ANYONE CAN WHISTLE – Studio Cast Complete Recording – 2 CD (JAY RECORDS – CDJAY2 1457)
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The 23 year wait for the much-anticipated complete recording of Stephen Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle has finally come to fruition and the crop is as delicious and mouthwatering as anything you could ever hope to devour.
Recorded in 1997 there is a cast who were at the peak of their careers, Julia McKenzie, Maria Friedman, John Barrowman, et al. The ‘et al’ includes: Shezwae Powell, Ian Burford, Bill Nolte, Matt Zimmerman and many more. The icing on the cake is the narration by Arthur Laurents, the director of the original production. The National Symphony Orchestra is conducted by John Owen Edwards and brings the lush orchestrations of Don Walker to life.
Up until now, we have only had the very truncated original cast recording or the ‘not-so-critically acclaimed’ live performance. Now we have a top rate cast bringing this Sondheim classic to life with, what I am sure, will turn out to be the definitive recording. It’s hard to believe that the show was originally a flop – one which fed into the mythology of Broadway and became, like Follies, the show that many theatregoers claimed to have seen during their very brief outings on Broadway.
There will be the die-hard fans of the original recording who will draw many comparisons between the two recordings – mostly between Angela Lansbury and Julia McKenzie – but I would implore them to open their minds and I am positive they will be pleasantly surprised.
The one thing that stands out, in a frightening sense, is the comparison between the show’s plot and content with America in 2020. This is pointed out in wonderful detail by the booklet accompanying the release – frightening. The booklet also contains a synopsis (for those who didn’t see it at the Broadway opening!) and other interesting touches.
Definitely going to be one snatched up by the millions of Sondheim fans everywhere and I cannot put it any better than the great man himself who has said: “The brilliance of this recording gives the show more energy and sparkle than it’s ever had. It made me proud of it.”
Nick Wakeham
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