Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) Music and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) Lyrics: Carousel (Complete Original Score, Acts 1 and 2 (1945)

A bit off my normal beaten track, but a little labor of love since I have had a soft spot for several of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals since quite a young age. The cast and orchestral forces and conductor are well tried and trusted in this repertoire, having released a highly successful release of Oklahoma! almost exactly a year ago. It's quite a change from my typical music I listen to by choice, Shostakovich, Britten, Ravel, Mahler, Berg, and yet it's easy-on-the-ears melodies reflect a similarly high standard of composition, if not the same intellectual depth. It is music of simple and direct pleasure. After a while I need the substance in those mainstream 'serious' composers, but as a wonderfully sweet, sentimental moment of emotional repose, it hits the spot perfectly.

This is the complete score, so be aware this includes the dialogue as well as the songs and thus is really like being in the theatre hearing everything. This dialogue between the songs is simplistic of course, just sewing together the spindly plot, but like many an opera, the songs/arias it knits together are full of strong melodies. Everything is in English, so no surtitles or subtitles needed here, easy to follow by just sitting back and listening.

John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London perform the score to the manner born, they really have quite a broad repertoire (I have enjoyed their Ravel Daphnis for example). The forces here are recorded nicely clear and close, with a theatre type ambiance, and the singers perform the songs like the expert musical theatre artists (soloists and chorus) they are.

Some highlights include the nicely bouncy Prologue with the reminder of the delicious melodies to come, and the big numbers like duet 'If I loved You' and the choir led 'June is bustin out all over'. In Act 2, the rendition of 'You'll never walk alone' is emotionally compelling, and for any fans of English soccer it cannot be heard without thinking of Liverpool FC, it has become their song now after all, following the version by 1960's British Invasion group 'Gerry and the Pacemakers'. It is a mark of the very broad appeal of both music and lyrics of these great masters of popular music theatre. Social attitudes implicit in the plot are very much of their age, so can sound uncomfortably out of date nowadays, so some suspension of disbelief is needed, however that applies to much art of a past age.

So, in summary, a great time had by all, and if you have any interest in the work, this release presents the score and words in a masterful and confident manner. The tunes just come one after another, all a very high standard, and if the work has limited profundity, then I doubt that was ever the intention. It leaves the listener in an upbeat and happy mood, their sweet melody tooth fully satisfied. That's no minor achievement.