Woolfson died just months before the planned release of the discs. It is hoped that the recordings will lay the groundwork for a stage production of POE in the U.S., according to press ntoes. Steve Balsamo stars as Edgar Allan Poe on the recordings.
In a statement Sally Woolfson, managing director of Woolfsongs Ltd., said, "My father wrote POE with the U.S. market very much in mind, and bringing it to the stage in America is now our main goal so that we can fulfill his dream and ambition for the piece."
The CD was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in London and features a 40-piece orchestra and a choir of 80 singers.
The DVD was also filmed in Abbey Road Studios. Studio 1 was turned into an intimate performance setting for 300 people: a specially constructed set, lighting and sound systems were installed for the filming. Steve Balsamo, Anna-Jane Casey, Juliet Caton and David Burt performed in the two-hour film.
For more information visit www.ericwoolfsonmusic.com.