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Paul Gordon’s “Emma” finds a new dimension in the Original Soundstage Recording, featuring the talented Kelli Barrett in the titular role.

This recording captures the essence of the musical with clarity and vibrancy, offering listeners a delightful auditory experience that stays true to the spirit of Austen’s beloved novel.

Paul Gordon's Emma Soundtrack Review

For review purposes I am grateful to Streaming Musicals for a physical copy of Emma that includes a beautifully printed CD booklet – lyrics included! – that offers a special insight into the production from Paul Gordon who explains the labor of love Emma has been for him these past 10 years as well as why he chose to add in a new twist by transferring this production from the Regency period to Mid-Century Modern.

Paul Gordon’s ability to connect Emma Woodhouse with an equally well-beloved fictional character from the 1950s/1960s was surprising but makes for an interesting listen to the soundtrack thanks to this new information. The booklet also includes some beautiful color images of the cast from the Streaming Musicals recording (Sam Fine Photography) and a fleshed-out synopsis of the production to help those of us, who have never seen a staged production, follow along better.

Paul Gordon’s Musicality and Composition

Paul Gordon’s compositions are a delightful blend of classic musical theatre and contemporary flair. The melodies are intricate yet accessible, weaving seamlessly through the narrative. Gordon’s music shines through in this recording, with each note and chord carefully designed to reflect the emotions and themes of the story. The orchestration is lush and dynamic, adding depth and texture to the overall sound.

Lyrics and Storytelling from Paul Gordon’s EMMA THE MUSICAL

Paul Gordon’s lyrics are clever and insightful, staying true to the wit and wisdom of Austen’s original text. The songs are well-integrated into the narrative, advancing the plot and deepening the character development. The lyrical content is both reflective and forward-moving, allowing listeners to engage with the story on multiple levels.

Highlights from Paul Gordon’s EMMA THE MUSICAL Soundtrack

The top 3 standouts from Paul Gordon’s Emma the Musical Original Soundstage Recording are: “Home”, “Emma” and “The Epiphany” with honorable mentions going to “So This Is How Love Feels” and “Should We Ever Meet”.

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The Cast of Paul Gordon’s EMMA THE MUSICAL

Kelli Barrett (Broadway’s Doctor Zhivago, Wicked) stars as the titular character. The company features Caitlin Brooke, Lauren “Coco” Cohn, Adam Daveline, Richert Easley, Timothy Gulan, Brian Herndon, Pamela Winslow Kashani, Dani Marcus, Don Richard, Sharon Rietkerk, and Will Reynolds.

Kelli Barrett (Emma) has a gorgeous soprano that does Paul Gordon’s music justice and makes for pleasant listening from start to finish. Kelli Barrett’s performance as Emma is a highlight of the recording. Her vocal delivery is both powerful and subtle, capturing the many facets of Emma’s character. If there’s any complaint about her performance it is just that it is all too brief with numbers like “Badly Done” begging for more.

Her leading men give BEAUTIFUL performances in their all too brief appearances on the album.

Will Reynolds (Frank Churchill) has the most beautiful duet of the show (“Home”) and my complaint once again is that it was way too short. I could have listened to his pitch-perfect charm for ages.

Similarly, our leading man, Timothy Gulan (Mr. Knightley), sings “Emma” heartily and every time he sings our heroine’s name it is like a caress giving you goose pimples.

Speaking of, it is highly recommended to listen to both “Emma” and “Epiphany” (Emma’s eleven o’clock number) together as they are two of the most repeatable and memorable numbers of the album and compliment each other grandly.

The last star of the album has to be the stunningly gorgeous ensemble (Adam Daveline, Don Richard, Pamela Winslow Kashani, Caitlin Brooke) who sound as if they are making heavenly music every time they make an appearance on the album.

Unfortunately, the weakest cast member could have been the funniest too. Dani Marcus (Harriet) is unlucky to be saddled with the odd lyric choice of “vomit” and a few too many self-pitying verses in her big number “Humiliation”. Dani Marcus is also featured in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE A New Musical (2020).

Conclusion: Best to Watch Paul Gordon’s EMMA THE MUSICAL

“Emma: The Original Soundstage Recording” by Paul Gordon and featuring Kelli Barrett is a remarkable musical experience. It successfully translates the charm and complexity of Jane Austen’s novel into a vibrant and engaging soundtrack. Gordon’s music, combined with Barrett’s outstanding performance, makes this recording a must-listen for fans of musical theatre and Austen alike.

I hasten to suggest that Paul Gordon’s EMMA THE MUSICAL benefits more from a visual performance. Due to the plot-specific lyrics it is easier to follow along visually and see both the actors’ chemistry and character developments that are missing in the album.

You can watch the beautifully recorded film version on Amazon Prime Video or Streaming Musicals.

As a BroadwayWorld reviewer said,

“Austen’s story combined with Gordon’s slimmed-down book and two acts’ worth of admirable original music (indeed very tuneful but not exactly memorably cast-album-rotation worthy), make for a great evening of musical theater.”

Disclaimer: I received a physical album for review purposes but all opinions are my own.

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Paul Gordon's Emma the Original Soundstage Recording starring Kelli Barrett captures the essence of the musical with clarity and vibrancy, offering listeners a delightful auditory experience that stays true to the spirit of Austen’s beloved novel. Jane Austen adaptation of Emma.