BWW CD Review: Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, which recently nabbed nine Tony nominations, has released its original Broadway cast recording.

The musical follows the classic story of Cinderella, a maid to her stepfamily who spends a romantic night out with the Prince that is cut short when the clock strikes midnight. Cinderella leaves the Prince with nothing but a glass slipper, leading him to conduct an extensive search for his mystery lady.

The story of Cinderella is a classic, and one that most know and can resonate with. The soundtrack to the show has a fairy tale feel to it with the passionate sounds of the prince, and the sweet, innocent sounds of the princess trying to find her way.

Laura Osnes shines in her role as Cinderella; it is no wonder why she nabbed a Tony nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. Her excitement evident in the track "When You're Driving Through the Moonlight," will make you fall in love with her, and put you under the same spell of hope that she is enchanted by.

Osnes' sound is ethereal, real, innocent, and lighthearted. She is exactly how you would expect Cinderella to sound. Her ballad "He was Tall," tells the story of her first impressions of the Prince, and how he swept her off her feet. The song is one that stands out and doesn't need to be listened to in the context of the show. It can be heard as a love song. Osnes truly sings like a princess, which is extremely fitting.

The tracks on the recording all reconstruct iconic moments in the beloved tale. Cinderella's dreaded house life is summarized in the beautiful "In my Little Corner," and the princess efforts to host a ball to find a suitable princess is captured in "The Prince Is Giving a Ball/Now Is the Time."

Victoria Clark is the voice behind the most exciting and upbeat song on the recording, "Impossible," which essentially is the number that is the equivalent to the Disney movie's number "Bippity Boppity Boo." The number introduces the fairy godmother, her magic ability, and her intentions of changing Cinderella's life.

The songs are heavy on dialogue but the fact we all know the story behind the musical makes this more of a perk than a downside to the recording. Listening to the soundtrack you know which scene is represented in the song, and that makes the recording the best way to relive the magic of not only the stage musical, but also the classic story itself.

The casting for this show is brilliant, for it is evident just on the recording how perfectly the voices suit the character. Santino Fontana really does sound like a prince, Laura Osnes a princess, and Victoria Clark a magical fairy godmother.

While "Stepsisters Lament," is exactly the type of number you would expect from the shallow and jealous evil stepsisters, only one of the two sings the tune. While Charlotte (Ann Harada) sings on the track, the other stepsister, Gabrielle (Marla Mindelle) is too nice to sing a song like this. Harada's nasally and wining sound is not annoying in the least. In fact, it is more entertaining as it is perfectly characteristic; making the tune fun to listen to.

The duet between Cinderella and The Prince is perfectly executed by Fontana and Osnes on the soundtrack. "Ten minutes ago," perfectly represents and concludes the Prince and Cinderella's feelings for one another that overwhelmed them that one faithful night they met. It sounds like a scene out of the movie - a perfect substitute for "So This is Love," the tune that plays in the background when the two meet in the Disney classic.

Sitting down and listening to this recording will ensure the reliving of the magic of the classic tale. You will feel transported into the ball and into the lives of the iconic characters of Cinderella, the fairy godmother, the evil stepsisters, and many more. This album is for those young at heart who have a connection with this classic we have all grown to know and love.

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (The Original Broadway Cast Recording) will be released by Ghostlight Records and made available for online purchase on May 7, and for CD purchase on June 4.

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