One of the newer arrivals on the London Theatre Scene is The Prince Of Egypt, a re-working of the popular 1998 Dreamworks animated movie telling the story of Moses and his flight with the Hebrews from Egypt. With theatre all over the world in limbo due to Covid-19, the producers of The Prince Of Egypt have rushed out this cast album to fill the void. Having not experienced the stage show thus far I welcomed this latest addition to the roll call of West End theatre recordings.
Immediately, the first impressive feature is the opening powerful choral singing. "Deliver Us" is the cry from the Hebrew slaves in Egypt, asking that they be delivered to their promised land. This section sees Moses put in a basket and floated down the Nile by his mother, and witnessed by his sister Miriam, after Pharoah Seti has ordered all the infants to be slaughtered. A parting lullaby from Mercedesz Csampai conveying the desperation of his mother's actions sees the basket intercepted by Pharaoh's Queen Tuya who adopts the infant as a brother for her natural son Ramses. Nice vocals from Alexia Khadime and Debbie Kurup ensue conveying the emotions of the flight from tyranny and the accidental deliverance into royal hands. Joe Dixon (Pharaoh Seti) brings a commanding presence to the recording as he wonders if his heir Ramses is the "One Weak Link". Luke Brady (Moses) has the first of his big moments with the ballad "Footprints In The Sand" as he ponders the impact of being Pharaoh's second son and displays a fine tenor voice in the process. Christine Allado as slave girl Tzipporah offers great defiance in "Dance To The Day", the orchestrations conveying the Arabic influences of the score. An old theatre favourite Gary Wilmot transforms himself into Tzipporah's father Jethro, offering advice to Moses to "Look Through Heaven's Eyes" in another song imported from the movie. Gary's strong and clear voice embodies the experience of a classy veteran performer and is welcome on any recordng. "Never In A Million Years" is a nice duet between Luke Brady and Christine Allado as Moses and Tzipporah are caught in unstoppable events. Ramses - now Pharaoh - (Liam Tamne) remembers a troublemaking Moses but who was "Always On My Side" and is clearly conflicted. But ultimately he will not be swayed by Moses arguments and refuses to free the Hebrew people from slavery. A battle of wills ensues and the seven plagues of Egypt are unleashed amid a lot of crashing orchestral crescendos and choral wailing. A highlight of the recording is Tanisha Spring's empassioned "Heartless" at the death of her son, her soulful delivery bringing the historical events to a truly human level. Naturally the Oscar winning "When You Believe" (a mammoth hit duet for Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston) is eagerly anticipated and delivered with Disney-esque epicness at the shows climax.
Stephen Schwartz, a legend through iconic shows Godspell and Wicked to name but two, has provided a score which is full of gravitas, and is an onslaught on the emotions. It occasionally veers towards the sacharine, but is certainly impressive. If I am honest I didn't find there were many earworms in the show, I don't think the score will trouble Les Miz or The Lion King, but it is undeniably an impressive recording in it's lush orchestrations and some fine musical theatre voices. The brilliant playing of the score by a first class orchestra is just one reason to track down this recording. It has certainly whetted my appetite to see the visuals accompanying the epic saga. But for now this original London cast album brings the ambition of the production to life in 76 minutes of quality musicianship.
Details of the recording and the show can be found at the official website:
theprinceofegyptmusical.com
Immediately, the first impressive feature is the opening powerful choral singing. "Deliver Us" is the cry from the Hebrew slaves in Egypt, asking that they be delivered to their promised land. This section sees Moses put in a basket and floated down the Nile by his mother, and witnessed by his sister Miriam, after Pharoah Seti has ordered all the infants to be slaughtered. A parting lullaby from Mercedesz Csampai conveying the desperation of his mother's actions sees the basket intercepted by Pharaoh's Queen Tuya who adopts the infant as a brother for her natural son Ramses. Nice vocals from Alexia Khadime and Debbie Kurup ensue conveying the emotions of the flight from tyranny and the accidental deliverance into royal hands. Joe Dixon (Pharaoh Seti) brings a commanding presence to the recording as he wonders if his heir Ramses is the "One Weak Link". Luke Brady (Moses) has the first of his big moments with the ballad "Footprints In The Sand" as he ponders the impact of being Pharaoh's second son and displays a fine tenor voice in the process. Christine Allado as slave girl Tzipporah offers great defiance in "Dance To The Day", the orchestrations conveying the Arabic influences of the score. An old theatre favourite Gary Wilmot transforms himself into Tzipporah's father Jethro, offering advice to Moses to "Look Through Heaven's Eyes" in another song imported from the movie. Gary's strong and clear voice embodies the experience of a classy veteran performer and is welcome on any recordng. "Never In A Million Years" is a nice duet between Luke Brady and Christine Allado as Moses and Tzipporah are caught in unstoppable events. Ramses - now Pharaoh - (Liam Tamne) remembers a troublemaking Moses but who was "Always On My Side" and is clearly conflicted. But ultimately he will not be swayed by Moses arguments and refuses to free the Hebrew people from slavery. A battle of wills ensues and the seven plagues of Egypt are unleashed amid a lot of crashing orchestral crescendos and choral wailing. A highlight of the recording is Tanisha Spring's empassioned "Heartless" at the death of her son, her soulful delivery bringing the historical events to a truly human level. Naturally the Oscar winning "When You Believe" (a mammoth hit duet for Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston) is eagerly anticipated and delivered with Disney-esque epicness at the shows climax.
Stephen Schwartz, a legend through iconic shows Godspell and Wicked to name but two, has provided a score which is full of gravitas, and is an onslaught on the emotions. It occasionally veers towards the sacharine, but is certainly impressive. If I am honest I didn't find there were many earworms in the show, I don't think the score will trouble Les Miz or The Lion King, but it is undeniably an impressive recording in it's lush orchestrations and some fine musical theatre voices. The brilliant playing of the score by a first class orchestra is just one reason to track down this recording. It has certainly whetted my appetite to see the visuals accompanying the epic saga. But for now this original London cast album brings the ambition of the production to life in 76 minutes of quality musicianship.
Details of the recording and the show can be found at the official website:
theprinceofegyptmusical.com
