Chess In Concert: Chess In ConcertChess In Concert: Chess In ConcertChess In Concert: Chess In Concert
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Tiffany Davis
- The Chess in Concert Company
- (as Tiffany Graves)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIdina Menzel and Adam Pascal worked together as two of the original broadway cast of Rent.
- Quotes
Anatoly Sergievsky: [singing] How could I leave her? Where would I start? Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart. My lands only borders lie around my heart!
- ConnectionsFeatured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Songs From Theatre Musicals (2015)
- SoundtracksPrologue
Written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson
Performed by The City of London Philharmonic Orchestra
Featured review
Outdated show but brilliantly performed
A show which pits the US against the USSR obviously means less now than it used to, and that is perhaps the weakness of this musical - however, the lyrics of Tim Rice and music by Bjorn and Benny from ABBA are still excellent, and that is its biggest strength.
Filmed live at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in May 2008, this concert version of Chess presents a largely American cast to fill the difficult singing roles. Adam Pascal as Freddie and Idina Menkel as Florence are probably best known for their appearance in Jonathan Larson's Rent; Josh Groban is a pop-opera singer and here plays Anatoly, while Kerry Ellis from Wicked is Svetlana. Rounding out the cast are Clarke Peters as a TV anchorman with an agenda, David Bedella as Anatoly's KGB second, and Marti Pellow of Wet Wet Wet as the Arbiter.
Is the music good? Definitely. Are the roles performed well? Yes, although Idina Menkel isn't really my taste, too shrill and too much face-pulling. Groban and Pascal are a revelation in their respective roles - although they will not displace memories of Tommy Korberg and Murray Head from the 1984 concept album of the show.
Semi-staged with modern dance routines and some lively singing from the choir, this version of Chess should please fans old and new, or anyone who loves musicals.
Filmed live at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in May 2008, this concert version of Chess presents a largely American cast to fill the difficult singing roles. Adam Pascal as Freddie and Idina Menkel as Florence are probably best known for their appearance in Jonathan Larson's Rent; Josh Groban is a pop-opera singer and here plays Anatoly, while Kerry Ellis from Wicked is Svetlana. Rounding out the cast are Clarke Peters as a TV anchorman with an agenda, David Bedella as Anatoly's KGB second, and Marti Pellow of Wet Wet Wet as the Arbiter.
Is the music good? Definitely. Are the roles performed well? Yes, although Idina Menkel isn't really my taste, too shrill and too much face-pulling. Groban and Pascal are a revelation in their respective roles - although they will not displace memories of Tommy Korberg and Murray Head from the 1984 concept album of the show.
Semi-staged with modern dance routines and some lively singing from the choir, this version of Chess should please fans old and new, or anyone who loves musicals.
helpful•51
- didi-5
- Jan 3, 2010
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