The story behind the songs from the play is about Evita Peron, her life and rise to power and demise.
Yes this is a classic from the beginning. This play is one of the, if not the high point for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Everything comes together to tell of this point in history. The inflections of the singers leave you with the question of who was Evita and does not sway you to any one point of view. The Songs themselves have more of a feel of the time than originals from that time would have.
Being a play and not a movie the singers had to sing and be heard and understood. All of the performers are professionals in their own right; especially Patti LuPone Who has to perform with very little breathing room. She also has a good range and depth. So be sure to look for "1978 Original Broadway Cast"