DISC
ONE |
1 |
Prologue
|
2 |
The Coney Island Waltz |
3 |
That's the place you ruined, you fool |
4 |
A
Little Slice of Heaven
|
5 |
Only
For Him / Only For You
|
6 |
The Aerie |
| 7 |
Til
I Hear You Sing
|
8 |
Giry
Confronts The Phantom / Are you Ready to Begin
|
9 |
Christine
Disembarks |
10 |
Arrival
of the Trio / Are You Ready to Begin
|
11 |
What
A Dreadful Town |
12 |
Look
With Your Heart |
13 |
Beneath
A Moonless Sky |
14 |
Once
Upon Another Time |
15 |
Mother
please, I'm scared |
16 |
Dear
Old Friend |
17 |
Beautiful
|
18 |
The
Beauty Underneath |
19 |
The
Phantom confronts Christine |
DISC
TWO |
1 |
Entr'acte
|
2 |
Why
Does She Love Me |
3 |
Devil
Take The Hindmost |
4 |
A
Little Slice of Heaven (Reprise) |
5 |
Ladies...
/ The Coney Island Waltz (Reprise) |
6 |
Bathing
Beauty |
7 |
Mother,
did you watch? |
8 |
Before
The Performance |
9 |
Devil
Take The Hindmost (Quartet) |
10 |
Love Never Dies |
11 |
Ah,
Christine! |
12 |
Gustave!
Gustave! |
13 |
Please,Miss
Giry, I want to go back... |
SOUNDTRACK REVIEW:
How will anyone manage a sequel to the most popular and most seen musical ever? How will anyone manage a sequel to one of the longest-running musicals in history since 1986? How will anyone manage a sequel to a musical which has been considered as one of the most successful entertainment projects in history? If there’s anyone who can do this, it has to be a certain music maestro named Andrew Lloyd Webber, who gave the world the phenomenal The Phantom of the Opera.
Love Never Dies takes place a decade after the first musical, and Christine is invited to perform at a popular beach resort in Coney Island, by an mysterious impresario. She goes with her husband Raoul and son Gustave, unaware that it is the Phantom who has arranged her appearance.
If the abovementioned names do not ring a bell to you, there is a chance you won’t be anticipating this soundtrack with bated breath. But trust us, every self respected music fan on this planet should give this album a listen, and for that matter, give the original soundtrack a spin too (no, the CD for Joel Schumacher’s movie adaptation featuring, gasp, Gerard Butler, doesn’t count).
Call it a marketing ploy to bank on somethng so successful it can’t be surpassed, but we are telling you that Lloyd Webber is on top form here with his varied compositions in this double disc soundtrack. You know the famed composer still has got what it takes when he tells an affecting story with the 32 tracks contained on this must own album.
What’s more, this special Asia edition features the Mandarin and Korean versions of the titular song performed by renowned sopranos Zhang Liping and Sumi Jo respectively.
The 69 minute Disc One kicks off the musical journey with “Prologue”, setting the mood for the seemingly sunny adventure that takes place on Coney Island. This paves the way for the polka fun filled “The Coney Island Waltz”, a cue which captures the holiday atmosphere perfectly. From here, Lloyd Webber begins to tell an intriguing tale of love and mystery. “’Til I Hear You Sing”, the first single from the musical, is a poetically heartbreaking tune performed by the Phantom played by Ramin Karimloo. Pitch perfect, we say.
The drama and tension continues with tracks like “Look with Your Heart”, “Beneath a Moonless Sky”, “Dear Old Friend” and “ Beautiful”. Lush orchestrations accompanied by top notch vocals portray the heightened emotions of the different characters in the story.
The 74 minute Disc Two is a continuation of the wonderful dramatic setup heard in Disc One. After revisting the main themes in “Entr’acte”, we are treated to more captivating music in cues like “Why Does She Love Me?”, “Devil Take the Hindmost” and “Before the Performance” before a painfully beautiful solo “Love Never Dies” performed by Christine played by Sierra Boggess. As the fascinatingly tragic love story continues, listeners will be led towards a poignantly heartrending finale in “Please Miss Giry, I Want to Go Back…”.
Those familiar with the first musical will identify with certain lyrics and themes in this equally affecting sequel. Those who are first timers with Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece will have no problem identifying with its universal portrayal of that feeling called love. And as straightforward as the title sounds (that goes for the plot too – this much we are telling without giving away spoilers before this production reaches our sunny island), we must concur: Love Never Dies.
ALBUM
RATING:
  
Recommended Track: Disc One (7) ‘Til I Hear You Sing
Review
by John Li
Posted on 20 March 2010
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