Andrew Lloyd Webber's New Production of The Wizard of Oz [2011 London Palladium Recording]

by Michael Crawford

Overview

Released just two months after its West End debut, Andrew Lloyd Webber's New Production of the Wizard of Oz is the accompanying soundtrack to the musical maestro's 2011 adaptation of the classic 1939 film. Its 25 tracks include all the numbers performed by the likes of Danielle Hope, the winner of the BBC talent search for the lead role of Dorothy, theater legend Michael Crawford as The Wizard, and Olivier Award nominee Hannah Waddingham as the Wicked Witch of the West. Wisely, the stage show Presario has opted to stick with all but one of the Harold Arlen/E.Y. Harburg compositions from the Judy Garland-starring original (only "If I Were King in the Forest" is omitted), including Hope's stunning take on "Over the Rainbow," the Munchkins' performance of "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" and "Follow the Yellow Brick Road," and the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion's renditions of "If Only I Had a Brain/Heart/Nerve," respectively. But it's the several brand new songs co-penned with former songwriting partner Tim Rice (their first major collaboration since 1978's Evita) that gives Lloyd Webber's 18th musical its own identity. The characters of Professor Marvel and The Wicked Witch of the West take their chance to shine on their first ever solo pieces, "The Wonders of the World" and "Red Shoes Blues," while there are added numbers for Dorothy ("Nobody Understands Me"), The Wizard ("Bring Me the Broomstick"), and the ensemble ("Already Home"), all of which are worthy additions to the duo's impressive back catalog. While the album unavoidably loses some of the impact (lacking as it does the show's spectacular set designs and special effects), it's still a hugely enjoyable listen which remains faithful to the source material while remaining a quintessential Lloyd Webber affair. ~ Jon O'Brien

Product Details

Release Date:	06/28/2011
Label:	Decca / Polydor
UPC:	0602527701318

Tracks

1. The Wizard of Oz~Overture
2. The Wizard of Oz~Nobody Understands Me
3. The Wizard of Oz~Over The Rainbow
4. The Wizard of Oz~Wonders Of The World
5. The Wizard of Oz~The Twister
6. The Wizard of Oz~Arrival In Munchkinland
7. The Wizard of Oz~Munchkinland / Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead
8. The Wizard of Oz~Follow The Yellow Brick Road
9. The Wizard of Oz~If I Only Had A Brain / We're Off To See The Wizard
10. The Wizard of Oz~If I Only Had A Heart / We're Off To See The Wizard
11. The Wizard of Oz~If I Only Had The Nerve / We're Off To See The Wizard
12. The Wizard of Oz~We're Outta The Woods
13. The Wizard of Oz~The Merry Old Land Of Oz
14. The Wizard of Oz~Bring Me The Broomstick
15. The Wizard of Oz~Haunted Forest
16. The Wizard of Oz~Red Shoes Blues
17. The Wizard of Oz~Bacchanalia
18. The Wizard of Oz~Red Shoes Blues (reprise)
19. The Wizard of Oz~Over The Rainbow (reprise)
20. The Wizard of Oz~If We Only Had A Plan
21. The Wizard of Oz~The Rescue
22. The Wizard of Oz~Hail-Hail! The Witch Is Dead
23. The Wizard of Oz~The Wizard's Departure
24. The Wizard of Oz~Already Home
25. The Wizard of Oz~Finale

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Michael Crawford   Primary Artist,Vocals
Andrew Lloyd Webber   Primary Artist
Emily Tierney   Vocals
Emma Housley   Vocals
Florence Andrews   Vocals
Graham Hurman   Conductor,Music Direction
Joseph Wolstenholme   Vocals
Liam Wrate   Vocals
Marianne Benedict   Vocals
Helen Walsh   Vocals
Paul Keating   Vocals
Terel Nugent   Vocals
Jay Webb   Vocals
Richard Roe   Vocals
Carly Meyers   Vocals
Danielle Hope   Vocals
Luke Johnson   Vocals
Ashley Day   Vocals
A.C. Garcia   Vocals
Matthew Barrow   Vocals
Mia Jenkins   Vocals
Oliver Roll   Vocals
Rachell Spurrell   Vocals
Rebecca Howell   Vocals
Rory McMenamin   Vocals
Ryan Gover   Vocals
Sinead Padden   Vocals
Stephen Scott   Vocals
Wizard of Oz Pit Orchestra   Orchestra
Tom Kanavan   Vocals
Hannah Waddingham   Vocals
Zeph   Vocals
Madison Clark   Vocals
Edward Baker-Duly   Vocals
Adam Bracegirdle   Vocals
Adam Salter   Vocals
Amelia Crouch   Vocals
Anna Woodside   Vocals
Archie Duffy   Vocals
Arthur Yamaguchi   Vocals
Ava Merson-O'Brien   Vocals
Carrie Sutton   Vocals
Ceili O'Connor   Vocals
Chloe Hawthorn   Vocals
David Birch   Vocals
David Ganly   Vocals
Edward Hayes-Neary   Vocals
Emily Goodenough   Vocals

Technical Credits

Paul Chandler   Pro-Tools,Vocal Editing
Yann McCullough   Editing
Keith Pattison   Photography
Jeremy Sams   Adaptation,Stage Direction
Jan Eade   Assistant
Simon Turtle   Photography
Andrew Lloyd Webber   Composer,Producer,Adaptation,Liner Notes
Harold Arlen   Composer
Robin Sellars   Engineer
Tim Rice   Lyricist
Nick Taylor   Assistant Engineer
David Cullen   Orchestration
Ronan Phelan   Assistant Engineer
Herbert Stothart   Background Music
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg   Lyricist
Nigel Wright   Producer
Dick Beetham   Mastering