I have recently purchased the amazing new recording of the 80s musical Chess. This recording has more songs than any other recording of the show, and has some pretty amazing new orchestrations giving it a more raw and modern feel to it.
Bringing in Broadway veterans Adam Pascal and Idina Menzel as Freddy Trumper and Florence Vassy and Josh Groban as Anatoly Sergievsky, Chess in Concert is a CD not to be missed.
The show, with music and lyrics by Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Tim Rice, originally came to Broadway in 1988 and closed after the short run of eight weeks. Prior to Broadway Chess opened in West End in 1984 and ran for three years. The success it had in London, unfortunately, did not follow it to Broadway.
After constant changing of the plot and adding new songs, Chess just never seemed to achieve much fame in America.
The story is mainly about the cold war using a chess tournament between American chess champion, Freddy Trumper, and Russia's champion, Anatoly Sergievsky, to explain the tension between the two sides during the war.
I have not only seen the concert's DVD, but I have also seen the show live. It is a truly stunning show deserving a good run.
This recording of the music brings back all the Chess hype for me. Idina Menzel is perfect as Florence and really belts out every note with precision. Adam Pascal's rendition of 'Pity the Child' brings more emotion to the song than in any previous performance I have ever heard. Truly amazing.
Other notable performers are Kerry Ellis, who portrayed Svetlana, Anatoly's wife. She has a beautiful, clear voice that is ultimately refreshing to listen to. Josh Groban does great as Anatoly, but the Anatoly on the original Broadway recording is much better.
Chess in Concert is a must for any Broadway or ABBA fan. Truly astounding!
My rating:
[4.5/5]
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