Menken/Rice King David

[Pan_Am_L-1011]

Posted: 12/18/10 at 1:44pm

Hi All. I was not familiar with this work until I was reading about Menken. I know the CD is out of print, but does anyone know of an online store that would sell a digital copy? It's not on iTunes.

I would appreciate any help... I am dying to hear this.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/18/10 at 2:57pm

The score is wonderful. I was just thinking yesterday that they should so something with this show. It only ran a limited 6 performances to christen the Amsterdam Theater in 1997.

I am a huge Menken fan, and as difficult as it is for me to choose a favorite song of his, I think that Sheer Perfection from this show comes close.

Don't know if it's available for download, but the entire recording is on youtube.
King David

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/18/10 at 7:12pm

Tazber, I'm right with you. I adore this score!

[twinbelters]

Posted: 12/18/10 at 7:57pm

I love it too. Ifi recall the cd was only available on disney records website.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/18/10 at 8:55pm

I've been looking for pictures of the concert but there's only one of Alice Ripley and Marcus Lovett.

Apparently they did it at NYU 3 years ago.

Updated On: 12/18/10 at 08:55 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/18/10 at 10:08pm

Has the show ever been performed, or only staged as a concert?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/18/10 at 10:10pm

I think it's only been in concert. When I watched the episode of Theater Talk with Tim Rice, he said that he was in New York that week to talk to Alan Menken about the future of King David. The plan was that if Chess was a big success at the Royal Albert Hall, maybe they would do King David there too. It's been two years and I haven't heard anything. Which is a shame because this is, in my book, the best score Alan Menken's composed.

[After Eight]

Posted: 12/18/10 at 11:02pm

I saw it at the New Amsterdam and can't say I was impressed with the score. It was also ear-deafeningly loud. I thought the cast was excellent, though.

The cd was sold in stores for a while, and then went out of print. I believe I bought mine at Tower.
Updated On: 12/19/10 at 11:02 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/19/10 at 1:27am

The night we saw the show at NYU in November 2008, both Alan Menken and Tim Rice were there, and if I recall correctly after it was over Rice presented Menken with some sort of NYU alumni award.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 12/19/10 at 2:59am

I think it was a limited online sale initially that I'm referring to. I asked my mom to order it for xmas off the disney site.

[PurpleFanta]

Posted: 12/19/10 at 8:53pm

Thank you tazber for posting the YouTube link. I had no idea it was even on there, and now I'm really excited to listen to all of it.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/20/10 at 10:39am

I've got this reocrding, but I've never listened to it! After reading these comments, I'll have to rectify that.

Also, Menken was this week's guest playing "Not My Job" on NPR's "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" He had some fun stories. Check it out through iTunes' podcasts, if you're interested.