Review: FOR TONIGHT Concept Album
New bilingual musical For Tonight has been released as a concept album, featuring a cast of West End performers and Welsh ensemble.
The musical is inspired by writer Spencer Williams’ three-time great grandfather’s hand written journals. Set in a small town in Wales in 1832, we meet a Roma family who find shelter on the Parry family’s farm. Soon after their arrival, they are forced into hiding due to the Parry parents death and they are blamed for the unknown disease that killed them. From here on, we follow the Parry children (Thomas, Haydon and Nettie) through their struggles following their parents’ death and as they grow up.
Thomas struggles with the guilt of events surrounding the Roma’s departure, Nettie is left behind to deal with the overbearing Thomas as Haydon runs off to Liverpool in search of new beginnings. Haydon falls in love with a Roma woman Mirela, and this causes friction in his already strained sibling relationships and learns that the bias runs on both sides as he is not welcomed by Mirela’s family.
The music and lyrics of the piece are by Spencer Williams and Shenelle Salcido, with orchestrations by Salcido and additional arrangements by Joseph Purdue and Drew Wutke.
The album itself is wonderful. It has beautiful orchestrations and lovely melodies; it feels like it really captures the blend between the cultures as well.
The album has 26 tracks so it feels like it veers a little bit on the longer side for a concept album, however all of the songs are enjoyable so if you have the time to listen to them in one go, then it is worth it.
The first track ‘Away’ is lengthy for an opening number but is used with interspersed dialogue to aid in setting the story.
Stand out tracks include ‘Keeping Alive’, led by Luke McCall, catchy with wonderful male harmonies; Amy Di Bartolomeo sings the title track ‘For Tonight’ which is a beautiful love song and wonderfully sung by Di Bartolomeo and Simon Gordon.
Jade Davies as Molly Llewellyn takes on ‘Suo Gân’, a traditional Welsh lullaby from the 1800’s and the blend with the backing singers and the children’s voices make the song a wonder to behold. The harmonies between the Welsh and English versions overlap and make it the overwhelming highlight on the album.
With this being a concept album, we are excited to see if this goes on to be staged as it will make a wonderful new musical.
****’ Four and a half stars
Reviewed by: Emma Littler
For more information and to download the album, please click here.