Music Review: Wicked: The Soundtrack – Movie Cast Recording

Wicked: The Soundtrack – Movie Cast Recording (Universal Studios, Republic Records).

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Having first premiered on Broadway in 2003 and in the West End in 2006, the musical Wicked has had a good couple of decades in which to amass legions of fans and cement its place in the musical hall of fame on both sides of the pond – and indeed, across most of the world. So it was no surprise that the movie version of the story had been hotly anticipated ever since the first rumours made their way into the media all those years ago – and now both the movie and its soundtrack have finally graced the public stage.

Featuring Stephen Schwartz classics like ‘Defying Gravity’, ‘Dancing Through Life’ and several others often found in any die-hard musical fan’s playlist, there are also bonus tracks available on the soundtrack’s digital version.

While one might be forgiven for being a little apprehensive of a remake of something so iconic within the theatre world, fortunately the movie version is just as magical and ozmopolitan as the original stage recording.

With powerhouses Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda at the helm, the majesty of the well-loved score is in safe hands. The musical production – by Schwartz, Greg Wells and Stephen Oremus – stays true to the original feel of the stage show, while allowing Erivo, Grande and the rest of the principal cast opportunities to put their own stamp on the characters they play.

Grande’s trademark riffs are heard in abundance but none detract from the songs themselves and it seems that throughout the album, the balance between original and new has been perfectly achieved. Audiences are even treated to some subtle differences between the movie and stage versions, including an extra section in ‘One Short Day’ which adds just the right amount of novelty and interest for this latest version of the story.

Aside from the performances, special mention must be given to the orchestral arrangements by Wells, Oremus, Dominick Amendum and Jeff Atmajian. It must be a considerable task to revise such well-loved songs into a movie soundtrack, but the end result is a resounding success.

The powerful 80-piece orchestra brings home the dramatisation of the screen adaptation and is just as exciting and powerful a listen as the original cast recording.

Many stage to screen remakes have gone before Wicked, with varying levels of success, but thankfully this one will only reinforce the five-star status of the story and score for years to come.

Sorcha Exworthy