Who Sang It Best? ‘Anthem’ climax - Chess

A selection of actors to portray Anatoly in the musicals history as well as high profile concert versions and Musical stars singing in concert. Enjoy!
1. Tommy Korberg
2. Julian Ovenden
3. Josh Groban
4. Lee Mead
5. Michael Ball
6. Rodrick Dixon
7. Yngve Gasoy-Romdal
8. Ben Forster
9. Jason Manford
10. Jai McDowall
11. Hadley Fraser
12. Ramin Karimloo
13. John Owen-Jones
No copyright infringements intended

[@pstorm8396]

They all are amazing singers, but for this song the original Tommy körberg does it in a way noone else can. When you listen to him singing it you understand why this song was made for him.

[@JL-rt9mi]

Oh man, the greatest of all is missing: the stunningly gifted (and tragically short-lived) David Carroll from the Broadway 1988 cast.

[@fionak6300]

Anthony Warlow needs to be on this list. Thank you for introducing me to Tommy though, goosebumps!

[@tdilport]

Definitely my favorite!

[@connormehaffey1838]

Linda Eder as well

[@Cubachik]

Yes, I was waiting for Anthony Warlow’s stirring rendition!

[@TheRealWooldoorSockbat]

Anthony was the only one on the same lvl then Tommy. He probably sang it even a little better, but… Tommy knows and feel this song like no one else ❤

[@crumulous9371]

Heard Tommy Korberg sing it in 1984. 40 years (and many shows later) his remains the most sensational male voice I've ever heard in musical theatre.

[@jeannebosse7137]

This list is totally incomplete without the late, great David Carroll, Anatoly of the 1988 Broadway production. Ironic that I found this compilation today, World AIDS Day, the plague that took the supremely talented Carroll. While all of these men are fine artists, my vote is for David Carroll and Ramin Karimloo, the only performers who, for me, truly captured Anatoly’s anguish and despair. And, despite only hearing both of them on video, the only ones who gave me goosebumps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oarTeKSjbc-EoKM

[@larrystuckeyii2238]

THE CORRECT ANSWER!!!!!

[@ChuckMusicDinoLover]

In May, 1988 I moved to NYC to pursue a career in musical theatre (especially Broadway). My good friend and new roommate had turned me onto "Chess" about a year or so earlier. So I was excited to see the new Broadway version. We were very lucky to get tickets for it. After the unexpected announcement that it would be closing on June 25th, all the die-hard fans scrambled to see it once more! That night I saw it, I instantly became a fan of David Carroll, Philip Casnoff, and to this day, my favorite female Broadway singer, Judy Kuhn. I am so thankful of being able to see this show and its remarkable cast live!

[@jeannebosse7137]

You were truly fortunate!

[@linusl3144]

David Carroll, yes!

[@lindacunnah3323]

M

[@cherylshearer]

Had the privilege of seeing Tommy sing this when the show was first performed in London's westend - will always be his song to me.

[@ninamodi15]

Totally agree. Saw him live too. Ramin comes in a close second

[@VenusAlabaster]

Tommy Körberg all the way!

[@Bear99737]

Absolutely!!! No one touches him here, although I will say I was thoroughly impressed with Michael Ball!

[@pidde24]

Probably Josh Groban. Even though I am Swede. He has a open sound still making the formants ring. Tommy Körberg is nr 2 on this list - maybe the most musical. But with a little to much nasality even though the ending d has great overtones. I would have loved to hear Gino Vannelli sing it with maybe the most beautiful pop-baryton the world has seen.

[@CeRz]

Tommy körberg, don't ever compare anyone with him again. He is beyond comparable, no one can do it better than him.

[@spacefanatic]

Josh Groban sang this best.

[@adaywithoutdonald64]

Agreed

[@mpeg7523]

The original will always be the best The way he sang it is so emotional up to the end Anthony Warlow has a good version of this song

[@hauntsandamusements]

I feel that this song was meant to be sung by pop-legit high baritones/baritenors à la Tommy Körberg, so voices like Groban, Karimloo, Ball, and Jones work perfectly. However, two versions not included here: Anthony Warlow’s beautiful classically trained lyric baritone and the late David Carroll’s light “legit” musical theater high baritone/tenor, are my favorite versions.

[@FN1980a]

My personal preference is Tommy's '84 original Polar studio recording but i'm also a swede so, go figure! :-P

[@barbarahoblin5884]

Josh Groban

[@Sharpe1502]

I listened to a recording of Hadley Fraser’s Anthem and it quickly became my favorite. Josh Groban’ sis a close second because both of his productions were the first versions I watched and I have familiarity bias. Julian Ovenden is my third favorite.

[@seanvital5223]

I would say Tommy for sure. I wish they picked a better recording of Josh Groban because he does an amazing job in the anniversary live concert edition?

[@CatchTheLoveBug]

Tommy Körberg is my all time fav. He is the og.

[@ΘωμάςΒούλγαρης-σ7ο]

Josh Groban

[@beccaschenell671]

I mean, it was written for Tommy Körberg, and no one will beat him in this song. Ever.

[@lunatickgeo]

It's a little unfair since some have really bad audio so I don't think we are hearing them at their best. That said, I think no one did it better than David Carroll. Although it's entirely possible I think so because I grew up listening to the Broadway cast recording so his and Judy Kuhn's versions are the definitive ones for me.

[@geraldinePage-c9r]

Groban from 2008 is amazing. Tommy is fabulous and Michael Ball - these are like the "The Three Tenors" even though they are high baritones LOL. The rest are solid and some honorable mentions Rodrick Dixon gorgeous voice - just didn't agree with interpretation which was too much. Ramin is great but again he oversung it. The song gives you everything you need without embellishment.

[@Blazingstoke]

First of all, no one will ever top Körberg; second, no Colm Wilkinson? That was his audition song for _Les Miz,_ he deserves at least an honorable mention.

[@AJKoehler]

Hadley as Anatoly is something I didn’t know I needed. Now that I know this was a thing, I’m thrilled.

[@robertplattner1636]

First: Tommy Körberg, Second: Anthony Warlow on his album Centre Stage.

[@jenniferberkane]

I chose Tommy, not only because he comes from my birth country Sweden but his voice is so much softer. If you had put Josh Groban there he would definitely take it away by 1000%

[@alexisprudhomme9349]

Lol hes there. 3rd singer

[@manchestervermont3777]

Only Tommy!

[@richardk.4503]

all great voices. Personal preference is Korberg but Groban is a close second. Also sometimes less is more *coughmrdixoncough*

[@leifsrensen839]

Tommy körberg for sure No one else

[@RGondaJr]

How about Anthony Warlow's version?

[@JamesUmali-fw1fe]

1.Tommy 2.Julian 3.Josh 4.Lee

[@paulzenco6182]

All are.really great. My vote best ever goes to the power of Anthony Warlow

[@annaullman6395]

Tommy!❤

[@bloodtester]

Love Josh Groban. You're missing Anthony Warlow's version though 😮

[@chad.antonio84]

Anthony Warlow needs to be included. But he does sound like Ramin Karimloo who is included in this collection, both singers with that magnificent sound of total abandonment as they sing their lungs out!

[@tubamanandy2]

For me, Michael Ball & Jai McDonall

[@Bear99737]

I’m sorry, but nobody comes close to Tommy Körberg! He sings this song with so much power, heart, and emotional rawness and abandonment that no one else can touch him. And he gets better every time he sings it (it’s epic in Swedish too!). However, I will say that I was immensely impressed with Michael Ball’s performance and will give him 2nd place. Ramin gets an honorable mention here as well. I have always loved his voice; so powerful!

[@andrewplatts3865]

Tommy Korberg - live was a gift

[@streips]

I like them all. I've always wondered why 'Chess' was such a flop. It's got wonderful music.

[@robertdejong5797]

The book was horrible. Fortunately they continue to work on it. The Broadway version was a travesty and deserved to be a flop. Saw a concert production at Kennedy Center in DC pre-Covid with Raul Esperenza as Freddie, Ramin Karmiloo as Anatoly and Karen Olivo as Florence that was incredible. I felt this version solved the book problem.

[@Bear99737]

The original book was not historically accurate at all (one would never get away with defecting from the USSR unscathed; Anatoly’s entire family would have been executed; that throws a huge wrench in the entire plot line) and therefore fell a bit short. However, the book of the Swedish production was SOOOO much better!!! Sadder, yes, but WAY more historically accurate! Even with the original book being not as good as it could have been, I still think it was/is a FANTASTIC musical, just because of how truly masterful the music is! The score has intricacies that I have never heard in another musical score; masterpiece.

[@victoriagill1588]

Only US, it was huge in UK

[@anthonysmith8800]

Problem with Chess, is that the music is leagues above the story. As a standalone recorded musical it is leagues above so many others

[@janlittle2148]

I saw it in London and loved it. I have never understood why it has been forgotten.

[@mburns75]

YOU FORGOT LINDA EDER!!! She nails it with her remarkable voice and keeps the essence of the original interpretation. It’s on her Broadway Album.

[@robertdejong5797]

Listen to the way Michael Ball sings petty that makes him my favorite.

[@zuhalyilmaz6624]

Julian Ovenden's vocal is so rich.

[@Hope-bi9kh]

I agree. He's a wonderful singer! I've never heard him go flat or sharp like some. slightly

[@ladyjennyanytime5195]

he's perfect and the tempo isn't too fast like some of the others speeding through it. Although Tommy as creator of the role will always hold a special place in my heart as does Michaels version. He was fab live too. 😀

[@marthaaxford2812]

Josh, Ramin, and Hadley

[@anne-marie.beate.jensen]

Tommy is the OG and I listened to him sing this song ALOT when I was a child. But my absolute all time favourite singing this song is Swedish singer, musical actor and entertainer John Martin Bengtsson 🎶 💜 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnyxoIGYqK-tibM

[@mrbyrne96]

Dixon just hit so different 😭 beautiful

[@davidshelby9737]

With the combination of power and clarity of tone, Rodrick Dixon hands down.

[@lauriezane4062]

Josh Groban and Michael ball

[@mikechessin1450]

Was this compiled using cassette tape or 8-track cartridges? I’ve heard better audio quality from NASA moon landings

[@Mayim1982]

top of the top - Tommy Körberg, of course. But first time I heard it was ages ago version sung by Michael Ball, so sort of special for me. Ramin of course, and I like as well version of John Owen-Jones + version made by Colm Wilkinson on Broadway and Beyond

[@ilsaruthen5478]

Thank you for this. I love this song no matter who sings it. You've included so many of my favorite singers here that I can't choose a "BEST". They each have their own interpretations and each performance is impressive. Michael Ball's performance is one of my favorites, but I have heard him sing it better than in this clip. Same for Hadley and Ramin. It might have been easier to choose a "best" if the volume of the chorus and orchestra wasn't so overwhelming in so many of the clips. That said, I don't think John Owen Jones could have done any better. He was amazing!

[@samisaac4443]

Ramin Karimloo ❤️

[@danielpooleoriginal]

John Owen Jones

[@petesomer8495]

Tommy Korberg will always be the king❤

[@lordyeetus6317]

It's hard to go past the pure passion he brings to it.

[@louisemazan4695]

Michael Ball........

[@thomasbonilla4316]

Why are there comparisons between Rodrick Dixon and Carlos Marin? They are two completely different types of tenors singing two completely different types of music. Even Marin in his recording of "Mi Aldea" shows himself to be more of a high lyric tenor. Rodrick sounds like a heldentenor, a spinto tenor, a spieltenor, a buffo tenor or a dramatic tenor to me. Comparisons always erk me. This African-American deserves mad props for singing this piece as well as he does, even if it is a half step low. Bravo Rodrick Dixon!

[@marthy995]

I know that hes not in the real lineup but the Rhapsofy in Rock performer/ you-tuber Tommy Johanson did go up like an extra octave in the final chorus & i do not know if even this guys can do that?

[@wojciechsmarkala7775]

Jerry Hadley😢

[@AshwellNigel-bh4ox]

And where is Murray Head?? In my view the "original" and the best. He gave "anthem" the performance of the greatest "character!". And that us how it should be!

[@antonellacorvaglia4546]

Josh Groban

[@spacefanatic]

Josh Groban's version is the best followed by Michael Ball, although all the songs sound a little distorted on this upload.

[@joandevries1256]

Recordings are horrible so i cannot say

[@italianovero220]

Everyone sounds great. I’d recommend listening to Jan Werner, specifically his 2004 live recording. He was amazing. RIP

[@kathleenwagg3030]

I liked them all ❤❤

[@ricmarc7156]

the guy that did it on the original album. same goes for every other song.

[@michaelhearn1676]

Without question, Josh Groban. But you are forgetting the man who sang it originally on Broadway--the late, great David Carroll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ScottTStokes]

David Carroll all day long! Josh Groban is second and then Tommy for me.

[@svenroeddik8807]

Stig Rossen should be on the list close to Tommy!

[@larissabrewington9065]

Why is the sound awful? Michael Ball and Hadley Fraser were really good.

[@andreahomer9434]

What fantastic clips. Out of those included here, my top two would be: 1. Michael Ball 2. John Owen Jones They were the only two who went for the "money note" and took it to a whole different level. Quite literally! However, my top three would include an omission from this clip. My all-time top three in order are: 1. Anthony Warlow (criminally underrated and quite possibly my favourite musical theatre singer ever) 2. Michael Ball 3. John Owen Jones Thank you so much for sharing this. It's obviously a labour of love for you, but it brings so much joy to those of us listening. A thousand times thank you! Any chance of a "This Is The Moment" comparison? That would be a blast!

[@connorlcoopersings6714]

Anthony Warlow is incredible, and I agree that he's underrated. His Enjolras changed my life

[@simonhamlin6488]

Imo the A5 at the end isn't how the song was written, and so hitting that note is gratuitous and showy. I vote 100% Körberg!

[@hollijones-white506]

What, no mention of Geronímo Rauch cerca 2012-2013?

[@absatinsky169]

There's a rawness to Korberg's voice that makes his version the best IMO. Dixon's is too overdone and is at the bottom for me.

[@thesurvivorofhathsin8486]

Do yourselves a favor and look up anthony warlow on his album and colm wilkinson on his album singing this song.

[@fredrikberg4516]

But it is unfair to Hadley Fraser; terrible recording.

[@AshwellNigel-bh4ox]

I stand to be corrected, but I think Murray Head was the "original" singer, and thus in my mind, the best. Definitely the most charismatic!!

[@michaeltattersall6766]

Not for Anthem. He was the original Freddy and he did the definitive “Pity the Singer”

[@missimin]

Wow, this is a hard one to choose. I always love Karimloo singing it but I also loved Ben Forster and Jason Manford. Josh Groban also does the song justice. Too hard to pick just one.

[@librarycollection3795]

May say the audio quality on all tracks here is utterly abysmal? Find it hard to believe none of them have a good recording of this masterpiece.

[@johntlew]

Most of them over-sing it. David Carroll is my favorite

[@barbarahoblin5884]

Lee Mead doesn't not have the voice for this song in my opinion. Josh Groban the best.

[@danielhughes441]

Why the hell isn’t David Carroll on this list?!

[@steffenmrsk4720]

That ridiculous piccolo part!! 😒

[@tobyjamesmusic]

Thank you for making this. I'm playing Anatoly in 11 days time for a 5 show run. Ive been unhappy with the ending of Anthem, feeling like I was doing it all wrong. It's really useful to have so many interpretations all in one place, seeing the similarities and differences. I think as an amateur performer its easy to get caught up in the pomp and power of a song like this and foeget the vulnerability. For that reason, Ramin Karimloo is the winner for me

[@ChristianPersson-lm6sk]

Tommy has a steel to his voice that few has.. Tom Jones has it, that's the only one i can think of..

[@ireneyoung8696]

Josh Groban every time.

[@epazza2679]

Ramin😊

[@janethuston1091]

Ramin, Hadley, Michael Ball, Tommy Korberg, Julian Ovendon

[@irenepage1361]

Hadley Fraser,hands down the best.

[@danielmccafferty7975]

My God, the way Tommy sings 'where' gives me goosebumps

[@robertbordevik5072]

Is this a joke? Tommy Tommy Tommy all the way!!!!

[@koropec]

Ramin Karimloo every time!!

[@lounolastname4477]

No one can beat Tommy ❤️

[@fredtaylor2782]

Julian Ovenden was clearest and best

[@gwenpeacock3302]

Tommy, Josh and Jai

[@aionlover3981]

Ramin Karimloo and Jeremy Jordan of course.

[@bigfoot99]

Tommy Korberg set the standard here. No one has been able to edge him out yet. I also like Ben Forsters version.

[@laurenolshan4565]

I went in thinking no one could beat Josh, but I have to give it to Ramin Karimloo. You have to have vulnerability with this, not just power, and I feel he did that.

[@louisecozier8581]

I am a big fan of Ramin. I saw him in Love Never Dies, the best Phantom ever! Someone who I also like singing this song is Karl Loxley. Hard to choose though as others sing it so well.

[@tdilport]

I really like the change he made too.

[@MrCharlieSurf]

Ramin!

[@cassandralock4784]

Only Boys Aloud in 2012

[@jimmyd05]

I’ve been a fanatic of Chess since 1984 when I bought the studio LP on the basis of One Night in Bangkok and the ABBA pedigree. I’ve listened and watched multiple versions of it ever since. Anthem is one of those compositions that is nearly impossible to ruin, just like Tonight from West Side Story. It is a song that still gives me chills after nearly 40 years. After all those versions and the ones I’ve never heard before on this video, it is impossible not to vote for the OG, Tommy Korberg. There are analysis videos out there of him singing it in concert over the years and how unsurpassed and in command he is of this song in particular. I have been a fan of Josh Groban since he was selling his debut album on late night TV. However, I did not think his rendition was even the best from Chess In Concert. Idina Menzel’s reprise backed by the whole company is incredible. This video is incomplete without that performance!

[@nezkeys79]

Rodrick is my least fave that's for sure

[@johntlew]

Tempo is too slow on some of them

[@dsnycar]

Lee, Jai, and Ramin❤❤❤

[@rachelsparling9409]

Josh all the way