This original London cast recording of the 1956 musical Summer Song features Sally Ann Howes, David Hughes, Edric Connor and Bonita Primrose. Bonus tracks include songs by Edric Connor and David Hughes and the Melachrino Orchestra.

'Summer Song' is a musical with an American background built around an episode in the life of Czech composer Anton Dvorak. Dvorak had taken a break from teaching and conducting to visit the State of Illinois where he wrote his symphony ‘From the New World’. Eric Maschwitz wrote the lyrics and collaborated with Hy Kraft on the libretto while Bernard Grun adapted the music from the melodies of Dvorak in much the same way as those of Grieg had been in Song of Norway.

The character of Dvorak could not be the romantic lead as in real life he was a happily married man with six children and physically, a bespectacled Puck-like figure. Laurence Naismith was the perfect choice to play this eccentric character. Sally Ann Howes had shown in a previous Maschwitz musical Romance in Candlelight that, as well as being fresh and lovely, she had a real singing voice. Her romantic opposite number was David Hughes who came from the world of popular music. The real life American husband and wife team Bonita Primrose and Van Atkins added the lighter side of Milli and Joe. The handsome Trinidadian bass-baritone Edric Connor was cast as man-of-all-work Abe.

'Summer Song' first played The Opera House in Manchester over Christmas 1955 and it was a great success. Little was changed for the London opening in February 1956 at the Princes Theatre where although the show received mainly favourable reviews it ran for only 148 performances. A cast recording was however recorded and it is this tuneful score we have remastered for this release.

The selection by The Melachrino Orchestra includes some melodies not heard in the original cast recording. Edric Connor and David Hughes were recording artists in their own right and we include numbers from both.