New york) - Such a powerful performance. Genuinely Scary.

2. Johnny Depp (Movie) - I find it very melodic, especially during the "And I'll never see Johann;, I will have vengeance"

3. Michael Cerveris (2005 Revival) - Entertaining, I don't like it how my favourite part of the song, (now becoming a cliché as Johnny Depp's line is plastered around the place) "I will have vengeance, I will have salvation" deviates from the original melody to seem angrier. I do like the orchestrations (or lack thereof Razz?) which a lot of people seem to hate.

4. Len Cariou OBC - Very faithful to Sondheim's score, I think he is the only one out of the four that sings the octave notes "I had him" and though the "You sir, too sir" etc.. I just don't like the excessive vibrato - Some people like it though. I've recently warmed to it, appreciating the originality of it and noticing how 'warm' his voice is so I might put it about Cerveris.




Different singing styles. Plain and simple. Depp shouldn't even be included in this discussion. "I will have vNNNNNNgince," ...oh God.
When I saw Hess, he sung from his throat the entire time so he didn't really do it for me either. Cerveris is a joke as an actor in my opinion. Leaves me with Cariou and Hearn, ten years ago when I saw Cariou re-perform some scenes/songs with Lansbury he was brilliant. His voice was a little worse for wear, but his passion never ceases to amaze me. He's my favorite so far.
dolbinau

That's cool, I mean we all have our preferences - My opinion is also based off the recordings though, I haven't seen any of them live so I couldn't judge there.
SunriseSunset

Cariou, then Depp. No wait, Depp then Cariou. Fine - Cariou AND Depp. Very Happy
Kragey

I'm torn between Depp and Hearn. Depp has that raw quality to his voice that I love, while Hearn has so much gravity and darkness in his. Love them both to death.
Kiwi

Depp and Cariou are my favorites, Depp has the creepiness in his voice that you don't get from Cariou's legit voice, but Cariou has better vocal training, obviously, so they both have their merits.
Monsieur D'Arque

Depp's is very much a goth-rock delivery. The Cure meets David Bowie with a touch of Tim Curry. I'm rather fond of it, even the VNNNNNNGEANCE, which I think, if nothing else, sounds much more British than any of the other "I've been in Australia, can't you tell from my light Canadian-American accent" Sweeneys.
Anno_Domini

Forgive me, but I absolutely have to give the nod to Johnny on this one.

Firstly, let me just say that both Hearn and Cariou were brilliant (Len from what I've heard on the OBC; haven't seen nor heard Cerveris), both men gave tremendous performances. However, there were elements of them that I didn't care for.

Hearn's version captured Sweeney's rage and newly freed insanity. However, this unfortunately made the performance seem rather over the top.

Len's version was the first I heard, and chilled me to the bone. But comparing his to the others, I don't quite care for his choice of singing the parlando lines instead of speaking them. Some lines I find are just better if emoted through speech.

And then there is Depp's version, which I thought was the peak of his performance in the film. I thought he delivered each line flawlessly; this coupled with his hard-edged voice, as well as the excellent orchestrations make it my fav
dolbinau

I've changed my order

1. Depp

2. Hearn/2000 concert

3. OBC - Cariou

4. Barcelona cast

5. 2005 revival/cerivis
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