Summer Song (original London Cast)
) | Label: SEPIA Catalog: SEP1086 Format: CD Original London CastSummer Song' is a musical with an American background built around an episode in the life of Czech composer Anton Dvorak. Dvorak had taken a break from teaching and conducting to visit the State of Illinois where he wrote his symphony "From the New World". Eric Maschwitz wrote the lyrics and collaborated with Hy Kraft on the libretto while Bernard Grun adapted the music of Dvorak.Laurence Naismith played the part of Dvorak. Sally Ann Howes, who had a real singing voice played the romantic lead with David Hughes, who came from the world of popular music, as her opposite number. The real life American husband and wife team Bonita Primrose and Van Atkins added the lighter side of Milli and Joe. The handsome Trinidadian bass-baritone Edric Connor was cast as man-of-all-work Abe.'Summer Song' opened in London 1956 at the Princes Theatre where although the show received mainly favourable reviews it ran for only 148 performances. A cast recording was however recorded and it is this tuneful score that has been re-mastered for this CD release. The selection by The Melachrino Orchestra includes some melodies not heard in the original cast recording. Edric Connor and David Hughes were recording artists in their own right and bonus tracks by both of them are included.  Price: $23.98 |