The original Broadway cast CD is the tops. Having said that, this version is phenomenally good because of the cast, and the best DVD there is of this Sondheim miracle. Raul Esparza underplays Bobby a little, but that allows the stresses and conflicts of the character to emerge clearly. Vocally, he is sensational. Now, if only someone would record "Leap of Faith" even if it wasn't a success; it had some good songs and it had Esparza to bring a complicated character to vivid life. As for the rest of the cast here, there is not a weak performance though some are much stronger than others. The weakest singer is also one of the strongest actors and sometimes you can't have both in one package. I love the concept of the cast playing the instruments,and having Bobby without music until near the end when he finally sits down at the piano - who would have thought that an actor sitting at a piano would reveal so much of the character?
This version also has the advantage of using songs that were cut from the original. But "tick Tock" is still not here, perhaps because it really needs to be seen on stage where it simply soars and scintillates. On a CD or DVD is it likely to be flattened out.
All in all, this is a DVD that belongs in any collection that wants the best. Better than "a piece of Mahler"...but, oh, Elaine...