[.ca] Camelot: Highlights from the 1982 London Cast Production

good recording; Fiona Fullerton is a thrilling Guenevere:
CAMELOT was revived in London in 1982 with Richard Harris reprising his role of Arthur from the 1967 movie version of the musical. Fiona Fullerton played the troubled Guenevere and Robert Meadmore essayed the role of the dashing Lancelot. This album presents 'highlights' from the 1982 London revival (there is a higher-priced album on the JAY label, but I have never heard it). What you get here is all the main numbers from the show, with some fantastic performances from the leads. Richard Harris had honed and refined his performance as Arthur since appearing in the movie version, and seems more comfortable with the songs here. Fiona Fullerton perfectly brings to life the flirty, naive Guenevere of the early scenes though copes less well with the shattered character of the final scene. Robert Meadmore brings a thrilling voice to Lancelot, and the cast also features Claire Moore (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) as Nimue, Robin Bailey as Pellinore, Michael Howe as Mordred and William Squire as Merlyn. A fine addition to your collection. \oMADACY/SHOWTIME M-2-0763\c

Lerner & Loewe's Last:
After MY FAIR LADY and the Academy Award-winning GIGI, what was left to Lerner & Loewe but have a failure? Well, CAMELOT wasn't a failure...quite, but it did open to decidedly cool reviews. Luckily, the box office advance of over $3 million could keep it going its first few months, at which time, in an unprecedented marketing gamble, a large chunk was shown on the ED SULLIVAN SHOW. The next day there were queues at the Box Office. CAMELOT was blessed with three particular glories. The first was the beautiful, at times achingly, melodic score, Frederick Loewe wrote, matched by Lerner's lyrics, never more romantic or full of longing. The second was the presence of Richard Burton who brought acting ability only rarely seen in a musical. And the third was, of course, the star of Julie Andrews, who by this time (and under Moss Hart's impeccable tutelage) had matured into a thoroughly winning, if not always charismatic, leading lady. Its problem, however, was that old thorn in Alan Jay Lerner's side: The Book. Without the "pre-fabrication" of Shaw's PYGMALION that he'd enjoyed in writing MY FAIR LADY, Lerner floundered and it showed in the dramatically weak script. Over-riding everything, however, was the simple fact that the story was, in the end, a sad one - not a recipe for mega runs on Broadway then. Still, it played over two years, and received recordings around the world. It's represented best on this album, though the score is truncated as was necessary to fit the original LP. You know you're in the hands of melodic genius when very near the start of the overture the beguiling strains of "If Ever I Would Leave You" are heard. And with numbers like the title song and "What Do The Simple Folk Do?" as well as "I Loved You Once In Silence" and "How To Handle A Woman" you're spoilt for riches. Lerner & Loewe broke up after CAMELOT. If only they hadn't.

Brilliant Broadway score superbly recorded:
The Video Hound review printed here is so complete that I have very little to add other than when one listens to the Original Cast Recording it should be remembered that the Kennedy administration embraced the show and its ideals and that those of us who lived through those golden Camelot days - the last days of innocence since the end of WW II which were to be shattered by the Kennedy assassination - find a magic, a beauty, a golden glow in the sounds of this album, which more than any other in Broadway history, stood for something more than mere entertainment. A must for every CD collector.

Beautiful score marred only by Fullerton's harsh soprano:
Camelot will always remain one of my favourite musicals. It has depth in the score, which develops from the beginning like a beautiful piece of classical music, with leit motifs and developments throughout the musical numbers. Lerner and Loewe excelled themselves with the artistry of this production, despite the problems that the original production encountered. This recording does the score justic, with Richard Harris providing a good characterisation of Arthur and Robert Meadmore's well-sung Lancelot. Unfortuneatly, Fiona Fullerton, who completes the eternal triangle as Guenevere has a harsh quality to her soprano that is slightly uncomfortable on the ear. This show is a must in any serious musical collection, but my recommendation would be the original Broadway cast, with Julie Andrews' heartachingly beautiful Guenevere and Richard Burton as a definitely definitive Arthur.

• Overture - David Bexon
• I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight? - Richard Harris
• Simple Joys of Maidenhood - Fiona Fullerton
• Camelot - Fiona Fullerton, Richard Harris
• Follow Me - Claire Moore
• C'Est Moi - Robert Meadmore
• Lusty Month of May - Fiona Fullerton,
• How to Handle a Woman - Richard Harris
• Before I Gaze at You Again - Fiona Fullerton
• If Ever I Would Leave You - Robert Meadmore
• What Do the Simple Folk Do? - Fiona Fullerton, Richard Harris
• I Loved You Once in Silence - Fiona Fullerton