Warner Music Group’s Arts Music and Sing it Again Records have released the first four tracks of Talking Hadestown for streaming and download from all major music services.
The 16-part, digital words-and-music experience features Hadestown's Tony-winning composer, Anaïs Mitchell, taking listeners through the inspirations, concepts, and creative processes that lie behind the key songs of the musical, which continues at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre.
In addition to Mitchell’s commentary, the album includes excerpts from the original Broadway cast recording. There will be three additional weekly releases, with the complete album available November 1, which marks the fifth anniversary of the Broadway cast recording.
Talking Hadestown is produced by Ian Blackaby and Anaïs Mitchell. The executive producer is Mara Isaacs. Stream or download the first four tracks by clicking here.
The complete track list for Talking Hadestown follows:
Talking Road to Hell
Talking Any Way The Wind Blows
Talking Wedding Son
Talking Livin’ It Up On Top
Talking All I’ve Ever Known
Talking Wait For Me
Talking Why We Build The Wall
Talking Our Lady Of The Underground
Talking Flowers
Talking If It’s True
Talking Epic III
Talking Promises
Talking Wait For Me (Reprise)
Talking Doubt Comes In
Talking Road To Hell (Reprise)
Talking We Raise Our Cups
The original Broadway cast recording features Reeve Carney as Orpheus; André De Shields as Hermes; Amber Gray as Persephone; Eva Noblezada as Eurydice; Patrick Page as Hades; Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, and Kay Trinidad as the Fates; with Afra Hines, Timothy Hughes, John Krause, Kimberly Marable, Ahmad Simmons, Malcolm Armwood, T. Oliver Reid, Jessie Shelton, and Khaila Wilcoxon rounding out the ensemble vocals.
Singer-songwriter Mitchell’s folk- and jazz-infused musical layers the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with that of Hades and Persephone, intertwining the actions—and consequences—of gods and mortals. Hadestown originally began as a theatrical concert performed by Mitchell.
The creative team features Tony-winning set designer Rachel Hauck, Tony-nominated costume designer Michael Krass, Tony-winning lighting designer Bradley King, Tony-winning sound designers Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, choreographer David Neumann, and dramaturg Ken Cerniglia. Musical supervision and vocal arrangements are by Liam Robinson, with arrangements and orchestrations by Tony winners Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose.
The show, featuring a book and score by Mitchell, won eight 2019 Tony Awards: Best Director of a Musical (Rachel Chavkin), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (André De Shields), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Bradley King), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Rachel Hauck), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Jessica Paz and Nevin Steinberg), Best Orchestrations (Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose), Best Original Score (Mitchell), and Best Musical.