A Little Night Music...Which Cast recording?

About to buy a copy off Amazon ( really cheap OBC )But having never heard any of the recordings before, which one would people suggest.

Have seen the movie and also a stunning production by the Melbourne Theatre Company.

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The OBCR is the best of the in print recordings--gorgeous enhanced orchestra (didn't they add something like 20 strings) and classic performances, plus, with Night Waltz II on the restored edition (make sure you get that and not the 80s/early 90s printing), great new sound the only major music you'll miss (well I miss) is the dinner underscore... Plus they added the film Glamorous Life as a bonus track and it's gorgeous (and has never been performed as gorgeously since)

The London cast album has some highlights but the only toher CD I play is the Royal National one with Judi Dench--great performances, a bit more complete with the odd changes made (Husband the Pig and a new amalgmated Glamorous Life), but now VERY VERY VERY hard to find.

I also have an odd fondness for the soundtrack--the orchestrations are tighter (especially Little Death), the performance son record all good (Laurence and Len are more polished than they were on the OBCR) to brilliant (Diana Rigg) and I like some of the changes to the score (the new material, tightenign and reordering Now/Soon/Later, making Henrick/Erik a lower key which contrasts the other voices better--and means I can sing him). But it's of course very incomplete if you love the score.

So by all means, especially as you said it was cheap, go with the grand OBCR.

E

EricMontreal is exactly right for all the right reasons!

OBC

Royal National Theatre recording,has no equal!Judy Dench's performance,on stage & on the recording is breathtaking.

Thanks all, will go with the OBC.

Will also see if i can track down the RNT Production as well.

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I still find the Johns' rendition of "Clowns" definitive, though La Dench is a close second. I love that recording, except Hodge, whose strange warble isn't my taste. I'm not bothered at all by the amalgamated "Glamourous Life," but perhaps it's from repeated playings; I love the "Petra's song" piece, sung alone in the film, and cannot get enough. I agree that Rigg's Charlotte is perhaps the single best bit of casting of that role, ever; too bad Prince couldn't film the show with anything approximating the right style (Vincent Minelli ... if only.) I didn't know that "Petra's Song" had been added to the re-issue. Who does it? I backordered the DVD, by the way, and they are to be mailed 6/5.

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The OBC recording is fabulous. I'm listening to it now!

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