Kritzerland is proud to present the premiere CD release of the original Hebrew cast recording:
 
OLIVER!
 
Original Hebrew Cast Recording
 
Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart
 
Adapted from the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, the musical version, rechristened simply Oliver!, opened at the Wimbledon Theatre in southwest London in 1960. That initial engagement was a resounding success and the show moved to the New Theatre on June 30, 1960, where it ran for an astonishing 2,618 performances, breaking all records for a musical in London. With book, music, and lyrics by Lionel Bart, direction by Peter Coe, and costumes and scenery by Sean Kenny, audiences took to the show instantly, and its London cast recording was a big seller.
 
David Merrick, knowing a good thing when he saw it, brought Oliver! to the U.S. The production toured before coming to Broadway, recording its cast album while on the road. It opened at the Imperial Theatre on January 6, 1963, and ran 774 performances. The show received ten Tony nominations, winning three – the great Don Pippin for Best Conductor and Musical Director, Sean Kenny for Best Scenic Design, and Mr. Bart for Best Original Score. The score produced one bona fide hit, “As Long as He Needs Me.”
 
After Broadway, Oliver! had tours, briefly came back to Broadway in 1965, and has been revived numerous times over the years with any number of great actors. In 1968, Oliver! came to the screen, directed by Carol Reed. The film won six Academy Awards including Best Picture. Oliver! had many recordings, and was also produced all over the world, which brings us to the original Hebrew production and cast album.
 
When the Habimah National Theatre announced Oliver! there was immediate skeptical comments. After all, David Lean’s 1948 film version of Oliver Twist had been banned in Israel, due to what some considered its antisemitic portrayal of Fagin. But Lionel Bart put that to rest – when he was questioned about his motives in turning that villain into the hero of a musical, Bart explained that “his” Fagin was a lovable old trainer of young pickpockets, and kinder than characters like Mr. Bumble, Mrs. Corney, or Mr. Sowerby. That seemed to do the trick. The Hebrew version was by star Shraga Friedman, along with Zvi Rosen. The original cast recording of the production is a delight and, above all, Lionel Bart’s brilliant score shines through beautifully.
 
The album was mastered from a quarter-inch reel-to-reel tape and sounds great. We’ve added five bonus tracks from the World Record Club album of the score, sung by Joyce Blair, Ian Carmichael, and others.
 
The original Hebrew cast recording of Oliver! is limited to 500 copies only and priced at $19.98, plus shipping.  This is a PRE-ORDER – CDs will ship by the first week of December or before.

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