As the November 8 UK opening of Lazarus at London’s King Cross Theatre approaches, the cast and band of the original New York production will release their versions of the David Bowie songs from the show as the Lazarus Cast Album October 21 on ISO / Columbia Records. The album will be available for pre-order September 16 with all orders receiving instant downloads of the cast versions of “Life On Mars?” (sung by Sophia Anne Caruso) and the title track (sung by Michael C. Hall).
Standing alongside the cast’s interpretations of classics from his canon are the three final David Bowie studio recordings. Co-produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti and recorded with Donny McCaslin and his quartet, the same band that played on Bowie’s ★ album, these last three songs — “No Plan,” “Killing A Little Time,” “When I Met You”— bring completely new dimensions to their cast counterparts. The original ★ version of “Lazarus” is also included on the cast album.
The ★ album has been shortlisted for the 2016 Mercury Prize and as part of the awards ceremony on September 15 Michael C. Hall will be performing the song “Lazarus” with Henry Hey and the Lazarus house band. The show will be broadcast live from the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith on BBC 4 and BBC Radio 6 Music.
Macintosh HD:Users:nastymac:Desktop:20160906_Lazarus_CD cover.jpegThe Lazarus cast album was produced by the show’s musical director Henry Hey, who had previously worked with Bowie on “The Next Day” and features vocals from Hall, Caruso, Cristin Miloti, Michael Esper and other cast members backed by the seven-piece house band Hey assembled for the New York run. The album was recorded January 11, 2016. Upon arriving at the studio, the musicians and cast were shocked and saddened to learn that Bowie had passed away the evening before. Their emotional performances that day are captured on this recording.
The distinctive artwork for the Lazarus cast recording has been designed by Jonathan Barnbrook who also worked with Bowie on the ★, The Next Day, Heathen and Nothing Has Changed albums.
Written by Bowie and Enda Walsh, directed by Ivo Van Hove and produced by Robert Fox, Lazarus opened December 7, 2015 at the New York Theatre Workshop to great critical acclaim. The New York Times raved “Ice-cold bolts of ecstasy shoot like novas through the glamorous muddle and murk of Lazarus, the great-sounding, great-looking and mind-numbing new musical built around songs by David Bowie,” while Rolling Stone hailed it as a “Surrealistic Tour de Force… milk-swimming, lingerie-sniffing, gin-chugging theater at its finest.”
Op 21 Oktober aanstaande – en in afwachting van de Europse theater premiere op 8 november in London - verschijnt het Lazarus Cast Album (via ISO / Columbia Records). Deze opnames werden gemaakt met de cast en de band van de originele “Lazarus” theater-productie in New York (olv van regisseur Ivo Van Hove). Wie het album vanaf 16/09 - voorbestelt krijgt meteen instant downloads mee van de cast versions “Life On Mars?” (door Sophia Anne Caruso) en titel track “Lazarus” (door Michael C. Hall).
De songs van het theaterstuk zijn stuk voor stuk classics uit het repertoire van Bowie en een paar nieuwe nummers geschreven voor het stuk. Het album wordt daarenboven aangevuld met drie van deze nummers uitgevoerd door Bowie – en onuitgegeven - tevens de laatste studio opnames die hij ooit gemaakt heeft. In een Co-productie van Bowie en Tony Visconti en opgenomen met Donny McCaslin’s quartet, dezelfde ploeg dus als op Bowie’s ★ (Blackstar) album. Deze drie Laatste nummers— “No Plan,” “Killing A Little Time,” “When I Met You”— voegen een geheel nieuwe dimensie toe aan de cast uitvoeringen ervan. Photo by: Jimmy King
Ps Het ★ album is genomineerd voor een 2016 Mercury Prize, en tijdens de ceremonie op 15 September zal Michael C. Hall “Lazarus” live uitvoeren met de Lazarus house band. (te zien op BBC 4 en BBC Radio 6 Music).
PPs De Europese premiere van Lazarus vindt plaats op 8 November in het Londonse King Cross Theatre.
