Chess (musical)

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Musical dates
Title: Chess
Original language: English
Music: Benny Andersson , Björn Ulvaeus
Lyrics: Tim Rice , Björn Ulvaeus
Premiere: May 14, 1986
Place of premiere: Prince Edward Theater
in London
Place and time of the action: Merano and Bangkok during the Cold War
Roles / people
  • Florence
  • The American
  • The Russian
  • Molokov
  • Svetlana
  • The arbiter

Chess ( English for chess ) is a musical from 1984.

Music and cast

The music for the musical was composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus , the male members of the Swedish pop group ABBA ; the lyrics come from the British Tim Rice and Björn Ulvaeus. Tim Rice actually wanted to implement the subject with Andrew Lloyd Webber , who was working on Cats . Richard Vos advised Rice to approach the ABBA composers. The most famous songs from the musical are One Night in Bangkok and I Know Him So Well .

Chess was initially performed in concert a few times , then by Trevor Nunn at the Prince Edward Theater in London's West End as a musical for several years.

The main roles in the studio version are sung by Elaine Paige , Barbara Dickson , Murray Head and Tommy Körberg , the Ambrosian Singers from London act as the choir and the London Symphony Orchestra as the orchestra . The arrangements were made by Benny Andersson and Anders Eljas.

action

The story takes place in Meran and Bangkok and is suspended from the competition between two chess players , one of whom is Russian and the other is American. The characters and life stories of the two are probably inspired by Viktor Kortschnoi and Bobby Fischer . The plot of the musical can only be reproduced in its main features, as it differs greatly in the individual productions. The original London version tells about two chess tournaments, while the Broadway version tells about only one tournament. A love triangle develops during a world championship tournament. The manager of one player falls in love with his rival. Parallels to the Cold War and its East-West conflict were intentional. The play is about politics, conspiracy, love and jealousy against the backdrop of a world championship in chess.

Songs

Entrance to the Dresden State Operetta with advertising for performances of the musical "Chess"
  • Merano
  • The Russian and Molokov / Where I Want to Be
  • Opening ceremony
  • Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility)
  • The American and Florence / Nobody's Side
  • Chess
  • Mountain Duet
  • Florence Quits
  • Embassy Lament
  • Anthem
  • Bangkok / One Night In Bangkok
  • Heaven Help My Heart
  • argument
  • I know him so well
  • The Deal (No Deal)
  • Pity the Child
  • Endgame
  • Epilogue: You and I / The Story of Chess

useful information

Two and a half months after the world premiere in London, half of the 1986 World Chess Championship took place there, which also gave the musical increased media attention.

literature

  • Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Tim Rice: Chess. Selections from the musical. Piano, vocal & chords . Wise, London 1997. ISBN 0-7119-6697-4
  • Günter Bartosch: The Heyne Musical Lexicon. Expanded and updated paperback edition. Munich, 1997. ISBN 3-453-06022-9 . Pp. 146-147.
  • William Hartston : Chess: the making of a musical . Pavilion, London 1986. ISBN 1-85145-006-8
  • Thomas Siedhoff: Handbook of the Musical - the most important titles from A – Z. Mainz, 2007. ISBN 978-3-7957-0154-3 . Pp. 141-144.

Web links