This sweeping overture, orchestrated (and probably sequenced) by Robert Russell Bennett, features themes from such numbers as “I Whistle A Happy Tune,” “I Have Dreamed,” “Something Wonderful” and others. Its majestic opening chords immediately establish the royal world of Siam.
2015 Broadway Revival
On April 19 and 20, 2015, the Lincoln Center Broadway Cast of The King and I entered the DiMenna Center for Classical Music to record their cast album under the musical direction of Ted Sperling. The 18-track album was released by Decca Broadway Records on June 9, 2015 and featured liner notes by The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization’s Ted Chapin.
2000 West End Revival
For the 2000 West End transfer of the 1996 Broadway production of The King and I, Elaine Paige and Jason Scott Lee led the cast under the musical direction of John Owen Edwards. This recording was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and released under Warner Music UK Ltd. in 2000 to coincide with the opening of the West End production.
1999 Animated Film
The soundtrack to the 1999 Animated Feature Film version of The King and I was released by Sony Music Distribution on March 16, 1999. Recorded in Toronto and London, the soundtrack featured many favorites from the show, including “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “Hello, Young Lovers,” “Getting to Know You” and others, along with a special medley sung by Barbra … Read More
1996 Broadway Revival
The New Broadway Cast Album of The King and I was recorded at the Hit Factory on August 26 and 27, 1996 in New York City. Featuring Donna Murphy and Lou Diamond Philips under the musical direction of Michael Rafter, the album was released under the label Varese Sarabande on October 1, 1996.
1992 Studio Cast Recording
Conducted by the Hollywood Bowl’s John Mauceri, this stellar 1992 studio recording of the score from the movie version was released on October 6, 1992 on Philips Records. The all-star cast, led by Julie Andrews and Ben Kingsley, features Lea Salonga, Martin Sheen, Marilyn Horne and Peabo Bryson. PBS filmed the recording of this studio album and released a 1993 … Read More
1977 Broadway Revival
Yul Brynner’s performance as the King was captured for a third time on this RCA Victor recording. Produced by Thomas Z. Shepard and overseen by Richard Rodgers, the album was recorded on October 31, 1977 and released on November 21, 1977. Featuring Constance Towers as Anna, the album features more music than any previous recording and uses the original orchestrations … Read More
1964 Lincoln Center Cast Recording
Presented in 1964 by Richard Rodgers, then producing director of the Music Theater of Lincoln Center, this production of The King and I was led by opera star Risë Stevens and featured Darren McGavin as the King. The limited engagement, sold out for most of its forty performances, never transferred to Broadway. This RCA Victor recording was the first to … Read More
1964 Studio Cast Recording
During an era when Columbia Records made a series of “cover” albums of musicals, this studio album starred Barbara Cook, who had recently played Anna in a 1960 City Center revival of The King and I. Cook was joined by Theodore Bikel as the King, along with Jeanette Scovotti, Anita Darian, Daniel Ferro and the United Nations International School’s Chorus. … Read More
1956 Motion Picture
Released on Capitol Records, the 1956 Motion Picture Soundtrack album for The King and I included three songs that didn’t make it into the final version of the movie: “My Lord and Master,” “I Have Dreamed” and “Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?” The soundtrack, featuring new arrangements by Gus Levene, was conducted by Alfred Newman. Marni … Read More
1951 Original Broadway Cast
Decca records recorded the Original Broadway Cast album of The King and I in New York City on April 16 and 17, 1951; the album was released on May 28. The same year, a “cover” studio album featuring Patrice Munsel and Robert Merrill was released, along with Frank Sinatra’s versions of “Hello, Young Lovers,” “We Kiss in a Shadow” and … Read More
2018 West End Revival
In a strictly limited, five-week summer engagement, Bartlett Sher’s wildly acclaimed Lincoln Center Theater revival of The King and I returned to the London Palladium in the West End. Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe and Ruthie Ann Miles all reprised their roles for the show’s fifth West End production, nominated for six Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival. The production … Read More
2015 Broadway Revival
On April 16, 2015, The King and I made a triumphant return to Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre in a Bartlett Sher production hailed as “resplendent” by The New York Times. Starring Kelli O’Hara, who won a Tony for her portrayal of Anna Leonowens, and Ken Watanabe in his American stage debut as the King, this Award-winning … Read More
2000 West End Revival
The Australian/Broadway production returned to the London stage at the London Palladium, the same theatre where Yul Brynner performed years before and the Lincoln Center Theater production would play several years later. This highly anticipated West End production, which opened on May 3, 2000, starred Elaine Paige as Anna and Jason Scott Lee as the King, with Taewon Yi Kim … Read More
1999 Animated Film
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I was adapted into an animated family feature film released by Warner Brothers Family Entertainment on March 19, 1999. With a slightly modified story for family audiences, the movie featured Miranda Richardson as Anna Leonowens (with Christiane Noll singing for Anna) and Martin Vidnovic as the King.
1996 Broadway Revival
The Australian production was brought to Broadway by the Dodgers, landing at the Neil Simon Theatre on April 11, 1996 starring Donna Murphy, who won a Tony for her portrayal as Anna, and Lou Diamond Phillips as the King. Jose Llana played Lun Tha and Taewon Yi Kim played Lady Thiang. This production swept awards season, championing Best Revival at … Read More