Evita, which premiered in 1978 in London, was a huge success for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, falling in the center of their "golden period," as it were, where nearly every musical they released drew huge crowds. Hated by many Argentinians who felt it belittled their heroine, Evita is the tale of Eva Peron, wife of Juan Peron -- president of Argentina beginning in 1946. Born Eva Duarte, Evita (as she is often referred to as) was highly ambitious -- a spirited fighter who lacked a meaningful relationship with her father ...
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Evita, which premiered in 1978 in London, was a huge success for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, falling in the center of their "golden period," as it were, where nearly every musical they released drew huge crowds. Hated by many Argentinians who felt it belittled their heroine, Evita is the tale of Eva Peron, wife of Juan Peron -- president of Argentina beginning in 1946. Born Eva Duarte, Evita (as she is often referred to as) was highly ambitious -- a spirited fighter who lacked a meaningful relationship with her father and who sought power and importance through any means she could. Likened at different times to both Princess Diana (for her humanitarian efforts) and to the woman who portrayed her on film, Madonna (for her headstrong relentlessness), Peron was a legendary figure and the musical does the best job it can capturing her essence. The London cast recording, featuring Elaine Paige in the title role, is probably the best recorded version of Evita available. Paige is outstanding and is well...
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