Alfie Boe and Michael Ball join forces for album and premiere video for Together
World renowned in their respective fields, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe have joined forces to record an album.
Entitled Together, the album is a collection of the pair’s favourite songs from film and Broadway shows, recorded in New York and Prague (with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra).
The tenor and the theatre star gave an insight into what to expect from the album with a performance of the song Somewhere on Strictly Come Dancing.
And now you can watch their video for the song Together below:
Having first met 10 years ago, while performing together in Kismet at the London Coliseum, Ball and Boe became friends.
That same year, Ball became the first musical theatre star to be given a solo concert at the BBC Proms. He then asked Boe to join him at the classical music festival.
Fast forward to this summer, and while Boe was starring in Finding Neverland on Broadway, Ball put an idea into action for what would became the album’s opening song.
It would be a “Les Mise?rables Suite”.
And there was only one person who could make this possible: the music’s original composer Claude-Michel Scho?nberg.
“There was only one way we could do that,” says Ball, “and that was with the collaboration of the people who created it. We wouldn’t dream of doing it otherwise. It was such an important show, in both of our lives.”
Scho?nberg said: “This has never been done... but for two of the best voices in the world, I will work on it straight away! I will call Alain [Boublil, lyricist/librettist] as soon as New York is awake...”
The result is a six-minute piece, encompassing Bring Him Home, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables and I Dreamed a Dream.
But the singers cannot agree on what it is: Ball describes the collaboration as “a mash-up”, while Boe calls it “a medley”.
They also decided to record the Merseybeat classic You’ll Never Walk Alone for the album for noble reasons.
“It’s one of those songs that’s been done so many times,” acknowledges Boe. “But it’s still such a strong song. And done properly, done respectfully, and with our blend of voices, it’s something unique.
“We’re doing it is because of the Hillsborough verdict that finally came through this year and we wanted to honour the victims and their families’ long, long fight for justice. And for me, as a Liverpool fan, it has added resonance.”
Over his 30-year career, Ball has become a double Olivier Award winner, a multi-platinum recording artist, live concert performer and a popular radio and TV presenter.
Not to be outdone, Boe is Britain's biggest-selling tenor. He has led the cast of Les Mise?rables, performed at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace and the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle. He has also sold more than a million albums and four top 10 albums.
Ball and Boe will bring their album to life with a six week tour, which starts on November 3. The album Together is out November 4 on Decca Records.
Together track-listing:
Les Miserables Suite (Bring Him Home, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, I Dreamed a Dream)
Somewhere (West Side Story)
Music of the Night (Phantom of the Opera)
Anthem (Chess)
Speak Softly Love (The Godfather)
ell Me It's Not True (Blood Brothers)
Incurably Romantic (Let's Make Love)
I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise (An American in Paris)
Wonderful World/Over the Rainbow
For Once in My Life
A Thousand Years (Twilight)
When You Wish Upon a Star (Pinocchio)
You'll Never Walk Alone (Carousel)
I'll Be Home for Christmas
