Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! (Complete original score)
9/15/2023, 33 Tracks, 1:39:44
Featuring
John Wilson
Nathaniel Hackmann
Sierra Boggess
Rodney Clarke
Jamie Parker
Louise Dearman
Sandra Marvin
Nadim Naaman
Leo Roberts
Juan Jackson
Will Richardson
Sejal Keshwala
Emma Kingston
Kelly Mathieson
Rebekah Lowings
Charlotte Kennedy
Ceili O'Connor
Danny Whitehead
Michael Colbourne
Freddie King
Sinfonia of London
Oklahoma! Ensemble
Richard Rodgers
Did you know?
1/7
Composition History
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! was originally titled Away We Go! but was renamed en route to Broadway after tryouts in New Haven and Boston.
Performer Biography
John Wilson, the conductor, first played drums for Oklahoma! at age fourteen for the Swalwell Operatic Society, which sparked his interest in original orchestrations of musicals.
Compositional Technique
Oklahoma! was revolutionary for creating the 'musical play' by building a coherent plot around three-dimensional characters whose thoughts drove the songs they sang, moving away from interchangeable numbers.
Compositional Technique
The dream ballet in Act I of Oklahoma!, choreographed by Agnes de Mille, was a game-changing element, depicting Laurey's fantasies and fears with intense musical and dramatic suspense.
Cultural Impact
Oklahoma! was an overnight sensation, running for over five years on Broadway and influencing Broadway musicals for almost two decades, setting a new standard for the 'musical play'.
Recording & Production
The recording was made to highlight the musical side of the musical with a full orchestra, without artificial enhancement or amplification, to remind listeners of the sound of actual voices.
Recording & Production
This recording of Oklahoma! aims for historical performance accuracy, using the exact line-up and number of instruments as the 1943 opening night, including period-appropriate instruments for the drummer and guitarist.
