Writing about Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration for VL-Online-1/02, I said: "Audiences adore him, critics hate him, but when Family Feud 2066 rolls around, I predict the survey will say that composer Andrew Lloyd Webber ranks with Lerner & Loewe and Rodgers & Hammerstein as one of the 20th century's musical theatre greats." Andrew Lloyd Webber: Masterpiece only further cements Webber's reputation, as an international cast backed by a 60-piece orchestra gather in Beijing's magnificent Great Hall of the People to perform a two-hour-plus set of instrumental medleys and hit songs from Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance, Whistle Down the Wind, and The Beautiful Game, as well as "Pie Jesu" from Requiem and "Friends for Life" (the 1992 Olympics theme). The combination British and Chinese cast is consistently good, with star turns by Elaine Page (Cats), Tony Vincent, Kris Phillips, and Sandy Lam. Standout songs include "Superstar," "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Memory," "Love Changes Everything," "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," "The Music of the Night," and "As If We Never Said Goodbye." Recorded in luminous Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, this sure to be popular disc features several extras, including the 37-minute "Backstage in Beijing" documentary "making of," and a fun a cappella version of "Music of the Night." Highly recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Masterpiece
(2001) 135 min. DVD: $24.98. Warner/Eagle Media (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 18, Issue 1
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Masterpiece
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