"I really cannot see how anyone could fail to appreciate theabundant merits of this recording. This is a terrific CD with one ofthe most lively and original scores of any musical around. Only Nosferatu can possibly beat it for sheer originality. The divine Claire Moore once again stars on a recording of Mr Taylor's work, and she is always worth the cost of a CD on her own. It is easy to see why she enjoys performing the works of this composer. The melodies are always very strong and keep growing on you with each listening. The flavour of the period comes through in most songs, yet the score is very modern in many ways. It combines an Elizabethan pulse with Broadway pizzazz and timeless melodies. All the performers (a hand-picked studio cast of top London stars) are excellent. The role of Beatrice is Taylor-made for Claire Moore, while Paul McGann proves that he can deliver a song with as much panache as he showed as Doctor Who and in movies like Withnail and I. There is also a guest appearance by the magnificent Peter Karrie. With so many great tracks on it, this CD is a steal at the price. As with some of Mr Taylor's other recordings, the only way it could be improved is with a lush orchestra to support the singers. The songs cry out for the kind of lush orchestration Mr Taylor enjoyed on the recording of his first musical, Wuthering Heights."
A Show To Be Seen and Heard
Alistair Brown | Oxfordshire, England | 06/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I saw the first production of this show at Stratford, where the cast included some veteran members of the Royal Shakespeare Company. I thought it was amazing how Mr Taylor managed to weave Shakespeare's own words into lyrics and how true he was to the spirit and the characters. There are some wonderful songs in this show and they all work very well on stage, fitting in very smoothly with the story and helping to move things along at a rollicking pace. The singers on this recording are all excellent and the music captures the spirit of the period. Even those who do not like Shakespeare would find it highly enjoyable.... I think it is a great work and deserves to be seen and heard more often."
SHAKESPEARE WITH A DIFFERENCE
Serena Tilford | East Sussex, England | 06/29/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I find the music on this recording a breathe of fresh air after all the dreary musicals that have been churned out in the West End and on Broadway over the past ten years. The music is very different from anything else I have heard written for the stage and I loved every moment of it. I would love to see it performed. The singers are great. Like some other people, I would have preferred to have heard a live orchestra behind the singers, but that is a minor criticism asa it did not really spoil my enjoyment and appreciation."
Better than the movie
James Batty | Newcastle, Australia | 10/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have the sound track CD from the Kenneth Branagh movie but it does not hold a candle to the wonderful music and performances on this album. You really get a feel for the whole mood and period of the story much more than you do from the movie. All the artists on the album are great."
Buy it!
David Barnett | Essex, England | 07/09/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I read that Cameron Mackintosh has not had a success with a new musical for over ten years. Maybe if he started looking at the musicals of this composer he would find stuff that would go down much better with the general public than the silly rubbish he has been putting on since Phantom of the Opera. There is great music on this recording, like all other recordings of this composer."
Track Listings (26) - Disc #1