Broadway Records to release MY FAIR LADY cast album — Page 5

Just listened to a snippet and OMG Lauren actually has a gorgeous voice.

jacobsnchz14 said: "https://www.broadwayrecords.com/cds/my-fair-lady-2018-broadway-cast-recording"



My first-ever iTunes download! I think I cried a bit listening to the Overture.

71 days and counting until I see the show!!!

Dancingthrulife2 said: "I really wish they could've found a better way to handle the ending, since whatthis specific production does NOT need is a rehash of the ending that keeps Shaw spinning in his grave."



Is this reflected in (you’re specifically referring to) this new cast album release? Maybe I shouldn’t listen to it all the way through then?

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Without spoiling anything, all I can say is that the impression that the last track of the cast album left me is exactly the opposite of how I felt seeing the show live."



So, would you recommend not listening to Track 19 “Finale”? Is this the one you’re referring to?

Dancingthrulife2 said: "If you have experienced the material in other forms before, it doesn't hurt to listen to that track. But it is not an accurate representation of the last few minutes of the production, also one of the most moving moments in this production. Just keep in mind that there's more in the finale than the "finale" track lets on and you should be fine."



I’ve never read the book it’s based on, seen any of the movies or shows, nor listened to any version of the soundtracks before. I think maybe I’ll hold off on listening to that last track.

I do wish it was available on Apple Music, since that's a paid service.

R. GreenFinch said: "I do wish it was available on Apple Music, since that's a paid service."



It’s not on Napster either. I checked this morning before going to iTunes to download the album. Still very happy with my purchase.

Updated On: 6/8/18 at 09:41 AM

Dancing, I don’t disagree that the Finale track fails to capture what this particular production does... but I’m hard-pressed to think of any way they could’ve preserved it on a cast album. Pretty much everything that makes this production’s finale heartbreaking, joyous, and triumphant is, well, visual. And done during silence. How could they have changed the track to reflect it?

Updated On: 6/8/18 at 10:13 AM

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "We do get the tail end of the Servant's chorus in "Rain in Spain" but not the full performance.

Btw, when I saw it in previews, Lauren Ambrose did not have that lovely reprise of "Loverly" when she went back to Covent Garden after "Show Me" (the three men did though). However, on the album, she definitely has it and I was very happily surprised to hear her sing it. Is it in the show now?

I also, don't know how the audio recording can truly capture the ending of this specific production considering it all happens in silence and then to the usual exit music."

Yes, Eliza’s reprise of Loverly is in the show. As much as I love this particular recording, I wish it would have included the Just You Wait and On the Street Where You Live reprises, as well as the full Servants’ Chrous.

Still, it’s a great cast album!

divarobbie2 said: "For those of you interested, Vulture has a first listen stream of the album through Monday. Enjoy!

http://www.vulture.com/2018/06/first-listen-my-fair-lady-revivals-broadway-cast-recording.html"

Thanks for this

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "We do get the tail end of the Servant's chorus in "Rain in Spain" but not the full performance.

Btw, when I saw it in previews, Lauren Ambrose did not have that lovely reprise of "Loverly" when she went back to Covent Garden after "Show Me" (the three men did though). However, on the album, she definitely has it and I was very happily surprised to hear her sing it. Is it in the show now?

I also, don't know how the audio recording can truly capture the ending of this specific production considering it all happens in silence and then to the usual exit music. I guess they could have sustained some silence for a few beats after Hadden-Paton's line."

Yes, she does sing the reprise in the show, exactly as it is on this recording (and as it is in the script and in other productions).

And I think the reason most recordings do not include Poor Professor Higgins is because it's the same verse repeated three times with different lyrics. Its primary function is to link scenes within a montage. It works beautifully onstage (particularly in this production) but when making cuts to fit an album on one disc, it's the obvious thing to go. This album also cut the reprise of With a Little But of Luck and the playoff verse of Get Me to the Church On Time (the slower section starting with "Mornin' is clearin' off to bed now". Ultimately, they only cut things that are repeated elsewhere on the album, but it would be nice to have the full score. There is a studio album from 1993 which recorded every single note of the score, although its performances aren't nearly as exciting as this cast.

I think the clarity of sound is incredible. You can almost hear every instrument. Nothing gets lost. It's wonderful to hear these orchestrations recorded in 2018 with the technology we have now to allow us to hear the tiny details that might get a bit lost on older recordings. The first surprise was hearing the Overture with an ending. I've never heard the Overture with a big finish. It usually leads right into the second piece of music with the buskers. I probably would have preferred they record it as played in the theatre but it wasn't too distracting.

I think Lauren sounds delightful. Harry took a little getting used to since Rex Harrison's voice from the film and original Broadway cast recording is practically burned in my memory. Harry sings a bit more than Rex did. He's not afraid to sing it. He holds out some actual notes which is a refreshing change. Norbert Leo Butz is a pleasant surprise. When they announced his casting I wasn't sure about it because his voice is always so distinctly Norbert, and I didn't know if he'd be able to master the accent. I don't think I've ever heard him do an accent before this, but I should never have doubted him. He's perfect.

Some things I missed, like all the celebratory dialogue during the dance music in "The Rain in Spain" but that's minor. They also could have included more of the chorus bits leading up to "The Rain in Spain," "Ascot Gavotte," and some of the reprises in the second act. No big deal but there is extra space on the disc that would have allowed for it so why not? If I'm not mistaken, we do get a taste of the original Entr'acte at the start of "The Embassy Waltz" track. That was a nice surprise. I also think this is the first recording to include the "Flower Market" reprise, other than the 2 disc Jay Records album which seems to have included absolutely every piece of music in the show and is worth a listen for that alone.

Overall, I found it enjoyable. Nothing can ever replace the original Broadway cast recording for me simply because the performances from Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews cannot be matched. Still, to have an updated recording with these orchestrations, additional dialogue, dance music that we didn't get the first time, and some strong performances, it's a worthy addition to sit on the shelf next to the original Broadway cast recording.

It is entirely up to the holders of the copyrights for My Fair Lady to determine who will receive the rights to play or to record the music. Up until recently, the copyrights were controlled by organizations run by the heirs of Lerner and Loewe. If those holding the copyrights had no objection to your receiving the rights to play or record the music, you received the rights in exchange for royalty payments.

Last year the Lerner and Loewe copyrights were sold to an organization called Music Theater International. MTI should be less interested in preserving the original material by not allowing major changes.

So they might have refused rights to broadcasting the music to Spotify and Apple iTunes for a certain period so that the only way to listen was to buy the CD. I don't know if this makes any sense from a business point of view. Or Spotify simply did not license the music for broadcast.

And eventually, or course, copyrights expire and the music passes into the public domain, where all can access the music for free.

Updated On: 6/8/18 at 08:20 PM