The long-awaited Rachel Zegler Evita Album has officially been released, featuring the 10-track cast recording of Jamie Lloyd’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Evita. The production concluded its performances on September 6 at the London Palladium, with the album now accessible on all major streaming services. Additionally, the producers announced plans for a full cast recording, containing every song from the show, scheduled for release in 2026.
This initial album is issued by The Other Songs label and includes two previously released tracks spotlighting Rachel Zegler’s role as Eva Duarte: “Rainbow High” and “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” the latter of which topped the official UK Vinyl Singles Chart three times.
Tracks and Cast Highlights Featured on the Current Album
The album comprises well-known songs such as Oh What A Circus, “Buenos Aires,”
“I’d Be Surprisingly Good for You,”
“Another Suitcase in Another Hall,” “A New Argentina,” “High Flying Adored,”
“And The Money Kept Rollin’ In (And Out),”
and “You Must Love Me”—the latter written specifically for the 1996 film adaptation starring Madonna. Alongside Rachel Zegler, notable performances come from Diego Andres Rodriguez, James Olivas, Aaron Lee Lambert, and Bella Brown.
Recorded live at the London Palladium earlier in the summer, the highlights album will also be issued on collectible white and blue marble vinyl, as well as CD, with pre-orders already open to the public.
Production Team and Notable Contributions
The album’s production credits include Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jamie Lloyd, Adam Fisher, and Alan Williams, with Tim Rice and Lloyd Webber serving as executive producers. This collaboration reflects the ongoing stewardship of the musical’s legacy by its original creators and present-day theatre leaders.
Background of Evita and Its Stage and Film Legacy
Evita chronicles the rise of Eva Duarte, an illegitimate young woman from Los Toldos who ascended to prominence in Argentina as an actress and eventually as the nation’s First Lady, before her untimely death at 33 from cancer. Songs like “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Buenos Aires,” “Rainbow High,” and “High Flying Adored” capture key moments of her journey.
The musical debuted as a two-LP concept album in 1976 with Julie Covington in the lead and Colm Wilkinson as Che. Harold Prince directed the original London and New York stage productions, which introduced stars such as Elaine Paige in London and Mandy Patinkin alongside Patti LuPone on Broadway. The Broadway production earned seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Rice and Lloyd Webber had previously created Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar, with Evita marking their final major collaboration.
In 1996, the musical was adapted into a film starring Madonna, Antonio Banderas, and Jonathan Pryce. On stage, the most recent Broadway revival happened in 2012 with Elena Roger and Ricky Martin. Attempts to return Evita to Broadway’s Main Stem have continued, including a production at New York’s City Center in November 2019. That version featured Solea Pfeiffer and Maia Reficco alternating in the title role under Sammi Cannold’s direction, later staging runs in Washington, D.C., and Cambridge, Massachusetts, although future productions remain uncertain.
Jamie Lloyd originally directed Evita in 2019 at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, laying the groundwork for the current West End revival.
Significance and Upcoming Developments in the Evita Franchise
The release of the Rachel Zegler Evita Album arrives amid varied reactions to this new production of a renowned musical, highlighting an ongoing connection between a modern cast and the show’s storied past. The announced full cast recording for 2026 will offer audiences a more comprehensive experience of the entire score, potentially renewing interest in this timeless story for new generations of theatre enthusiasts.
Given the history of revivals and film adaptations, these new releases could lead to further stage opportunities or tours, solidifying Evita’s place in contemporary musical theatre worldwide.
