For those theatregoers unable to catch John Doyle's fascinating revival of Sweeney Todd currently running on Broadway, Nonesuch Records releases, today, the cast recording of this new staging.

While I had reservations about what I saw on the stage at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, this new recording, produced by Tommy Krasker, reveals what a towering achievement this production is in its reconception and reconfiguring of this contemporary classic.

While listeners cannot enjoy Doyle's haunting visuals from the disc, it's impossible to not hear what's changed from the show's original production (staged originally by Hal Prince and orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick). The new "Sweeney" begins quietly, gone is the wail of the factory whistle. Manoel Feliciano's delicately-sung Tobias starts the proceedings quietly, inviting the listener to "attend the tale of 'Sweeney Todd.'" (Later, he'll deliver a robust interpretation of "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir," a rendition upon which he builds upon in "God That's Good.")

The relative quiet of the opening comes thanks to Sarah Travis' new orchestrations – which are for the dozen or so instruments which are played by the members of the ensemble. The Nonesuch disc is perhaps most valuable as it gives the listener – theater fan or Sondheim aficionado – the chance to savor Travis' work and the wonderful new layers that she gives to Sondheim's lush score. For instance, there's a terrific churning insistence of the cello underlying Anthony's initial delivery of "Ah, Miss."

What's most impressive about this recording of Travis' orchestration is their richness and full-bodied sound. Very rarely do these 12 pieces fail to deliver the thrill that one finds on other recordings of "Sweeney" where Sondheim's music is played by 40 people (the original Broadway cast recording) or a full compliment of the New York Philharmonic (the 2000 concert recording from Avery Fisher Hall).

Just as listeners will find freshness throughout the recording in Travis' orchestrations, the performers, too, find new shadings in their roles. Alexander Gemignani's Beadle for example is a shining example of dryness that becomes both comedic and menacing. Mark Jacoby's Judge Turpin is beautifully sung and the actor gives the character a strange sadness vocally. In the roles of the two lovers, Anthony and Johanna, Benjamin Magnuson and Lauren Molina bring a youthful zest to their vocals, yet each finds the characters' darker shadings.

Michael Cerveris makes an impressive Sweeney. His voice scales the big numbers – particularly "Epiphany" – with force. What's most wonderful in listening to his performance is the sadder, and at times, almost childlike, quality that he gives to certain lines or musical phrases. It's as if the events of his life have managed to make him regress, which gives an interesting new layer of complexity to the murderous streak on which Sweeney embarks.

As Mrs. Lovett, Patti LuPone has done something that's truly remarkable. She has rethought much, if not all, of her interpretation of the role. LuPone sings the score beautifully on the concert recording of the score, blending some of her signature vocal qualities with the sort of dotty characterization that Angela Lansbury brought to the role originally. On the new "Sweeney" disc, however, LuPone has delved deep into the darker realms of the character. Early on, Mrs. Lovett's lust and longing for Sweeney are palpable on the disc. Later, she blends these qualities with what can only be called a Lady Macbeth-like ambition. Throughout, there's a sexy earthiness to her vocals that banishes, perhaps forever, the wide-eyed kooky Mrs. Lovett that has lingered in theatergoers' memories since the late 1970s.

As befits this new interpretation, Nonesuch has given Sweeney Todd a first class package. The jewelcase for the show (which has several color photographs of the production) and the accompanying booklet – with complete lyrics (so you can track the slight revisions to lyrics throughout), notes from Doyle, Travis and a synopsis by Sean Patrick Flahaven, and black and white photographs are boxed, a beautiful package for a beautiful recording.