DECCA Gold has released Bill Whelan’s album Riverdance 25th Anniversary: Music From the Show in time for Christmas.

Celebrated around the world for its Grammy-Award winning score, thrilling energy, and passion of its Irish and international dance, this release is the powerful and stirring reinterpretation of Bill Whelan’s mesmerizing soundtrack to Riverdance which returns to Southampton's Mayflower Theatre next year as part of its quarter centenary celebrations.

Twenty-five years on, composer Bill Whelan went back into the studio to re-record the soundtrack to the show. He says “The music has moved into a very different position from when we first recorded it. A lot of the players on the original recording would have only heard the music a day or two before whereas in this case, the music has almost been in the ether for a lot of the musicians, many of whom weren’t even born when I first wrote the score. As a result, these players come to this recording with a unique virtuosity - distinguished with both a familiarity and an energetic freshness”.

Riverdance began its journey as the interval act in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. This electrifying and innovative seven-minute dance piece was then developed into a full-length stage show by Producer Moya Doherty, Composer Bill Whelan, and Director John McColgan. With its fusion of Irish and International music and dance, the show broke all box office records during its world premiere run in Dublin in early 1995. When the show transferred to London, the reaction was unprecedented. There followed a hugely successful tour starting in New York in March 1996, where 8 sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall heralded the start of two decades of touring by Riverdance companies throughout North America.

Since its inception, Riverdance has packed theatres throughout North America, Oceania, Asia, Europa, South Africa, and South America.

Twenty five years on, while composer Bill Whelan has reinterpreted the soundtrack, the original team have reimagined the ground-breaking show with innovative and spectacular lighting, projection, stage, and costume designs.

Since it began, Riverdance has been seen live by over 27.5 million people.

It's Southampton run is from April 14 to 19, 2020.

Tickets are on sale now from 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk