Kismet First Complete Recording Double CD

Music and Lyrics by
Robert Wright and George Forrest
Based on themes of
Alexander Borodin
Book by
Charles Lederer and Luther Davis
Founded on 'Kismet' by
Edward Knoblock
Orchestrations by
Arthur Kay
CAST
Valerie Masterson
Donald Maxwell
David Rendall
Richard Van Allan
Rosemary Ashe
Edmund Barnham
Bonaventura Bottone
Bruce Hubbard
Judy Kaye
Ambrosian Chorus
The Philharmonia Orchestra
conducted by
John Owen Edwards
Kismet is based on a play by Edward Koblock, first performed in 1911 and made into a film with Marlene Dietrich in the 1940s. Wright and Forrest have created a modern operetta classic in adapting virtually every usable piece of music written by the composer Alexander Borodin, most notably from the opera PRINCE IGOR. Tempos have been changed, lyrics have been incorporated, and a wealth of new music has been composed to fashion such lovely standards as STRANGER IN PARADISE and BAUBLES, BANGLES AND BEADS.
The first Broadway production opened at the Ziegfield Theater in December 1953 having originated on the West Coast with Edwin Lesters famous company. Alfred Drake played the role of Hajj, and Doretta Morrow his daughter Marsinah. It ran for 583 performances. It was made into a film by MGM in 1956, directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Ann Blyth and Howard.
Through hundreds of revivals, touring and amateur productions, and literally hundreds of recordings by artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra and, most recently, Valerie Masterson, et al, KISMET has earned a permanent place in the publics heart.
 
Hit songs include:
Stranger In Paradise
Baubles, Bangles and Beads
And This Is My Beloved

Tracklist
1. Overture -- Orchestra (2:49)
2. Sands of Time -- Bonaventura Bottone, Harry Nicoll, Gerard O'Beirne, Philip Griffiths, Edward Byles (4:02)
3. Rhymes Have I -- Donald Maxwell, Stifyn Parri, Valerie Masterson (3:44)
4. Fate -- Donald Maxwell, Simon Green (3:09)
5. Fate (Reprise) -- Donald Maxwell (2:26)
6. Bazaar of the Caravans -- Chorus (1:41)
7. Not Since Nineveh -- Judy Kaye, Richard Van Allan, Chorus (3:49)
8. Not Since Nineveh Dance -- Orchestra (2:10)
9. Stolen Oranges -- Orchestra (0:33)
10. Baubles, Bangles and Beads -- Valerie Masterson, Bonaventura Bottone, Chorus, David Rendall (4:57)
11. Paradise Garden -- Valerie Masterson, Stifyn Parri, David Rendall (1:18)
12. Stranger in Paradise -- Valerie Masterson, David Rendall (4:58)
13. He's in Love -- Bonaventura Bottone, Chorus (2:28)
14. Gesticulate -- Richard Van Allan, Donald Maxwell, Judy Kaye, Men (5:37)
15. Finale Act One -- Donald Maxwell, Judy Kaye, Chorus (2:01)
 Disc 2
1. Entr'acte -- Orchestra (2:59)
2. Night of My Nights -- David Rendall, Chorus (3:25)
3. Stranger in Paradise (Reprise) -- Valerie Masterson (1:49)
4. Was I Wazir? -- Richard Van Allan, Chorus (2:40)
5. Rahadlakum -- Judy Kaye, Donald Maxwell, Rosemary Ashe, Chorus (4:12)
6. Rahadlakum Dance -- Orchestra, Judy Kaye, Donald Maxwell, Rosemary Ashe, David Rendall (1:49)
7. And This Is My Beloved -- David Rendall, Richard Van Allan, Donald Maxwell, Valerie Masterson (5:39)
8. The Olive Tree -- Donald Maxwell (3:29)
9. Zubbediya -- Rosemary Ashe, Men (2:01)
10. Samaris' Dance -- Men, Orchestra (1:43)
11. Finale Act Two -- Donald Maxwell, David Rendall, Valerie Masterson, Chorus (3:19)
 BONUS TRACKS
12. Bored -- Judy Kaye (from the 1955 MGM Film) (3:42)
13. In the Beginning, Woman -- Valerie Masterson (from Timbuktu) (3:11)
14. Golden Land, Golden Life -- Bruce Hubbard, Simon Green (from Timbuktu) (2:16)
15. My Magic Lamp -- Valerie Masterson (from Timbuktu) (2:51)
16. Power -- Bruce Hubbard, Simon Green, Chorus (from Timbuktu) (3:26)
17. Golden Land, Golden Life (Reprise) -- Edmund Barham, Bonaventura Bottone, Men (2:26)