Richard II

Arkangel's full-cast recording of RICHARD II foreshadows the master playwright's more emotional and intellectual HENRY V and his ultimate study in power, HAMLET. This company of fine actors, featuring the raspy Rupert Graves as the fading King Richard and the energetic Julian Glover as the rising Bollingbroke, revels in the lyricism of Shakespeare's poetry. Listeners will easily lose themselves in the rhythm of the erudite language and period-sounding music, written especially for this production. A top-notch recording with colorful packaging, which includes a listing of each scene with a summary of its action and photos taken during the recording process, makes this production a gift to all for the ages. R.O. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine