Chess in Concert (2 CD)
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CD Details
Brand: UnknownEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2009-06-16
Music Label: Reprise Records
Music reviews of Chess in Concert (2 CD)
Music Review: Alas - still not the definitive version
Rating: 3 Stars
I own all the official recordings of Chess...in sequential order...Original 1984 Concept Album, Broadway Cast, 1994 Gothenburg Concert, 2001 Danish Cast, 2002 Swedish Cast...and was hugely excited about this release. I suppose mainly for the fact that it included the rare tracks "Commie Newspapers", "Press Conference", "One More Opponent" etc. which were removed from the original Danish release - now deleted. (Although I have finally just found a copy of the deleted complete Danish recording).
So much of this recording should have blown the socks off all the others, but sadly where it succeeds in a few places it hugely disappoints in others. However, to review this Royal Albert Hall concert it's impossible not to compare it with the others.
The success of any recording of Chess largely depends on the three principals. Not surprisingly, the strongest trio of all is the Swedish Cast. I know the fact that the recording is in a foreign language may put people off but believe me there is no better recorded Florence than Helen Sjöholm. Even in Swedish you are hit by the full extent of her emotive singing. Anders Ekborg is a stunning Freddie, coping admirably with the demands of the role whilst Tommy Korberg cements his role of Anatoly in his third recording; the years having hardly touched his voice. You simply cannot better these three and it's a huge regret that they didn't record an English version - although you can find Sjöholm singing "Someone Else's Story" in English on YouTube.
So the good points about the RAH concert...
The recording boasts the very best start to "Endgame: the chorus of the past masters". Listen to this with the volume up full, it's amazing! The CD is worth it for that alone. Generally, the chorus work on "Merano", "Merchandisers" etc. is stunning and it's fantastic to hear such a large choir. David Bedella turns in the best recorded Molokov period - even outshining Denis Quilley on the concept album. Kerry Ellis gives a fantastic portrayal of Svetlana and sings "Someone Else's Story" very well indeed - although I do prefer Judy Kuhn's take on the Broadway Cast. So the 3 principals: Adam Pascal is definitely the best English speaking Freddie, the right level of petulance, strong control and a very touching rendition of "Pity The Child". Josh Groban does his best, sometimes producing beautiful tone and it's hard to decide whether he is better or worse than Stig Rossen on the Danish Cast. It's true he improves as the concert carries on but there is some emotional depth lacking but he can't match Korberg. As Florence, Idina Menzel is a huge disappointment. As others have argued more eloquently, it just doesn't work. This is nothing against Ms Menzel per se, it's just that she doesn't have a voice naturally suited to the role. She is too shrieky and yet lacks power; far better to listen to Emma Kershaw on the Danish Cast. Also Menzel and Groban don't have a great rapport, the voices don't gel well together. And strange that they reverted to the awful amateurish Broadway lyrics for "You And I (reprise)"
So in my order of preference:
1. Swedish Cast - best trio of principals, and some interesting and moving changes to the score - watch the DVD, the stage production is brilliant.
2. Danish cast - even if you can't get the deleted version, the re-release is almost the entire London production.
3. Royal Albert Hall - mainly for completeness, David Bedella, Adam Pascal and the Chess Masters Intro
4. Original Concept Album - Paige and Korberg nailing the roles.
5. 1994 Gothenburg Cast - awful histrionics from Anders Glenmark, but Korberg is fantastic, and Karin Glenmark (Florence) sings the guts out of it. Also a great encore of "Merano" but terrible supporting performances.
6. Broadway Cast - only for Judy Kuhn; a terribly mangled version of a fantastic score.
Description of Chess in Concert (2 CD)
Starring multiplatinum artist Josh Groban, Tony-winning Idina Menzel (Wicked) and Tony nominated Adam Pascal (RENT), Chess In Concertrevives the eclectic yet wonderfully pop 1984 concept album featuring the music of ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson and lyrics of Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King, Evita). Recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall in May 2008, this spectacular Chess In Concert - introduced by Rice and with the 50- piece City of London Philharmonic and 100-voice West End Chorus - finally fulfills the promise of the popular cult musical.
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