Albums: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel World Première Complete Recording

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel World Première Complete Recording

Nathaniel Hackmann, Mikaela Bennett, Sierra Boggess, Julian Ovenden, Francesca Chiejina, David Seadon-Young, Carousel Ensemble

Sinfonia of London
John Wilson

Chandos CHSA 5342(2)
chandos.net

John Wilson and his London Sinfonia treated us to Oklahoma last September; a year later, the Chandos team once again regaled us with a world première recording of the complete score, which features every note of music played at the first Broadway performance in the full 35-piece orchestration that Don Walker created for the original production.

The cast in this enjoyable listen brings to life the story of a bustling carnival that enlivens a small fishing village on the rocky New England coastline. In May 1873, worker Billy Bigelow, a carousel barker, and “A bum—with no money!” meets millworker Julie Jordan, who is there with her friend Carrie Pipperidge. Bigelow participates in a robbery to provide support for Jordan and their unborn child. Despite the tragic outcome, Bigelow is given a chance to make the right decision. The naive Pipperidge's story also unfolds with fisherman Enoch Snow, with whom she falls in love.

There are, of course, the well-known songsJune is Bustin' Out All Over, When the Children Are Asleep, What's the Use of Wond'rin?, and You’ll Never Walk Alone. As John Wilson points out in a short interview in the accompanying booklet, so much of it has never been recorded before. There are several dance sequences, including a hornpipe, a dance for the girls, the entr'acte and the entire ballet, in addition to the essential underscoring for dramatic moments.

Nathaniel Hackmann (Billy Bigelow), Mikaela Bennett (Julie Jordan), Sierra Boggess (Carrie Pipperidge), and Julian Ovenden (Enoch Snow) lead a stupendous cast in a first-class production, as one would expect from this musical team. It also features Francesca Chiejina (Nettie Fowler) and David Seadon-Young (Jigger Craigin).

The Carousel Ensemble, a group of 24 young singers currently performing on stages across London's West End, sings the extensive chorus material.

Trenchant playing from the Sinfonia of London, with impressive attention to detail all elegantly performed in a disc that will delight. 

Carousel is Rodgers & Hammerstein’s greatest achievement. In it, Rodgers manages to create a score with operatic aspirations and dimensions. Everything in the score serves a dramatic purpose. Even in its texture, you can hear orchestral effects that are there to underline the drama’s emotions, whether that’s unease, joy, or whatever. The drama is amplified by what's happening in the music.