CHESS IN CONCERT
CHESS,
the Benny Andersson/Tim Rice/Björn Ulvaeus musical, has had a chequered
history over the past 25 years. First a concept album in 1984, then on to
success on the West End stage in 1986, a troubled production cut short on
Broadway in 1988, and an ever-evolving show in professional,
semi-professional and amateur productions and concert versions in the years
since, including a complete overhaul by composers Andersson and Ulvaeus for
the Swedish production in 2002 (CHESS på svenska). Songs, characters,
motives and plotlines have been changed, moved, added and subtracted. Lyricist Tim Rice has
written that over the past 20 years he had seen dozens of productions and no
two have been the same.
On May 12 and 13 2008 Rice introduced what he hopes to become the definitive version of CHESS in a concert version at London's Royal Albert Hall.
CHESS IN CONCERT has now been released on CD and DVD. The all star cast includes Josh Groban (popular American baritone) as the Russian player Anatoly Sergievsky; Idina Menzel (Wicked on Broadway) as Florence Vassy, Freddie's second and eventually Anatoly's lover; Adam Pascal (Rent on Broadway and film) as the American player Freddie Trumper; Kerry Ellis (Wicked and We Will Rock You in London's West End) as Anatoly's wife Svetlana; Clarke Peters (West End musical theatre, TV and film veteran) as Walter de Courcey; David Bedella (Jerry Springer - The Opera, West End) as Alexander Molokov, Anatoly's advisor and minder; and Marti Pellow (lead singer from British band Wet Wet Wet) as The Arbiter. Also featured are vocal group Cantabile (for 'Embassy Lament'), the CHESS Company of 30 singers and dancers, the 100-strong West End Chorus, rock band and the City of London Philharmonic.
Tim Rice, along with concert director Hugh Wooldridge, returned to the original concept album as a basis for this concert version, incorporating some songs and changes that had been added for the London and New York productions, but not several new songs that had been added for the 2002 Swedish version. The story has been rejigged into a period piece, with Act One set in Merano in 1979, and Act Two in Bangkok in 1980.
The concert includes some lines of dialogue, minimal acting between the lead characters, with action spread across the main stage and a raised platform behind the orchestra. A screen behind the stage projected scene-setting images and titles, and occasional song lyrics. The choir even joins in the action with some choreography and props. This CHESS IN CONCERT is probably the most complete and coherent version of CHESS staged so far.
Rather than copying past performances each of the principles is strong enough to make the roles their own, particularly Josh Groban (who now owns 'Anthem' alongside Tommy Körberg) and Adam Pascal, who makes Freddie detestable yet sympathetic, and does one of the best-ever performances of 'Pity The Child'. Idina Menzel adds new dimensions to Florence, but Kerry Ellis as Svetlana seems sadly underused, despite being given the song 'Someone Else's Story', which was originally sung by Florence in the Broadway version. Their version of 'I Know Him So Well' equals if not betters the original.
The supporting cast deserve to be singled out, particularly David Bedella, who is just as much a presence here as he was in Jerry Springer - The Opera a few years ago, and Marti Pellow's expanded role of The Arbiter casts his all-seeing eyes over the interactions of the players in Act Two.
Fans familiar with the original 1984 album may find some of the performances grating and the changes to format and lyrics strange and confusing, but with repeated listens, or especially viewings of the DVD, this version does grow on the listener.
CHESS has been recorded for posterity several times before - first the original concept double album in 1984 (also subject of a making of documentary and TV film of the launching concert tour) which yielded several hit singles; the Broadway cast album of 1988; a Swedish concert version (in English) in 1994; an unauthorised Danish production (also in English) claiming to include the full score for the first time; and CHESS på svenska in 2002, also filmed for DVD. This time maybe they've finally got it right.
CHESS IN CONCERT is now available on Warner Reprise in the USA on double CD, single "Highlights from ..." CD, and full length DVD.
A limited edition double CD/DVD pack plus full-colour booklet, sheet music for 'Anthem' and 'I Know Him So Well', and MP3 download is available exclusively from Warner Bros. Records, Josh Groban.com or Idina Menzel.com.
The double CD, single CD and DVD will be released in the UK on 14 September 2009.
16 August 2009. CD/DVD pack supplied by Cinemedia Promotions. Thanks to Noble PR for further information. See also Chess in Concert.
Win CHESS IN CONCERT CDs and DVDs.
For articles and reviews of other CHESS releases and productions see the Years section.
