A selection of William Shakespeare's much-loved sonnets, read by some of the world's finest actors, together with musical settings of passages from his sonnets and plays. The celebrated musicians have been brought together specially for this recording by the composer Michael Kamen. All the texts are included in the full-colour booklet, which features specially commissioned illustrations.
"Joy Gelardi, a London producer, invited me to make a benefit album with friends and workmates based on Shakespeare. I asked several of my friends and was delighted when Annie Lennox agreed; Bryan Ferry and then Des'ree followed soon after. Des'ree introduced me to Joseph Shabalala and he brought his fabulous group Ladysmith Black Mambazo to add their sweet voices to this international collaboration. Rufus Wainwright joined us with a lovely sonnet set to his beautiful music. I was introduced to Keb’ Mo’ by Robert Urband and Keb’ brilliantly joined the party. Barbara Bonney has made my mid-teenage dreams come true by performing my Willow Song! Finally, Joseph Fiennes, who has given us Shakespeare in Love, has contributed with the intro and outro to this recording. Alan Rickman heard the early stages of the work and suggested that we could benefit the bard and RADA with the magic actors herein brought together by Lord Attenborough and Nicholas Barter, Ellis Jones, Antonia Gillum-Webb and Lady Samuel. Richard Lyttelton agreed to release this recording to the world and I am grateful to them all for their patient help. Love is speaking, enjoy." -Michael Kamen (Composer and Producer)
"Joy Gelardi, a London producer, invited me to make a benefit album with friends and workmates based on Shakespeare. I asked several of my friends and was delighted when Annie Lennox agreed; Bryan Ferry and then Des'ree followed soon after. Des'ree introduced me to Joseph Shabalala and he brought his fabulous group Ladysmith Black Mambazo to add their sweet voices to this international collaboration. Rufus Wainwright joined us with a lovely sonnet set to his beautiful music. I was introduced to Keb’ Mo’ by Robert Urband and Keb’ brilliantly joined the party. Barbara Bonney has made my mid-teenage dreams come true by performing my Willow Song! Finally, Joseph Fiennes, who has given us Shakespeare in Love, has contributed with the intro and outro to this recording. Alan Rickman heard the early stages of the work and suggested that we could benefit the bard and RADA with the magic actors herein brought together by Lord Attenborough and Nicholas Barter, Ellis Jones, Antonia Gillum-Webb and Lady Samuel. Richard Lyttelton agreed to release this recording to the world and I am grateful to them all for their patient help. Love is speaking, enjoy." -Michael Kamen (Composer and Producer)
