“Using 17 readers for 42 roles -- quite a big enough cast to allow for substantial differentiation -- this unabridged performance is full of red-blooded drama. Anyone who thinks (wrongly) that Shakespeare is sedate, dusty literature will be surprised by the fervor heard. Samuel West in the title role delivers a performance of steely determination and wily versatility. Unlike most of Naxos' productions -- where the musical excerpts are merely between scenes -- at some points simple music is integrated into the events of the play, always to good effect. The bits between scenes (by Dufay, Ockeghem, etc.) fit the period and mood fairly well. This is a most well-done set that brings a great play to life vividly.”

 

“The quality of the recording, the actors’ reading, the helpfulness of the accompanying booklet and the high overall value of the production make this a welcome addition to any collection.”

 

“This production is made to sound like the soundtrack of film, so we hear horses snorting while Henry is urged to surrender before the battle; and the use of music from Naxos’ bottomless pit of medieval pieces is very well handled. If you opt for the CD version rather than the tape, you will be pleased that the tracking not only lets you access each scene but important entrances during each scene.”

 

“Henry V receives a gratifying full-cast narration and production which brings to life the underlying ironies and contrasts inherent in Shakespeare’s plays. The complete text here has been fully dramatized from the New Cambridge Shakespeare text and is truly outstanding.”

 

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more does Naxos venture into the realm of Shakespeare. This full-cast production is fairly easy to follow because the producers have taken care to give each character a distinctive voice. Bits of music and sound effects enhance the listening but do not overwhelm it. The liner notes are solid and should be read before listening to get an overview of the story. A scene-by-scene index (using first lines as cues) lets the listener keep track of where the characters are. Overall, this is a solid performance and renders a fairly talky play easy to follow and understand.”

 

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends; once more does Naxos venture into the realm of Shakespeare. This full-cast production is fairly easy to follow because the producers have taken care to give each character a distinctive voice. Bits of music and sound effects enhance the listening but do not overwhelm it. The liner notes are solid and should be read before listening to get an overview of the story. A scene-by-scene index (using first lines as cues) helps the listener keep track of where the characters are. Overall, this is a solid performance that makes a “talky” play easy to follow and understand.”

 

“A full cast gives an impassioned performance of Shakespeare’s epic history. Especially useful to junior and senior high students or any fan of Shakespeare, this production takes on the hardest job of classical acting, which is helping the listener understand the dialogue. Conservatively used sound effects add depth to the imagined surroundings: a small echo used in Henry’s court, distant explosions for the mines of Harfleur. The tale of the boy prince becoming king is always enjoyable in the hands of the right performers, and so it is with this recording.”

 

The 10 Essential Comedy/Spoken Word Albums of 2001 Selection

 

Henry V by William Shakespeare
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