Rating: ★★★★
Release Date: 1st November 2024 (early link provided to review)
Warner Music Group’s ARTS MUSIC and SING IT AGAIN RECORDS announce the release of Talking Hadestown, a sixteen-part, digital words-and-music experience where Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer Anaïs Mitchell takes listeners through the inspirations, concepts and creative processes that lie behind the key songs from the Tony Award-winning “Best Musical.” The full recording is available for streaming and download from all major music services today, Friday, November 1, the fifth anniversary of the release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording. In addition to Mitchell’s commentary, the album includes excerpts from the original album.
Hadestown is a musical that has had a long journey to Broadway and the West End, writer Anaïs Mitchell takes us on the ‘Road to Hell’ with this new release giving us an insight to her process of writing the show.
Over 16 key tracks we are let into the world of Hadestown and learn so much about the process of putting this Tony Award winning show together. Anaïs speaks wonderfully about each song, you can hear the passion and love she has for the story of Orpheus, Eurydice, Persephone and Hades.
I don’t want to give too much away here, so will give some small highlights from the collection. This feels like an honor to be able to hear the stories behind these songs, in particular I enjoyed how 'Road To Hell' was a late addition to the piece, only coming to the party as part of the Off-Broadway run of the show. We learn that it is inspired by the ‘Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812’ prologue in which the characters introduce themselves and agree to embark on the journey in front of them.
I found it so interesting to learn that ‘If it’s True’ was initially a solo for Orpheus but once the workers vocals were added it gained a whole new depth and power. My personal favourite song from the show is ‘Our Lady of the Underground’, Anaïs shares with us the joy she holds in being able to showcase the band of the show, giving them their moment to shine.
This is a must listen album for anyone; Hadestown fan or aspiring writer, it feels special and like we are being let in on secrets from the Underworld. It’s a joy to learn of the creative process of what is an incredible show, there are surprises throughout the album which brought new feelings to what are already powerful songs. Though not every song featured in the show is featured here so I do have hope for a future release with some more brilliant stories on it!
You can download and stream Talking Hadestown, here.
Review by Rosie
No comments