Sweeney Todd Cast Recording Now Available on iTunes

By: Jan. 24, 2006
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Those with iTunes can now listen to the two-disc cast recording of the hit Sweeney Todd revival for $19.90.

The CDs were put on iTunes early; the cast recording itself is not slated to be released in stores until January 31st.  Released by Nonesuch Records, it is produced by Tommy Krasker and features new orchestrations by Sarah Travis (Jonathan Tunick provided the original ones). The track listing follows:

Disc 1
"The Ballad of Sweeney Todd"
"No Place Like London"
"The Worst Pies in London"
"Poor Thing"
"My Friends"
"The Ballad of Sweeney Todd"
"Green Finch and Linnet Bird"
"Ah, Miss"
"Johanna"
"Pirelli's Miracle Elixir"
"The Contest"
"The Ballad of Sweeney Todd"
"Johanna"
"Wait"
"Kiss Me"
"Ladies in Their Sensitivities"
"Kiss Me"

Disc 2
"Pretty Women"
"Epiphany"
"A Little Priest"
"God, That's Good!"
"Johanna"
"By the Sea"
"Not While I'm Around"
"The Judge's Return"
"The Ballad of Sweeney Todd"
 
 With Nonesuch and his own record label PS Classics, Krasker has previously captained six Sondheim recordings, including those of the revivals of Assassins, Pacific Overtures and a previous Sweeney Todd album featuring the New York Philharmonic.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, the razor-wielding show centers on a barber who seeks revenge upon the man who defiled his wife and stole his daughter. Sweeney hides his crimes with the help of the crafty Mrs. Lovett, who bakes "the worst pies in London" . The production features Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris (Assassins, Titanic) in the title role, Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone (Anything Goes, Evita) as Mrs. Lovett, Ben Magnuson as Anthony, Donna Lynne Champlin (By Jeeves) as Pirelli, Mark Jacoby (Show Boat) as Judge Turpin, John Arbo (Good Vibrations) as Jonas Fogg, Diana DiMarzio as the Beggar Woman, Manoel Felciano (Brooklyn) as Tobias Ragg, Alexander Gemignani (Assassins) as The Beadle, and Lauren Molina as Johanna. As it was at its smash run at London's Watermill Theatre (and later at the West End's New Ambassador Theatre), the high-concept, minimalist production is helmed and designed by John Doyle, who staged the show with the performers playing instruments, as well as with such accoutrements as nine chairs, a ladder and a white coffin.

Sweeney Todd also features music supervision by Travis (in addition to orchestrations), music direction by David Loud, lighting by Richard G. Jones, and sound by Dan Moses Schreier. To generally rave reviews, Sweeney Todd opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 W. 48th St.) on Thursday, November 3 following preview performances from Monday, October 3. Fidelity Investments, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, The Ambassador Theatre Group and Maidstone Productions are the show's producers.

The original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd opened at the Uris Theatre on March 1, 1979 with Angela Lansbury, Len Cariou and Victor Garber as stars. The ingeniously-staged production, which was the last of director Hal Prince's five great 70's collaborations with Stephen Sondheim, received 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical. A simplified production starring Bob Gunton and Beth Fowler ran at the Circle in the Square Theatre in 1989, and was dubbed Teeny Todd. A film version, directed by Sam Mendes, is currently in the works.

 Tickets for Sweeney Todd can be ordered by calling (212) 239-6200 or at the show's website, www.sweeneytoddonbroadway.com. For more information on the cast recording, visit www.nonesuch.com or for more on iTunes, www.itunes.com.




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