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Chess The Musical |
Music by Bjorn Ulvaeus & Benny Anderson
Book & Lyrics by Tim Rice |
Chess Recommended Resources |
Plot Summary & Audition Tips for Chess |
List of Characters in Chess |
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 Chess 1986 London Concept Cast Recording
Chess 1994 Swedish Cast Recording
Chess Karaoke Background Tracks CD
 Chess Vocal Selections (Sheet Music)
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Chess originated as a record album, and was later staged for production. Using as a metaphor the world of international chess, Tim Rice originally conceived to write a musical about how the Cold War affected the lives of all those it touched. The story revolves around the romantic triangle that develops when an American chess champion and his lover travel to Merano to defend his title against a Russian opponent who secretly plans to defect to the West.
Audition Preparation Suggestions for Chess
The music in Chess has a strong 80s pop feel. Do not choose a song from Chess as an audition piece unless the show you are auditioning for has music of a similar style. |
- Freddie Trumper (Rock-Style Tenor)
- American chess champion. Tempermental, overly theatrical.
- Florence (Mezzo/Belt)
- Gregor's young daughter. In adulthood, acts as Freddie's second.
- Anatoly Sergievsky (Baritone)
- Russian chess champion. Married to Svetlana, but falls in love with Florence.
- Ivan Molokov (Bass)
- Anatoly's second.
- Walter (Bass/Baritone)
- Freddie's agent. Crass, commercial. Secretly works for the C.I.A.
- Arbiter (Rock-Style High Baritone)
- Judge of chess championship.
- Gregor Vassy (Baritone)
- Florence's father.
- Svetlana (Mezzo/Belt)
- Anatoly's wife.
- Nikolai
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Chess Links - Related Websites |
Chess Audition Preparation Materials |
List of Songs in Chess (Click on the song title to download digital sheet music) |
- Sir Tim Rice -- Chess
- History of the musical 'Chess,' plot summary, song list, plus lots of info on lyricist Tim Rice.
- Chess Song Lyrics
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- Prologue - The Story of Chess (Gregor)
- Where I want to be (Anatoly)
- Quartet (Florence, Arbiter, Molokov, Anatoly)
- Nobody's Side (Florence)
- Anthem (Anatoly)
- Bangkok
- One Night In Bangkok (Freddie)
- Heaven Help My Heart (Florence)
- I Know Him So Well (Svetlana & Florence)
- Pity The Child (Freddie)
- Endgame (Freddie & Anatoly)
- You and I (Anatoly & Florence)
- How many women (Florence)
- Chess hymn (Sponsors)
- You want to lose your only friend? (Freddie)
- Someone Else's Story (Florence)
- Terrace Duet (Florence & Anatoly)
- Hungarian folk song (Chorus)
- No contest (Walter)
- Lullaby (Florence's Father)
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