Blickpunkt Musical’s CD of the Month -
Frank Wildhorn – The Symphonic Suites
Vienna Independent Orchestra
In recent years, Frank Wildhorn has clearly developed a growing passion for working with large orchestras in the crossover genre between classical and musical theatre. Following his first two symphonies (a third is complete and was recently recorded in Vienna), HitSquad Records, on their sub-label Prestige Classics Vienna, now presents an album of four suites from Wildhorn's musicals. Koen Schoots, one of the composer's closest musical collaborators for almost thirty years, conducts the "Vienna Independent Orchestra," a specially assembled ensemble comprised of 60 (!) members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra—a selection from two of the world's finest orchestras. Frank Wildhorn's producer and patron, Walter Feucht, who was instrumental in the creation of the Danube and Odessa Symphonies, is once again the driving force behind this bridge between musical worlds.
Similar projects have been undertaken with works by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Claude-Michel Schoenberg. This album emphatically demonstrates that Frank Wildhorn's compositions are also ideally suited to symphonic suites, in which, without vocals or lyrics, the instruments alone carry the melodies and tell the story. It begins with "Dracula," which has been a staple of the repertoire of German-speaking theaters for many years. The dark, romantic melodies are magnificently showcased in Koen Schoots' orchestration (who arranged three of the suites collected here; Kim Scharnberg was responsible for "Jekyll & Hyde") and, in this 20-minute condensed version, clearly demonstrate that this score belongs among Wildhorn's finest works.
That the composer's "mega-hit" also receives symphonic treatment here was no surprise, as "Jekyll & Hyde" is not only Frank Wildhorn's most famous musical by far, but also, according to widespread opinion, one of his most successful scores. All the beloved melodies are naturally also found in the symphonic suite and illustrate the hauntingly beautiful plot, in the best tradition of classical program music or tone poems, as they became particularly fashionable in the late Romantic period.
Surprisingly, one of Frank Wildhorn's most recent stage works, "Einstein – A Matter Of Time," is also included on this album. A welcome opportunity to revisit this score. Arranger Koen Schoots has done an outstanding job here as well: when order emerges from dissonant chaos in the opening minutes, culminating in a captivating violin solo, it feels like a musical interpretation of Albert Einstein's physics research. In fact, the suite makes one want to pull the cast recording of the St. Gallen premiere off the shelf again.
Finally, "Artus – Excalibur" takes us into the world of fantasy and the Middle Ages. This condensed version of the score, measuring just over 18 minutes, clearly demonstrates how much successful and orchestral-worthy music is contained in this work, which, amidst all of Wildhorn's musicals, has so far (at least for this reviewer) been somewhat overlooked. In general, this album serves as a reminder of what Frank Wildhorn does best: writing grand melodies that are perfectly suited for emotional moments on stage, but (as can be heard here) at least as well for interpretation with a full orchestra. Perhaps we can therefore hope for a sequel; with "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "Rudolf – The Last Kiss," or "The Count of Monte Cristo," several shows immediately spring to mind that would lend themselves to such a symphonic treatment.
Conclusion: A successful symphonic arrangement of great musical melodies.
4 titles
74:10 min
CD in digipak with 20-page booklet including credits, liner notes, biographies and photos
Tracklist:
01. Dracula
02. Jekyll & Hyde
03. Einstein – A Matter Of Time
04. Arthur – Excalibur
Blickpunkt Musical CD OF THE MONTH
Frank Wildhorn's The Symphonic Suites
Featuring the Vienna Independent Orchestra
“This album serves as a reminder of what Frank Wildhorn does best: writing grand melodies that are perfectly suited for emotional moments on stage, but (as can be heard here) at least as well for interpretation with a full orchestra.”
“ A successful symphonic arrangement of great musical melodies.”.
Idea & Realization: WALTER FEUCHT
Produced by MARTIN BÖHM & LUDWIG COSS for Hitsquad Records & WALTER FEUCHT
Music: FRANK WILDHORN
Conductor: KOEN SCHOOTS
Dracula:
Composer: FRANK WILDHORN
Arrangements & Orchestration: KOEN SCHOOTS
Jekyll & Hyde:
Composer: FRANK WILDHORN
Arrangements & Orchestration: KIM SCHARNBERG
Einstein - A Matter of Time:
Composer: FRANK WILDHORN
Arrangements & Orchestration: KOEN SCHOOTS
Artus- XCalibur
Composer: FRANK WILDHORN
Arrangement & Orchestration: KOEN SCHOOTS
Executive Producer: WALTER FEUCHT, MARTIN BÖHM, MICHAEL STARINGER
VIENNA INDEPENDENT ORCHESTRA