The West End star celebrates the music that has helped to shape his career in this wonderfully warm album.
This well put together album is a wonderful addition to any musical theatre fan’s collection, as Ben Forster has selected some fabulous songs that showcase the best of his abilities as well as offering an opportunity to put his own mark on them.
From the soulful sounding ‘The Winner Takes it All’ all the way through to the drama and power of ‘Music of the Night’, there is a great depth and range of emotion that Forster is able to draw upon to offer a really engaging listen.
His version of ‘The Winner Takes it All’ places all the focus on the lyrics and by stripping it back in this way it offers a delicate perspective. Yes perhaps the theatricality has been taken away from it but it also adds a sensitivity and raw emotion by ensuring the focus is on the lyrics. The BBC Scottish symphony Orchestra ensures that musically it is a haunting and tender listen.
The album then takes it up a notch and changes the pace with a fiercely powerful rendition of ‘Gethsemane’ (Jesus Christ Superstar) that really captures the versatility of Forster’s vocals – it is not an easy song by any means to perform but here he makes it sound so. it is also wonderful to hear him performing a song from a show that catapulted him to public attention (ITV1 show, ‘Superstar’ – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s TV talent search for ‘Jesus’).
Every song that has been selected feels like a love letter to the musical theatre industry that he has worked extensively in at this point. You can really here it in his performances of ‘Bring Him Home’ (Les Miserables) which really delves deep into every lyric emotionally and the sheer joy on display through his version of ‘From Now On’ from The Greatest Showman.
Throughout it all, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra perform each piece of iconic music with wonderful richness that complements Forster’s vocals really well. In particular, the final two numbers on the album ‘If I Can’t Love Her’ from Beauty and the Beast and ‘Music of the Night’ from The Phantom of the Opera are particular highlights in this regard. Equally on both of these songs, Forster is able to showcase a different side to his vocals – a deeper and more classically rich tones that is really impressive.
Overall, Musical’s Greatest Hits is a wonderfully thought out album with plenty of treats to enjoy. Definitely a worthy addition to the collection of any musical theatre fan.
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Musicals Greatest Hits is available to buy via Westway Music now.