Who doesn’t love a boxset at Christmas? Well if you’re a fan of musicals you’ll love this brand new 3CD collection The Ultimate Musicals Experience. Featuring 60 of the best-loved and most memorable songs from legendary musical productions, the release is packed with hit after hit that you’ll likely know most of the words to. With West End ticket sales on the increase year-on-year, there’s no better time than to celebrate the fantastic music that is performed nightly on the stage.
The Ultimate Musicals Experience kicks off with Susan Boyle & Michael Crawford’s version of The Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera. All the greats of musical theatre are here including Elaine Paige, Michael Ball, Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Alfie Boe and Barbara Dickson to name a few.
Across the 3CDs there are plenty of highlights including Denise Van Outen’s rendition of Tell Me On A Sunday, Michael Ball’s Empty Chairs At Empty Tables from Les Miserables, and a live version of Cabaret by Liza Minelli from the musical of the same name. There are some selections from newer musicals too including the Shrek Cast with I’m A Believer, Constantine Maroulis with Waiting for a Girl Like You from Rock of Ages, and The Good Hair Days with You Can’t Stop The Beat from Hairsrpay.
The one complaint we’d have about this release is that some of the versions of the songs included are a bit questionable. These are by no means the definitive versions of these classic songs with Melanie C’s I Don’t Know How To Love Him from Jesus Christ Superstar standing out as a bit of an odd choice. With some many other female vocalists having tackled this song over the years we could list a few versions we’d rather hear.
That little gripe aside there’s plenty to enjoy about The Ultimate Musicals Experience. This collection is one that is most-likely suited to the older people in your family but it can also be enjoyed as a family. We don’t know what it is about musicals and Christmas but the two go hand in hand so perfectly. Make your Mum and Granny happy this Christmas by buying them this.
