A major production for Naxos Audiobooks and a unique Audiobook, this bold and entertaining undertaking traces the musical from its origins in classical music (Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera, Offenbach’s operettas and Gilbert and Sullivan) through to its flowering in America; Showboat, Anything Goes, High Society, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Oliver, Cabaret, A Little Night Music, The Rocky Horror Show, The Phantom of the Opera – the list is endless. So are the stars who made the musicals live the composers, Kern, Porter, Gershwin, Bernstein, Lloyd Webber; the famous partnerships such as Rogers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe; the performers Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Howard Keel, Julie Andrews... and the tempestuous creative background to the productions themselves. With over 120 musical examples illustrating this remarkable story, the history of the musical in all its glory comes alive.
An enjoyable stroll down Broadway and "the West End" of London, this audiobook traces the development of musical theater, explaining the influence of many famous composers and songwriters over the past 150 years, as well as the impact of history on this art form. In a strong, clear voice, Kim Cresswell's narration varies from light-hearted, easy-going tones, to darker, more somber ones, using inflection and emphasis to indicate the evolution in musical theater. Well-selected excerpts from the various shows enhance the overall impact, and sound quality is excellent, even for the older pieces. The introductions--performers, title of the song, and name of the show--are backed up with a written listing of each piece. This all-around quality production will have you humming for days. W.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine
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