Lola [Import]

Claibe Richardson (Artist), Kenward Elmslie (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harbinger
• ASIN: B00002SWML
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #242,010 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Lola Montez's Mazurka

2. Mirrors and Shadows

3. Shuffle the Cards

4. A New Life

5. Staying In

6. Uncrowned Queen of Californi-ay

7. Staring

8. Hooked!

9. Palace Memories

10. The Whores Behind the Doors

11. Beauty Secrets

12. Winter Comes in Summer

13. Down Under

14. Many Happy Returns

15. Oranges from Seville

16. My Lola

17. The Pledge

18. The Palace of Pleasure

19. Beauty Secrets

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A lot of gorgeous music in this little-known score, December 12, 2003

By 

Alan (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lola (Audio CD)

This little-known musical about the 19th-century courtesan Lola Montez has a score by Claibe Richardson (music) and Kenward Elmslie (lyrics). If you like their score for the musical "The Grass Harp," you will probably like this one, too.

While some of the lyrics here are a little awkward, others are very good. The music is sometimes powerful and intense, and at other times melancholy, gorgeous, and haunting. While there are a few not-so-good songs here, most are very good, and a few are real stunners. Richardson was a very talented composer, and it's sad that none of his shows seems to have worked well onstage. Fortunately, at least some of them were recorded, preserving his music.

This recording is further helped by excellent orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin and a cast that would be hard to improve upon (Judy Kaye, Christine Andreas, David Carroll, and Jack Dabdoub). There'a also a lovely bonus track of Barbara Cook singing a song from the show that she recorded on another album.

If you're a musical-theatre lover who enjoys exploring lesser-known shows, try this one. I think you'll be glad you did.