Starlight Express the Musical Wiki
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Starlight Express is orchestrated by Andrew Lloyd Webber with, depending on the production David Cullen (Bochum 2018) or Matthew Brind (Wembley 2024).

In most productions, the orchestra is hidden from the audience, either under the stage (as in London) or in an separate room backstage (as in New York and Bochum).

Over the years, the score has been re-orchestrated to keep up with musical fashion, and for increasingly smaller orchestras.

Orchestrations by production[]

Original London Production (1984-1992)[]

Orchestra Room Bochum

The Orchestra Room, backstage at the Starlight Express Theater, Bochum

  1. Keyboard 1 / Harmonica
  2. Keyboard 2
  3. Keyboard 3
  4. Drums
  5. Guitars
  6. Bass Guitar
  7. Percussion
  8. Trumpet 1
  9. Trumpet 2
  10. Trumpet 3
  11. Trumpet 4
  12. French Horn
  13. Trombone 1
  14. Trombone 2
  15. Tenor Sax/Flute/Piccolo
  16. Alto & Baritone Sax/Clarinet

New York 1987[]

  1. Keyboard 1
  2. Keyboard 2
  3. Keyboard 3
  4. Keyboard 4
  5. Drums
  6. Guitar 1
  7. Guitar 2
  8. Bass
  9. Percussion
  10. Trumpet 1
  11. Trumpet 2
  12. Trumpet 3
  13. Trumpet 4
  14. Trombone 1
  15. Trombone 2
  16. French Horn
  17. Bass Trombone 1
  18. Bass Trombone 2
  19. Reeds 1
  20. Reeds 2
  21. Reeds 3
  22. Reeds 4

Bochum 1988[]

  1. Keyboards I
  2. Keyboards II
  3. Keyboards III
  4. Trumpet I
  5. Trumpet II
  6. Trumpet III
  7. Clarinet/Sax/Flute
  8. Picc/Flute/Sax
  9. Sax/Flute/Clarinet
  10. Trombone I
  11. Trombone II
  12. Horn
  13. Guitar I
  14. Guitar II
  15. Bass
  16. Drums
  17. Percussion

Also the vocals were supported by six booth singers.

'New' London Production (1992-2002)[]

  1. Keyboard 1 / Harmonica
  2. Keyboard 2
  3. Keyboard 3
  4. Keyboard 4
  5. Drums
  6. Guitar 1
  7. Guitar 2
  8. Bass Guitar
  9. Percussion
  10. Trumpet 1
  11. Trumpet 2
  12. Trumpet 3
  13. French Horn
  14. Trombone 1
  15. Trombone 2
  16. Tenor Sax/Flute/Piccolo

UK Tour 2004[]

Accompanied by the 3D Race films.

  1. Keyboard 1
  2. Keyboard 2
  3. Guitar
  4. Bass
  5. Drums
  6. Alto/Tenor Sax & Flute
  7. Trumpet
  8. Trombone


Bochum 2007[]

  1. Keyboard I
  2. Keyboard II
  3. Trumpet
  4. Sax/Clarinet/Picc/Flute
  5. Trombone
  6. Guitar I
  7. Guitar II
  8. Bass
  9. Drums

UK Tour 2012/Bochum 2013 (licensed as 'The Definitive Starlight Express')[]

Finale band B16 37

The Band take their bow, Bochum 2016

  1. Keyboard 1
  2. Keyboard 2
  3. Guitars
  4. Bass
  5. Drums
  6. Alto & Tenor Sax/Flute/Piccolo
  7. Trumpet
  8. Trombone

2017 London workshop[]

  1. Keyboard 1
  2. Keyboard 2
  3. Keyboard 3
  4. Harmonica
  5. Guitar 1
  6. Guitar 2
  7. Bass
  8. Drums

2018 Bochum[1][]

  1. Keyboard 1
  2. Keyboard 2
  3. Keyboard 3
  4. Guitar 1
  5. Guitar 2
  6. Bass
  7. Drums

2024 Wembley[2][]

  1. Keyboard 1
  2. Keyboard 2
  3. Keyboard 3
  4. Guitar 1
  5. Guitar 2
  6. Bass
  7. Drums

Technology[]

The music in Starlight Express is performed live. To maintain consistency – both for the cast and the overall effect of the show – the band plays to a metronome that uses a detailed tempo map. This means that the songs are always performed at exactly the same speed, including moments when the music speeds up or slows down for dramatic effect[3].

In the UK and 2nd US tours, the race music was recorded, accompanying 3D race footage on screens in the auditorium.

References[]

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