Posted: 9/13/24 at 10:18pm
As an FYI, this recording was released today. I was surprised that, after all the comments about it when it was announced months ago, there haven’t been posts about the recording now that it’s been released.
Posted: 9/13/24 at 10:56pm
The singers are good, the orchestra is sublime, but the dialogue portions are kind of limp when they show up.
The Broadway revival with Michael Hayden is hard to beat- I will always love its juxtaposition of operatic and rough, polished and almost punk.
Posted: 9/14/24 at 8:50am
I gave this a complete listen and loved it! The orchestra sounds fabulous and I loved getting some dynamics in the Carousel Waltz I wasn’t used to hearing. My biggest gripe was the person playing Nettie is clearly a singer and not a great actress, but that is so inconsequential on something like this. I’m actually teaching a lecture on Carousel in a few weeks so this was a nice familiarization.
Posted: 9/14/24 at 6:37pm
This has really been great for me! I'm not as used to the faster tempo of the opening waltz and I agree with the review that I wouldn't have minded some more rubato, but it's fantastic to hear all the different parts with the original orchestrations come out. I thought the mixing was fantastic, especially in the instrumental sections, as it seemed particularly well balanced between all the different instrument lines. The vocals are probably a bit lower than most of the more modern cast albums where it's more vocal forward but once I got used to that it was fine.
I love being able to hear the transitions and full dance sequences. The Hornpipe Exit track sounds like it's cut off but I'm guessing that a scene interrupts the music in the show there? The dialogue is nice to have for figuring out where in the show the music goes, but I agree that the delivery doesn't do all that much for me. But overall a great album to have and I'm really pleased that it's finally here.
Posted: 9/16/24 at 10:11am
Thought this was a bit disappointing. I haven't heard the 1994 Broadway revival recording since it's not on Spotify, but the London version of the same production is my go-to for this score, and it includes Michael Hayden's performance. The lush orchestrations of that one appeal to me more than the original ones here, and I prefer the grittier, less polished singing from Billy and Julie. It fits their characters more. It is fun to hear all of the things you never get to hear on traditional cast recordings, like scene changes, dance breaks, etc. Unlike the Oklahoma! recording, there isn't much here that makes me feel like I'm missing anything. I might make my own Spotify playlist using the London production, and then just insert a few tracks from the complete recording to flesh it out. Would be nice to have the beginning to June is Bustin' Out All Over, the Act 1 finale, the Entr'acte, and The Highest Judge of All, none of which are on the London cast album.
Posted: 7/7/25 at 10:29am
Just a heads up that Chandos's complete recording of My Fair Lady, mentioned earlier in this thread, is now available for pre-order, with a release date of September 26. Cast includes Scarlett Strallen, Jamie Parker, Alun Armstrong, Malcolm Sinclair, Laurence Kilsby, Julia McKenzie, and Penelope Wilton, with the Sinfonia of London under John Wilson. (Maybe this one should have its own thread? Or should it just stay in here with the recent Chandos Carousel recording?)
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHSA%205358(2)
Updated On: 7/7/25 at 10:29 AM
