The creators of a new musical drama set in Siberia have released an original concept album featuring 12 vocalists along with a second album of bonus material.
Featuring a book by Giles Howe with Roberto Trippini and music by Giles Howe and Katy Lipson, Soviet Zion focuses on an American family and a European family as they head for a new life in Siberia’s Jewish Autonomous Region.
Howe and Lipson turned their attention to creating the work after producing 16 productions of diverse new musicals together. Describing the project: “We were being sent great works, but few in the style of the epic musicals that most inspire us personally. So we set out to create our own, to honour the music we love most and explore a fascinating history.”
First presented in concert form at The London Jewish Museum in 2014, the new version of Soviet Zion features symphonic orchestrations created in collaboration with film score arranger Brian Freeland.
Commenting on the recordings, creative director and co-producer Howe said: “Produced during the height of the lockdown restrictions, we overcame many unusual challenges in safely bringing to life this ambitious recording.”
Co-producer Lipson added: “As the Covid crisis continues to affect live theatre, this medium offers a way to bring quality work to audiences worldwide… Many successful British musicals began life as concept albums.
“The history this show explores is truly fascinating, and not only to Jewish audiences. We hope this recording will lead to future international productions once live theatre returns to the stage, right now though we are delighted to present Soviet Zion as a thrilling concept album with unique bonus material. This distinctive theatrical experience is now available to enjoy at the click of a button.”
Soviet Zion stars Kate Radmilovic as Mirele, Kimberly Blake as Zofia, Sam Young as Iser, Joseph Claus as David, Michaela Stern as Bayla, John Ellis as Oskar, Bruno Loxton as the Officer, Toni Green as Yenta/Narrator and David Francis as Joshua. Completing the cast are Naomi Kilby, Michal Ish-Horowitz, and guest vocalist Jeff Kuznicki. The project is engineered, mixed and mastered by Vasken Arslainen.
Available through online music platforms including iTunes and Apple Music, the two releases are a feature-length operatic radio play performed in English and a bonus release of Yiddish language selections from the show translated by poet Gittel Schwartz.
Angela Thomas
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