Lord of the Rings - Original London Cast Recording with Bonus DVD [CAST RECORDING] [SOUNDTRACK]

A. R. Rahman (Composer), Varttina (Composer), Christopher Nightingale (Composer), Shaun McKenna (Composer), Matthew Warchus (Composer), Original London Cast (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Original London Cast
• Composer: A. R. Rahman, Varttina, Christopher Nightingale, Shaun McKenna, Matthew Warchus
• Audio CD (April 15, 2008)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording, Soundtrack
• Label: Kevin Wallace Music
• ASIN: B0010Y3C4Q
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,009 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The original score, with music composed by A.R. Rahman, Värttinä and Christopher Nightingale, and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus, from the The Lord of the Rings theatre production. This deluxe two disc set includes a 52 page illustrated booklet. The first disc is an 18 track CD with stereo mix. The second disc is a 19 track DVD with 5.1 surround sound and bonus features.

DVD features the following: 1. Prologue ('Lasto I Lamath')2. The Road Goes On 3. Saruman 4. The Cat And The Moon 5. Flight To The Ford 6. The Song Of Hope 7. The Song Of Hope 8. The Song Of Hope 9. The Golden Wood 10. Lothlorien 11. The Siege Of The City Of Kings 12. Now And For Always 13. Gollum/Smeagol 14. The Song Of Hope (Duet)15. Wonder 16. The Final Battle 17. Epilogue (Farewells)18. Finale.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime, February 6, 2008

By	Horatio Guttersnipe (London, England) - See all my reviews

This production recording has been eagerly anticipated by all who have taken the show to heart. The high lights on this album are 'The Star of Earendil (sung by Rosalie Craig),' 'Lothlorien' (sung by Laura Michelle Kelly as Galadrial and Michael Rouse) and Sam and Frodo's song 'Now and for Always' (sung by James Loye and Peter Howe), there are many more extraordinary and memorable songs which are a real joy to hear again. The music is gorgeous, romantic, fantastical, poetic and spiritual. The recording stands on it's own as a unique listening experience mixing narrative with orchestration and song.

The composers are A. R. Rahman, the Värttinä and Christopher Nightingale the musical supervisor and orchestrator. The book and lyrics are by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus.

The sound of the show is without a doubt the most refreshing I have ever heard in the West End and I can only hope that other shows will be just as brave and inventive in their storytelling.

This issue comes as a double c. d set. The second disc is a dvd which has the entire recording in superior sound and while you recall fond memories from the first time you saw it a slide show of the production is presented. Through out the 63 minute recording imagery from rehearsals to first performances have been compiled and this will be enjoyed many times over, I am sure.

There are musical choral arrangements missing which were from the Toronto Production and this may dishearten those who might have hoped for more of a mix on this album but till Mr Wallace and Company reach Broadway this recording suffices as a sublime work and I imagine an extended cast album will follow someday.

here are some of the lyrics to two of the songs:

~ Lothlórien ~
From the west she appeared, sunlight and stars in her hair
In her eyes an undying memory of home, a land that is magical and fair
When her feet came to rest, deep in a canopied glade
She lifted her face and there she danced, the realm of Lothlóren she made
Gaze on me lady of gold, reawaken my slumbering soul
Beacon of courage, summon me home, to your haven of wonders untold
Lothlórien

O child of my heart, born of a never-ending dream
You are cradled in light, bathed in an ever-flowing stream
Flourish and grow, my mystical world, here you will ever belong
Son of my yearning, daughter of hope, beautiful child of my song
Although storms may descend, mountain and valley may quake
For the days that remain, this is the promise I make
No shadow falls across this land
Before the wind and fire I stand
And you, my child, will know no harm
Enfolded in my arms
Lothlórien


~ Now and for always ~
Sit by the firelight's glow
Tell us an old tale we know
Tell of adventures strange and rare
Never to change, ever to share
Stories we tell
Will cast their spell
Now and for always

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Go to London and WATCH IT!!!! IT'S AMAZING!!!, September 25, 2008

By	KDuff (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Seriously, though?! I cried. I cried because it was SO flipping beautiful. The music with the set constantly changing and the costumes and the actors taking on such a monolith, all the while this GORGEOUS music is swirling around you lifting your emotional response to what you are watching to a new height.... it seriously BLEW. ME. AWAY. Better than any new musical here in America, and I live in NYC so don't right me off thinking I've only seen one Broadway musical or something. Holy BeJESUS it is SO good.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, haunting, sentimental... , February 8, 2008

By	girl4film (CT, USA) - See all my reviews

I enjoyed much of the music from this (that I had heard on the website) before the CD had come out and before I saw the show. I have just seen the show - twice! I loved it so much I had to go back! And I am so happy the CD was finally released by the time I saw it!

It is a beautiful soundtrack with many moods... the genius is having a different sound for the hobbits vs. the elves and it really comes together nicely. Being both a massive musical theatre fan and a LOTR fan this satisfies me on both fronts. The singing is top notch with Laura Michelle Kelly particularly of note - you can listen to her sing Lothlorien on the lotr.com website. Also the moods of the music are exactly what I would picture fitting into Tolkien's middle earth. The CD also comes with a DVD version of the music set to a photo slideshow of the production which is a really nice way to watch it.

It does have a celtic and folk feel to it, so if you don't care for that sound (ie didn't care for the Enya video with the movies) you might not care for it as much... but if you come it with an open mind, I can't imagine anyone not appreciating it's beauty.