Light Princess [Original Cast Recording]

Personnel: Clive Rowe, Amy Booth Steel, Landi Oshinowo, David Langham, C.J. Johnson, Malinda Parris, Rosalie Craig, Hal Fowler, Adam Pearce , Caspar Phillipson, Luke Johnson , Ben Thompson , Phoebe Street, Laura Pitt-Pulford , Nick Hendrix, Vivien Carter, James Charlton, Jamie Muscato, Kane Oliver Parry, Tommy Luther, Owain Gwynn, Stephanie Bron, Nicola Hart, Richard Lowe , Nino Silva, Jamie Lowe (vocals); Debbie Preece, Patrick Savage, Rolf Wilson, Joan Martinez, Daniel Bhattacharya, Douglas Harrison (violin); Caroline Dale (cello); Anna Stokes (alto flute); Sarah Thurlow (clarinet); Nicola Hands (oboe); Lois Au (bassoon); Katherine Rockhill (piano); Tori Amos (Hammond b-3 organ); Tom Brady (keyboards); Mary Scully (double bass); Mark Hawley (drums, programming); Philip Anthony (drums); Phij Adams (keyboard programming).
Audio Mixers: Marcel VanLimbeek; Mark Hawley.
Recording information: Cornwall and British Groove Studios, London, UK; Martian Engineering Ltd, Cornwall, England; National Theatre Studio.
Based on the 1864 fairy tale by Scotsman George MacDonald, itself inspired by Sleeping Beauty, the 2015 stage musical The Light Princess tells of a grief-stricken princess in a state of perpetual weightlessness until she's grounded by love. The musical's tunes were written by beloved alt-singer/songwriter Tori Amos, with a book by playwright/screenwriter Samuel Adamson, and lyrics by the pair. The Light Princess premiered at London's Royal National Theatre in October 2013, and the cast recording was made over the course of several months in 2014 and produced by Amos. It features lead actors Rosalie Craig and Nick Hendrix, over 30 songs, and two bonus performances of songs from the show by the songwriter herself ("Highness in the Sky" and "Darkest Hour"). Arranged for a classical ensemble including harpsichord, strings, and woodwinds, the sweeping music bears Amos' quirky and melancholic melodic manner while remaining firmly in the realm of operatic-leaning musical theater. ~ Marcy Donelson