South Pacific

South Pacific is the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical presented in album form as a richly melodic, theatrically driven score that combines lush orchestral arrangements with popular songcraft. The music blends Broadway balladry and ensemble numbers with Pacific island color and atmospheric motifs, and the songs are integrated closely with a dramatic book that explores wartime romance and issues of racial prejudice. Notable numbers such as "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Bali Ha'i" showcase the score's sweeping melodies and evocative orchestration, and the recording is representative of mid 20th century American musical theatre style.