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In 1998, a concert celebrated Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th birthday at the Royal Albert Hall. It featured more than two hours of hits from a body of work spanning almost three decades. In this record of a memorable night, star after star steps onto a massive, Eurovision-style set to revisit golden moments in their long association with Britain's most successful composer of musicals. Elaine Paige in big frocks and even bigger voice delivers "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" and "Memory" with her usual power; Michael Ball and Donny Osmond stretch the last vestiges of boyish charm to the very limits but still sound great; and Boyzone get the youth vote. Then there are Kiri te Kanawa, Bonnie Tyler, Tina Arena and of course, another encore for Julian Lloyd Webber and those Variations on the cello. But the stars are Sir Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Brightman in an outstanding selection from The Phantom of the Opera (probably his best work), Antonio Banderos who really can sing, and Glenn Close, a stupendous, moving Norma Desmond in songs from Sunset Boulevard. All in all, a deserved celebration for someone who has given so many people a great deal of pleasure, and a treat for musicals fans of all ages. --Piers Ford

Release Date: Oct 16, 2000