Nightingale: A New Musical - Original (1985) London Cast
Based on a Hans Christian Andersentale,Nightingaletells the story of a bird who sings so beautifully she becomes the prized possession of a Chinese emperor. (It's sort of a cross between Stephen Schwartz's"Meadowlark"andPacific Overtures, Stephen Sondheim's more serious presentation of Japan.) When the emperor receives a mechanical bird, however, he forgets the nightingale, until the mechanical one breaks down and he realizes his mistake. This release is a remastered and expanded reissue of the 1983 London cast recording, clocking in at a generous 79 minutes. The quasi-operatic score features a number of catchy if unremarkable tunes byCharles Strouse(who also provided lyrics, which he did not do forAnnieandBye, Bye Birdie). Clearly, though, the chief attraction here is the casting of a 22-year-oldSarah Brightmanin the title role, before she became Mrs.Andrew Lloyd Webber. Her character appears for less than half the CD, but fans will certainly enjoy hearing Brightman play a soaring, high-trilling bird.--David Horiuchi