Summer Song - Original London Cast [Cast Recording, Import, Original recording remastered]

David Hughes (Artist), Sally Ann Howes (Artist), Anton Dvorak (Composer), Eric Maschwitz (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Anton Dvorak, Eric Maschwitz
• Audio CD (January 8, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording, Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sepia
• ASIN: B000KQF7KC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,472 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

This tuneful score has been remastered for this CD release and includes 6 bonus tracks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sally Ann Howes shines with forgotten musical, February 11, 2008

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Summer Song - Original London Cast (Audio CD)

SUMMER SONG was a modest hit in London in 1956, starring Sally Ann Howes. It was loosely-based around a real-life incident during composer Anton Dvorak's visit to America.

Inspired by the sucess of "Song of Norway" and "Kismet" (which both featured scores lifted from pre-existing classical compositions); the music of SUMMER SONG was adapted from Dvorak themes, newly-orchestrated by Bernard Grun. Thank you, Sepia, for restoring another forgotten London musical to the catalogue!

The show's leading lady, Sally Ann Howes, was fast becoming one of the most popular talents on the London stage, having previously dazzled in productions of "Paint Your Wagon", "Bet Your Life" and "Romance in Candlelight" (all of which are available on other Sepia discs). Her romantic role of Karolka in SUMMER SONG gave her the lion's share of musical numbers, and she delivers them in her creamy, textured contralto/soprano voice beautifully. Partnering her is David Hughes, and their duets are fantastic. Playing the central role of Dvorak himself is the celebrated character actor Laurence Naismith; with the comical secondary romantic couple played by Bonita Primrose and Van Atkins.

Following a preview period at Manchester's Opera House in December of 1955, SUMMER SONG opened at London's Princes Theatre in February 1956, where it received good reviews, but shuttered after 148 performances.

There are indeed some gem-like numbers in this score. Inevitably though, the loveliest go to Miss Howes ("Just Around the Corner", "My Darling Karolka", "I'll Be Remembering", and the Title Song); but the score as a whole is charming. This is a more-than-worthy successor to the classically-adapted scores of "Kismet" and "Song of Norway".

For the long-awaited CD premiere of SUMMER SONG (restored from 78 rpm recordings), Sepia has filled out the remainder of the disc with bonus tracks, including rare cover singles featuring David Hughes and Edric Connor; plus an orchestral medley from SUMMER SONG performed by the Melachrino Orchestra.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MELODIES OF ANTON DVORAK IN LONDON STAGE MUSICAL, April 20, 2010

By 

Mack Hopkins Jr. (Seattle) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Summer Song - Original London Cast (Audio CD)

SUMMER SONG appeared on the stage in London in the mid 1950's, using Dvorak's melodies. A fictional accounting of Dvorak's stay in America while composing his 9th, the New World Symphony. A number of the characters could have been lifted from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma." And for those who appreciate R and H musicals, they will find SUMMER SONG just as joyful and memorable - and dated.