CD Review - Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel
CD Review - Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
Carousel
Soloists - Sinfonia Of London John Wilson
CHANDOS CHSA 5342(2) [TT 60:30 & 46:48]
Eagerly anticipated since reviewing its forerunner, Oklahoma! in September last year, here is what maestro John Wilson regards as Rodgers and Hammerstein's greatest achievement. As before it is a première recording of the complete score with every note of music as played at the first Broadway performance in 1945, orchestrated by the prolific Don Walker (1907-89).
So, as well as the familiar songs – "Mr Snow", "If I Loved You", "June is Bustin' Out All Over", "When the Children Are Asleep", "A Real Nice Clambake", "What's the Use of Wond'rin?", "You’ll Never Walk Alone" and some less familiar – there are dance sequences, a hornpipe, a dance for the girls, the entr'acte and an entire 12-minute ballet.
The wonderful Sinfonia of London, led by John Mills, mirrors the original instrumentation and includes ten more of its star players than for the earlier release: nine brass, six woodwind, harp, percussion and twenty-two strings. Imagine the cost of that in theatres today when most pit bands comprise thirteen players.
The story revolves around carousel barker Billy Bigelow, whose romance with millworker Julie Jordan comes at the price of both their jobs. He participates in a robbery to provide for Julie and their unborn child; after it goes tragically wrong, he is given a chance to make things right. A secondary plot line deals with millworker Carrie Pipperidge and her romance with ambitious fisherman Enoch Snow.
Wilson is again in conversation with David Benedict for the booklet notes and offers a fascinating insight into why he chose five of the eight soloists: Nathaniel Hackmann (Billy Bigalow), Sierra Boggess (Carrie Pipperidge), Mikaela Bennett (Julie Jordan), Julien Ovenden (Enoch Snow) and David Seadon-Young (Jigger Craigin). The others being Francesca Chiejina (Nettie Fowler), Matthew Seadon-Young (Starkeeper) and Naomi Waksziak (Louise). Also named are 18 supporting singers and the 22 members of the 'Carousel' Ensemble – young singers all currently working on stage across London's West End – under their chorus master, Alex Parker.
The Susie Sainsbury Theatre, Royal Academy of Music, London, which Wilson considers has an appropriate acoustic for musicals, was once more the recording venue. The sound is of the label's customary high standard, although as an elderly listener I would have liked a touch more volume for the spoken word.
The two CDs come in a sturdy colourful box together with the 86-page-booklet full of good things.
Altogether a stylish brilliantly performed release and one that, like Oklahoma!, theatrical music buffs will not want to pass by.
© Peter Burt, August 2024
