Reader’s Digest Presents: The Great Musicals -

Wondeful Tales

Louise Gold starred on Disc 2 Track 8 Reno Sweeney from Anything Goes, and featured on Disc 1 Track 3 as Maria a Kit Kat Club Girl from Cabaret, The Readers Digest, 2005

Catalogue number: RDCD4901-2

 

Cast

Graham Bickley – as Casey (from Maggie May)

Andy Brown

Steve Butler

Maurice Clarke – as Cosmo Constantine (from Call Me Madam)

Paul Collis – as Paul from (Kiss Me Kate – in some versions the character is called Ralph)

Ben Cramer

Kim Criswell – as Mrs Sally Adams (from Call Me Madam)

Anita Dobson

Rob Evans

Joe Fagin

David Fieldsend (as Ceruti from The Dancing Years)

Richard Fredericks

Ethan Freeman – as Gabey (from On The Town)

Adam Garcia – as Perchik from (Fiddler On The Roof)

Louise Gold – as Maria a Kit Kat Club Girl (from Cabaret), and, Reno Sweeney (from Anything Goes)

The Gordon Lorenz Singers

James Graeme

Richard Harris (as King Arthur from Camelot)

Helen Hobson

Joss Jones

Maria Kesselman

Diane Langton

Christopher Lee – as The King (from The King & I)

The Lehman Engel Chorus

William Lewis – as Dick a British Captain (from Naughty Marrietta)

Avon Long

Valerie Masterson – as Anna Leonowens (from The King & I), and, The Marshioness Of Shayne (Sarah Millick/Sai Linden) (from Bitter Sweet)

Donald Maxwell – as Hajj (from Kismet)

Anna Moffo

Ron Moody

Claire Moore – Uncredited as Rosie a Kit Kat Club girl (from Cabaret)

Deborah Myers – as Princess Maria from Call Me Madam

Caroline O’Connor – as Velma Kelly (from Chicago), Anita (from West Side Story)

Tinuke Olafimihan – as Maria (from West Side Story), Eliza Dolittle (from My Fair Lady)

Peter Palmer

Valentine Pringle

Jonathan Pryce – as the MC from Cabaret

Denis Quilley

 The RSC – as The Company in The Wizard Of Oz

Jeanette Scovotti

Martin Smith – as Carl Linden from Bitter Sweet

Henry Wickham – as Freddy Eynsford-Hill from My Fair Lady

 

 

Production Team

 Produced by – The Readers Digest, 2005

 Conductors –  Gerry Allison, Richard Balcombe, Lehman Engel, John Glaudini, Julian Kelly, Ian Lynn, Del Newman, John Owen Edwards, Michael Reed, and, Martin Yates

Orchestras: - The Lehman Engel Orchestra, The National Symphony Orchestra (aka NSO Ensemble), New Sadlers Wells Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orcheatra, and, The RSC Orchestra

Compilation Created by – Andrew Humphries

Assistant Editor – Daniel Sankey

Technical Manager – Jon Archer

Print and Production by – Claudette Bramble

Booklet Notes by – Stephen Bernard – The Write Line

Copy Edited by – Lisa Rutty, and, Andrew Humphries

Designed by – Andrew Briffett

Studio Designer – Pauline Austin

Picture Credits – Arena Pictures

Original Sound Recordings – made and owned by JAY Productions limited, produced by John Yap

 

Track Listing

Programme 1

1. The Ugly Duckling (from Hans Christian Andersen) – Ron Moody with Orchestra conducted by Del Newman

2. Thumbelina (from Hans Christian Andersen) – Joe Fagin with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn

3. Two Ladies (from Cabaret) – Jonathan Pryce and Girls (Louise Gold, and, Claire Moore) with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

4. Nowadays (from Chicago) – Caroline O’Connor with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Julian Kelly

5. Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead (from The Wizard Of Oz) – Company with the RSC Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

6. Now I Have Everything (from Fiddler On The Roof) – Adam Garcia with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

7. The Day After Tomorrow (from Blitz) – Helen Hobson with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates

8. Song Of The King (from The King And I) – Christopher Lee, and, Valerie Masterson with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

9. A Boy Like That (from West Side Story) – Caroline O’Connor, and, Tinuke Olafimihan with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

10. I Have A Love (from West Side Story) – Caroline O’Connor, and, Tinuke Olafimihan with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

11. Dear Little Cafe (from Bitter Sweet) – Valerie Masterson and Martin Smith with the New Sadlers Wells Orchestra conducted by Michael Reed

12.Twilight from (The Prince And The Pauper) – Rob Evans with Orchestra conducted by John Glaudini

13. Stars (from Les Miserables) – Ben Cramer

14. Masquerade (from The Phantom Of The Opera) – National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates

15. Bui Doi (from Miss Saigon) – James Graeme with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates

14. Javert’s Suicide (from Les Miserables) – Ben Cramer

15. Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats (from Cats) – Maria Kesselman

16. Science Fiction, Double Feature (from The Rocky Horror Show) – Anita Dobson with the NSO Ensemble conducted by Martin Yates

17. Hakuna Matata (from The Lion King) – Steve Butler, and, Joss Jones with the Gordon Lorenz Singers

 

Programme 2

1. Medley: Overture: Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (from Naughty Marrietta)- William Lewis, and Chorus with Lehman Engel and his Orchestra

2. My Hero (from The Chocolate Soldier) – Jeanette Scovotti with Lehman Engel and his Orchestra

3. Medley: One Kiss; Wanting You; Lover Come Back To Me; Stouthearted Men (from The New Moon) – Jeanette Scovotti, Peter Palmer and Chorus, with Lehman Engel and his Orchestra

4. Medley: Rose Marie; Lak Jeem (from Rose Marie) – Richard Fredericks and Anna Moffo with Lehman Engel and his orchestra

5. Medley: There’s A Boat That’s Leavin’ Soon For New York; Oh Lawed, I’m On My Way (from Porgy And Bess) – Avon Long, and, Valentine Pringle with Lehman Engle and his Orchestra and Chorus

6. Too Darn Hot (from Kiss Me Kate) – Paul Collis and company with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

7. It’s Yourself (from Maggie May) – Diane Langton and Graham Bickley with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates

8. Anything Goes (from Anything Goes) – Louise Gold and Company with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

9. Maggie, Maggie May (from Maggie May) – Graham Bickley and Chorus with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates

10. The Ocarina (from Call Me Madam) – Deborah Myers with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe

11. Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay (from Bitter Sweet) – Chorus with the New Sadler’s Wells  Orchestra conducted by Michael Reed

12. The Most Happy Fella (from The Most Happy Fella) – Denis Quilley, and, Andy Brown with Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Del Newman

13. Guenevere (from Camelot) – Richard Harris and Company with Orchestra conducted by Gerry Allison

14. The Olive Tree (from Kismet) – Donald Maxwell with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

15. Show Me (from My Fair Lady) – Tinuke Olfimihan and Henry Wickham with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

16. Lucky To Be Me (from On The Town) – Ethan Freeman and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

17. My Life Belongs To You (from The Dancing Years) – David Fieldsend with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards

18. You’re Just In Love (from Call Me Madam) – Kim Criswell, and, Maurice Clarke with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by  Richard Balcombe

 

Jonathan Pryce, Claire Moore, and, Louise Gold’s performance of Two Ladies with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards comes from the album Cabaret, on which Caroline O’Connor also appears.

Louise Gold’s performance of Anything Goes with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards comes from the album Anything Goes (Recording) - Website Recommended Album. Louise Gold also sang the song on the West End stage in Anything Goes (Stage Production). In addition she has also parodied it as Anyone’s Nose on Sesame Street.

Graham Bickley had previously appeared in The Pirates Of Penzance (Stage production), and as a member of that company in The Pirates Of Penzance (Gala Performance), The Pirates Of Penzance (Royal Gala Preview), The Pirates Of Penzance (Benefit Preview), and the Royal Variety Performance (1982). He has since appeared in Mexican Hayride.

Richard Harris, and, Diane Langton had also appeared in The Royal Variety Performance (1982).

Graham Bickley, Ethan Freeman, and, Valerie Masterson, along with the National Symphony Orchestra can be heard on The Best Of Broadway Musicals, for which John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates also conducted.

Graham Bickley, Kim Criswell, Ethan Freeman, Louise Gold, James Graeme, Richard Harris, Helen Hobson, Valerie Masterson, Donald Maxwell, Claire Moore, Tinuke Olafimihan, and, Jonathan Pryce, along with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra can be heard on Encore The Very Best From The Musicals, , on which Gerry Allison, John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates also conducted. The recording also features the same version of Two Ladies.

Graham Bickley, Ethan Freeman, Valerie Masterson, Ron Moody, Tinuke Olafimihan, and, Martin Smith, along with the National Symphony Orchestra, the New Sadlers Wells Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra can be heard on Great Duets From The Musicals, for which John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates also conducted.

Graham Bickley, Paul Collis, Louise Gold, and, Diane Langton, along with the National Symphony Orchestra can be heard on Cole Porter – Night And Day, which was also produced by The Reader’s Digest, for which John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates also conducted. This also included this album’s version of Anything Goes, and, Too Darn Hot.

Graham Bickley, Kim Criswell, Louise Gold, James Graeme, Claire Moore, Deborah Myers, Caroline O’Connor, and, Tinuke Olafimihan, along with the National Symphony Orchestra can be heard on Simply Musicals, for which Julian Kelly, John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates also conducted. The album also includes the same versions of Anything Goes, and, Nowadays.

Andy Brown, Steve Butler, Kim Criswell, Ethan Freeman, The Gordon Lorenz Singers, Richard Harris, Anna Moffo, Ron Moody, and, Tinuke Olafimihan, along with the Lehman Engel Orchestra, and, the National Symphony Orchestra can be heard on The Greatest Musicals of the 20th Century, which was also produced by The Reader’s Digest, and for which Gerry Allison, Lehman Engel, Ian Lynn, Del Newman, John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates also conducted.

Kim Criswell, and, Denis Quilley’s radio credits include Let ‘Em Eat Cake.

Kim Criswell, Ethan Fereeman, Valerie Masterson, and, Tinuke Olafimihan along with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards can be heard On The Town,  from which Lucky To Be Me on this recording comes.

Kim Criswell, along with Louise Gold, appeared in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Kim Criswell, Ethan Freeman, Christopher Lee, Valerie Masterson, Donald Maxwell, Ron Moody, Caroline O’Connor, Tinuke Olafimihan, and, Jonathan Pryce’s along with the National Symphony Orchestra can be heard on The History Of The Musical, on which Lehman Engel, John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates also conducted.

Anita Dobson appeared in A Love Letter To Dan, for which Michael Reed played the piano.

Ethan Freeman appeared in One Touch Of Venus (2000 Production).

James Graeme, and, Diane Langton appeared in Chicago & Company.

James Graeme, and, Martin Smith appeared in Broadway To Brighton.

Martin Smith appeared in A Time To Start Living, which James Graeme may have appeared in.

Diane Langton, Claire Moore, and, Martin Smith had previously been scheduled to appear in Comedy Tonight.

Diane Langton appeared in Follies, which Julian Kelly also conducted.

Diane Langton’s recording credits include Defiant Dames.

Diane Langton has gone on to appear in Mary Poppins.

Claire Moore appeared in Will Aid.

Louise Gold, Claire Moore, and, Martin Smith appeared in Kids At Heart.

Jonathan Pryce appeared on A Week In The West End.

Denis Quilley appeared in the Regent’s Park 70th Anniversary Gala.

The gala Happily Ever After was dedicated to Denis Quilley.

Louise Gold appeared with the RSC herself in The Cherry Orchard.

Louise Gold, and, Martin Smith appeared in the Metropolitan Mikado, and in a concert of highlights from the Ratepayer’s Iolanthe & Metropolitan Mikado, for both of which John Owen Edwards conducted.

The musical Something For The Boys was inspired by a story in The Reader’s Digest.

Richard Balcombe has conducted The Gondoliers.

Julian Kelly also conducted on Merrily We Roll Along (Stage production), and Merrily We Roll Along (Recording), and Calamity Jane.

Michael Reed also conducted Sondheim At The Barbican, Ziegfeld (stage show) and Ziegfeld (Recording).

Martin Yates had previously written the score for his own musical The Soap Opera.

Martin Yates conducted the National Symphony Orchestra for Stop The World I Want To Get Off.

Graham Bickley, Kim Criswell, The Gordon Lorenz Singers, Richard Harris, William Lewis, Valerie Masterson, and, Martin Smith’s recording credits include The Great Musicals – Glamour And Majesty, which Anne Moffo may have sung on. This also involves The Lehman Engel Orchestra, The National Symphony Orchestra, The New Sadlers Wells Opera Orchestra, and, The Philharmonia Orchestra; with maestros Gerry Allison, Richard Balcombe, Lehman Engel, John Owen Edwards, Michael Reed, and, Martin Yates. This was also produced by The Readers Digest, so production team members Andrew Humphries, Daniel Sankey, Claudette Bramble, Jon Archer, Stephen Barnard of The Write Line, Andrew Briffet, Pauline Austin, and, Arena Pictures were also involved.

Richard Harris, Valerie Masterson, Caroline O’Connor, Tinuke Olafimihan, Jonathan Pryce, and, The Royal Shakespeare Company’s recording credits include Centre Stage Showtime!; Wich also features The National Symphony Orchestra; along with maestros Gerry Allison, John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates.

Graham Bickley, Ben Cramer, Richard Fredericks, Ethan Freeman, The Lehman Engel Chorus, and, Caroline O’Connor’s recording credits include The Great Musicals – Dashing Heroes, Blushing Maidens, which Anne Moffo may also have sung on; This also involved The Lehman Engel Orchestra, and, The National Symphony Orchestra; with maestros Gerry Allison, Richard Balcombe, Lehman Engel, Julian Kelly, John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates. This was also produced by The Readers Digest, so production team members: Andrew Humphries, Daniel Sankey, Jon Archer, Claudette Bramble, Stephen Barnard of The Write Line, Andrew Briffett, Pauline Austin, and, Arena Pictures were also involved with it.

Ben Cramer, Kim Criswell, The Gordon Lorenz Singers, James Graeme, Diane Langton, Ian Lynn, Valerie Masterson, and, Martin Smith’s recording credits include The Great Musicals – Laughter And Tears; This also involved The National Symphony Orchestra, and, The New Sadler’s Wells Orchestra; with maestros Richard Balcombe, John Owen Edwards, Michael Reed, and, Martin Yates. This was also produced by The Readers Digest, and production team members: Andrew Humphries, Daniel Sankey, Jon Archer, Claudette Bramble, Stephen Barnard of The Write Line, Andrew Briffett, Pauline Austin, and, Arena Pictures were also involved.

Graham Bickley, Kim Criswell, James Graeme, Richard Harris, Valerie Masterson, Ron Moody, Deborah Myers, Caroline O’Connor, and, Jonathan Pryce’s recording credits include Magic Of The Musicals; This also involved the National Symphony Orchestra, and, the Philharmonia Orchestra; with maestros Gerry Allison, Julian Kelly, John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates. That album includes the same recording of Anything Goes.

Kim Criswell, Louise Gold, James Graeme, Richard Harris, Deborah Myers, and, Caroline O’Connor’s recording credits include The Best Of The Musicals. This also involved the National Symphony Orchestra / NSO Ensemble, with maestros Gerry Allison, Julian Kelly, John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates. That album includes the same recording of Masquerade, and, Anything Goes.

Helen Hobson may have taken part in Thing A Thon.

Kim Criswell, Ethan Freeman, Louise Gold, James Graeme, Diane Langton, Christopher Lee, Valerie Masterson, Claire Moore, Caroline O’Connor, Tinuke Olafimihan, and, Jonathan Pryce can also be heard on 100 Hits Musicals; accompanied by The National Symphony Orchestra, and, The RSC Orchestra, with maestros Julian Kelly, John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates. This album contains the same recording of Two Ladies.

Louise Gold, Richard Harris, Christopher Lee, Valerie Masterson, Claire Moore, Caroline O’Connor, Tinuke Olafimihan, and, Jonathan Pryce can also be heard on Let’s Go On With The Show – Hit Songs From The West End & Broadway; accompanied by The National Symphony Orchestra, with maestros Gerry Allison, and, John Owen Edwards.

Graham Bickley, Kim Criswell, The Gordon Lorenz Singers, Joss Jones, Diane Langton, Claire Moore, Caroline O’Connor, and, Tinuke Olafimihan’s recording credits include The Great Musicals - From Broadway to Hollywood; This also involved The National Symphony Orchestra, and, The RSC Orchestra; with maestros Del Newman, John Owen Edwards, and, Martin Yates. This included a different recording of Rose-Marie.

 

Review

by Emma Shane, 20 June 2007

This is one of those funny pleasant varied compilation albums where if one doesn’t like one number, there will be another one along in a minute or two. The album is titled ‘Wonderful Tales’, but some of the numbers did not appear to me to particularly fit that title. I didn’t really mind that, though, because some of the ones that did weren’t really to my taste. Surprisingly, this included some material by composers whose work I usually quite like such as Frank Losser and Lerner & Lowe, as well as the more obvious culprits. Frank Losser’s Hans Christian Andersen sounds a bit Disneyfied for him (and is not a patch on Guys And Dolls or How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying), perhaps proving just how difficult it is to write decent songs for musicals aimed at children. While I actually thought Guenevere to be just about the worst thing I’ve heard Lerner and Lowe come up with. Then there is material which although rather good in context, just doesn’t come across out of context on a compilation album, one example being Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg’s Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead.

There is also some good material on this album which although presented reasonably well, one can’t help but feel could have been done better. Peter Palmer, Richard Frederiks and Donald Maxwell do their best, but they are not Howard Keel. While Tinuke Olafimiham’s Eliza Doolittle is quite good (better than Kiri Te Kanawa), but no one can sing that role quite like Liz Robertson. Similarly Maria Kesselman’s Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats suffer if one is used to Bonnie Langford’s distinctive vocals on the OLC album. Meanwhile Caroline O’Connor and Tinuke Olafimihan acquit themselves quite well with the powerful West Side Story duets, but again these have been bettered. Nevertheless done of these numbers are done badly by any means; and these performances make for decent background listening.

Besides the familiar this album contains some half forgotten gems, especially those by British songwriters such as Noel Coward, Ivor Novello and Lionel Bart. Why on earth aren’t Novellos’s Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay and Bart’s Maggie, Maggie May better known? I was also rather amused to note just whose stellar performance Bart’s two Maggie May numbers were sandwiched between. And it is my considered opinion that the most wonderful thing of all about this album is that is features not one but two terrific contemporary performers of songs written for the mighty Ethel Merman, doing exactly that. Both Kim Criswell and Louise Gold are at their powerful Mermanesque best, yet actually far more lively than Merman would ever have been. Each comes into her own, performing the kind of material she does best and songs which Merman herself sang on film! Kim Criswell is a superb interpreter of Irving Berlin songs, especially those written for Ethel Merman; as she proved back in 1992 in Annie Get Your Gun, and proves here with the classic You’re Not Sick You’re Just In Love. Equally magnificent, Louise Gold is a stunning performer of Cole Porter songs, as she has proved many a time in the Lost MusicalsTM, and proves here with another classic Anything Goes. No one, except possibly Rita Mckenzie could possibly have even matched these two wonderful ladies at their very best, what a treat to have them both on such top form on one album.

 

Critics Comments

 .

 

Links about The Great Musicals: Wonderful Tales

 

 

| Return To Site Guide | Return To Recordings |