JULIUS CAESAR

Stacy Keach's quietly sonorous voice is perfectly suited to the introspective Brutus in this fine full-cast recording. John de Lancie, too, is excellent as Cassius, though Richard Dreyfuss is less convincing in the role of Antony. He doesn't quite capture the restrained outrage of Caesar's most loyal friend, or the irony of his famous funeral oration. At times, it sounds as though the director has rushed the actors in this recording, and the many crowd scenes are a bit awkward, sounding more like scenes of football fans than plebeians. Overall, though, this recording can't help but succeed on the strength of its all-star cast. D.B. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 00]