CD Review | Carousel — John Wilson, Chandos

This new Chandos recording of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel builds on John Wilson and Sinfonia of London’s 2023 recording of the same legendary Broadway duo’s Oklahoma. The British conductor is now at a stage in his career where he has built his own troupe of bespoke artists, hand-picked for each project according to the repertoire— be it classic Broadway, English pastoral or French moderne. Several of the singers here have appeared in other Wilson concerts and recordings: Canadian soprano Mikaela Bennett (Julie) also sang Maria in his West Side Story, American Broadway star Sierra Boggess (Carrie) was his Laurey in Oklahoma and American baritenor Nathaniel Hackmann (Billy) was Curly in the same. Likewise, members of the Carousel Ensemble are West End stars in their own right. Combined with the recording’s authentic acoustic venue, the Royal Academy of Music’s Susie Sainsbury Theatre in London, it’s no surprise the result is so satisfyingly idiomatic.

This is the first complete recording of Carousel, containing all of the richly orchestrated Entr’actes, dances and choruses that were missing from earlier renderings. Act 1’s “Hornpipe” for example, is perfectly characterized by the band as is the soaring reprise of the famous “If I loved you” duet in the Act 2’s Entr’acte. Throughout, Wilson exacts precise rhythms, knowing just how to differentiate percussive dance tunes from Puccini-esque melody.

As Billy, the conflicted, violent carnival barker, Hackmann thrills with his tenorial high notes and character-driven text delivery. As his true love Julie, Bennett sings with an intriguingly smoky soprano tone. She has to deliver the piece’s most controversial line in reference to Billy’s physical abuse: “It is possible, dear, fer someone to hit you—hit you hard—and not hurt at all” which she enunciates with a certain hardness, and some ambiguity.

As Julie’s comic foil, Carrie Pipperidge, Boggess’s revels in her character’s quirkiness. As her ambitious sardine mogul paramour, Enoch Snow, Julian Ovenden is outstanding. The actor, known for roles in Bridgerton, Downton Abbey and The Crown, exudes personality—and very impressive top notes. Nigerian-American soprano Francesca Chiejina vocalizes Carousel’s most famous number, “You’ll never walk alone” with thrilling emotion.

It is hard to imagine Carousel will get a more inspired rendering than this one anytime soon. Fans of the great American musical should not hesitate to add it to their collections.

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