Stage to Disc

by Peter Pinne

Yvonne Kenny’s Vienna City Of My Dreams (ABC 476 6905) is a glorious 18 track collection of well-loved operetta favourites. With accompaniment by the Melbourne Symphony Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Richard Bonynge, Kenny sweeps through songs from The Gypsy Princess, The Merry Widow, Gypsy Love and Ball At The Savoy amongst others. There’s even some Novello thrown in for good measure, with a song each from King’s Rhapsody and The Dancing Years. Highly recommended. ****

Never Forget (Barlow) (Universal) is a DVD of the musical based on the music of Take That, the 90s boy-band that spawned Robbie Williams. Recorded live on the first night at the Manchester Opera House, prior to its London gig, this story of a Take That tribute band has laughs, tears, and a completely irresistible energy. It features all of the band’s No.1 hits including Relight My Fire, Pray, Back For Good, Babe and the title tune. ****

Gypsy (Styne/Sondheim) (Time-Life 80020-D). Some critics have called the 2008 Broadway Cast recording the definitive version of Gypsy, and it does carry seven songs that were cut from the original score. Is Patti Lupone better than Ethel Merman’s original Mama Rose? No, but she’s very good. It’s a powerhouse performance of this King Lear of musical theatre parts. Boyd Gaines and Laura Benanti lend solid support, but it’s Lupone’s show. ****

Eurobeat – Almost Eurovision (Patterson/Christie) (Glynn Nicholas Group) appears to be a compilation of tracks from the two previous cast albums and some newly recorded tracks (Vindaloo) released to coincide with the West End opening. It’s still a fun score which jubilantly skewers the excesses of Eurovision. ***

Marguerite (Legrand/Kretzmer) (First Night CAST CD102) comes up almost better on disc than it did in the theatre, and that was pretty good anyway. Top starring Ruthie Henshall, with terrific support from Julian Ovenden (Foyle’s War) and Alexander Hanson, this musical version of Camille set in Paris during the Nazi occupation is well worth adding to your cast album collection. Legrand’s score is very French, haunting and melodic. ****

The Body Beautiful (Bock/Harnick) (OC 6231) is the cast recording of last year’s York Theatre Company production of Bock and Harnick’s first Broadway score. The 1958 original only played 60 performances and was never recorded, so this is the first time the complete score has been heard. A couple of the songs were hits at the time; Hidden In My Heart and All Of These And More, but this recording reveals there were more hidden gems. It’s a witty, literate and lovable, unknown 50s musical comedy. ****

Rating
*Only for the enthusiast ** Borderline *** Worth buying **** Must have ***** Kill for it.

January / February 2009