Here We Are (Original Cast Recording)

Stephen Sondheim/Original Cast (Artist) Format: Audio CD
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Track Listings

1 Here We Are (Overture)
2 The Road 1 (Part 1)
3 The Road 1 (Part 2)
4 The Road 1 (Part 3)
5 Café Everything (Toast 1)
6 Waiter's Song
7 The Road 2
8 Bistro À la Mode (Toast 2)
9 It Is What It Is
10 The Road 3
11 Osteria Zeno (Toast 3)
12 The Soldier's Dream
13 The Road 4
14 The Morandan Embassy
15 Bishop's Song
16 End of Act One
17 Entr'acte
18 Digestion
19 Shine
20 Hesitation
21 Double Duet
22 Interlude 1: Marianne and the Bear
23 Interlude 2: Wandering
24 Interlude 3: Snow
25 Hesitation (Reprise)
26 Exit Music

Editorial Reviews

The final Original Cast Recording from legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, 'Here We Are' is inspired by Luis Buñuel's surrealist films 'The Exterminating Angel' (1962) and 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie' (1972). With a book by Tony Award nominee David Ives and direction by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello, plus an all-star Broadway cast, 'Here We Are' follows six aristocratic friends on their search for brunch.

Product details

  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.63 x 4.96 x 0.43 inches; 3.53 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Concord Music Group
  • Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2024
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ April 5, 2024
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Concord Music Group
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CZ2R4KF8
  • Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
43 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Dan Sherman
5.0 out of 5 stars Good recording of Sondheim’s enigmatic final (incomplete?) work
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
For many years, Sondheim seemed to be working on and then off on a show derived from two movies by surrealist film director Luis Bunuel. Apparently, Sondheim’s work on the show went very slowly, and at least once, it seemed as though the show would never be completed by the then-octogenarian composer/lyricist. As explained in the excellent program booklet that comes with the CD, Sondheim gave permission to do the show just two months before he died in November 2021, and it was presented off-Broadway for several months starting in September 2023 at the Shed in NYC to rather mixed reviews.

I saw the show shortly after it opened and found the cast recording (which I have on CD) is a good souvenir of the show. It is 73 minutes long, with 27 tracks – this includes songs that are combined with dialogue with musical underscoring. The CD comes with a colorful program booklet with production photos, an introductory essay by the show's writer and producer, a brief plot summary, a track listing, and complete lyrics.

It definitely was an odd show, with its surrealist plot spread over two acts with characters in Act I trying to find a place to eat while on a mostly bare stage and then in Act II trapped in a claustrophobic room with diminishing food and water. This is not your conventional plot-driven musical and may be hard to follow on CD without the dialogue and visual images that were on stage.

About 2/3s of the recording covers the first act, with the rest for the second act which some thought seemed incomplete with relatively few songs. Seeing the show on stage, the second Act was less of a musical play than a play with the combination of speech and song Sondheim often used. I suspect Sondheim might have tinkered with the show if he had the chance, but that was true for most of his shows (e.g., “Send in the Clowns” was a last-minute addition), but as it is, he did feel it was ready to go “as is.” Also, the second act deals with people whose lives have effectively stopped, perhaps thus limiting what they would sing about.

I generally liked the show and found it an interesting experience in the theatre. Performances were good, and some of the songs were good Sondheim, though I don’t think this will be counted as one of his great shows. I particularly liked the David Hyde Pierce's "Bishop’s Song," a rather funny patter song.

I’m glad the show was produced and we got to hear songs that Sondheim worked on his last years with a very good cast. I do wonder what sort of “legs” it will have and whether we will see other productions or hear individual songs (not sure how well most work outside of the stage).

In listening to the CD, I heard echoes of other Sondheim shows, including “Merrily” and “Sunday.” I was really impressed by the contributions of Jonathan Tunick in orchestrating the show, including underscoring of dialogue that is included on the CD. The lyrics of the show were often clever, and quite contemporary (e.g., “Tesla”), with a few profanities tossed in.

I recommend this CD, both as being a very well-produced cast album and also as a chance to appreciate the work on Sondheim in his last show. It may not be his best show (his record is hard to beat), but it is a show worth hearing if you have any interest in Sondheim. I’m happy to have the CD and am glad I can now go back to it. Like most of Sondheim’s shows, there is more to pick when you hear songs again, which is what helps make them “classic.”

Five stars as a homage to Sondeim.
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David Seaman
5.0 out of 5 stars The end of the world?
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
David Ives is a master playwright and now, coupled with the genius of Sondheim this work is remarkable, for reasons beyond Sondheim’s last work.
This group of people set out to find a place for brunch and are faced with realities that they don’t necessarily see. As the world caves more they’re trapped alone in a room and continue their self obsession. Sondheim died before (I think) his work was done and Mr. Ives brilliantly worked it into the show when they discover the piano no later longer plays. There is no more music as our characters search for meaning.
Just like Sunday In The Park With George it requires multiple hearings to absorb what is truly happening. The days when we listened to a score with the libretto on our lap are fewer as we become more busy and music becomes more mobile accompanying us as we run errands, work out, music coming at us as we drive. So keep listening. Sondheim and Ives have given us something important to experience.
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D. B. Gibbs
4.0 out of 5 stars Sondheim's Final Score
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2024
Verified Purchase
As a Sondheim fan for over 60 years, I greatly looked forward to the recording for HERE WE ARE, the show for which he was writing the score when he passed away at 91. The CD is beautifully packaged with a booklet containing a plot summary, the dialogue and lyrics for the songs and many photos of the superb cast performing in the show. Unfortunately, after a few listens, I still don't remember any of the songs, as there's a lot of talk leading into and during most of them. Still, it is beautifully recorded but not a cast album I will play frequently. In truth, my favorite track is the exit music. It is wonderful to have it to complete my collection of at least one album, but generally several, for every Sondheim musical.
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FB
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful cast album of Sondheim's final musical
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
The final Sondheim, still processing this. Here We Are, also still processing.
Saw the production at The Shed and now after listening to the cast album as well as re-watching the two Bunuel movies which are the basis of the musical requires a lot of processing…at least for me.
Given what has been said/written about the difficulties and length of time that it’s taken to get this show to the stage and as a Sondheim devotee, I was naturally concerned about what the results would be. Watching and listening, I now believe it was ultimately worth it.
The obvious is that the cast, musicians, and production team are uniformly excellent and a joy to hear again on the album.
But what’s most important to me is the Sondheim score. I’m not sure where it will ultimately fall in his overall canon of work, but it absolutely belongs. The music and lyrics are clearly vintage Sondheim. As you listen, there are times you hark back to many other of his shows, yet there are many new, distinctive Sondheim themes. The lyrics and rhymes are a joy, again typical Sondheim wordplay that no one does better. Who can intertwine or even think of rhyming Lamborghinis and Vodkatinis? Brilliant! The Waiter’s Song and Bishop’s Song are hysterical, and the lyrics and rhythms are intriguing. He has also given us final love songs and ensemble pieces to relish.
The book is a bit disjointed and uneven, but then so are the films it’s based upon.
I feel they did a great job of piecing together the music and dialogue into the cast album in a way that if you didn’t see the show, you can get a decent gist of the plot.
If you are a Sondheim fan, you probably have already bought this. Even if you are not, suggest you check the album out. It is brilliantly performed and recorded and a bittersweet farewell to one of the greatest and original composers of the musical theater.
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