Complete MY FAIR LADY recording

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 9/27/25 at 12:25am

The complete recording of MY FAIR LADY has been released today, digitally, on all platforms.

Like his earlier complete recordings of OKLAHOMA! and CAROUSEL, John Wilson and the London Sinfonia bring us a complete recording of Lerner and Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY. The Julie Andrews/Rex Harrison Broadway and London recordings are go-to choices, but this new recording is definitive as a complete document of the score.

I’m listening now and it’s pretty remarkable!

[McH3]

Posted: 9/27/25 at 1:20am

Listened to it yesterday, it's gorgeous. Perfectly cast, beautiful orchestrations. 

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/27/25 at 9:07pm

I had heard that they couldn't get the rights to include cut material on the Oklahoma! and Carousel discs (actually I'm not sure there IS anything from Carousel that was cut out of town, unless they can track down some ballet music.)  So it's nice to see cut material included as an appendix here.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 9/28/25 at 12:06am

Excited that we have a complete recording on MFL.

Just finished listening, Eliza’s big numbers have serious mixing issues. I could have danced all night , for example, I cannot hear what she was singing 40% of the time. 
 

Scarlett Strallen Really has a waker vocal, among those that have sung the role before

Updated On: 9/28/25 at 12:06 AM

[Globefan]

Posted: 9/28/25 at 4:25pm

I hope this recording opens the door to possibly them granting the rights for a new film version. I already have a dream casting for it. 

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 9/28/25 at 5:50pm

There was a proposed remake of MY FAIR LADY some years ago. It was set to star Carey Mulligan as Eliza Doolittle. For the role of Professor Henry Higgins, actors Colin Firth and Hugh Grant were both considered. 

The project, which ultimately did not go forward, included other key figures: 

• Emma Thompson penned the screenplay for the new adaptation.
• Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Duncan Kenworthy were attached.
• Joe Wright was rumored to be the director at one point, with Keira Knightley also considered for the role of Eliza. 

[Globefan]

Posted: 9/28/25 at 7:20pm

I want Ariana Grande to play Eliza. 

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 2:17am

spicemonkey said: "Excited that we have a complete recording on MFL.

Just finished listening, Eliza’s big numbers have serious mixing issues. I could have danced all night , for example, I cannot hear what she was singing 40% of the time."

I haven't listened myself yet, but some had this issue with their Oklahoma! and Carousel recordings as well.  In those cases I wasn't bothered--I know Wilson said he didn't want close miking because he wanted a more natural sound as you would have heard in the theatre back then (though ideally that wouldn't mean not making out lyrics...) which I appreciated.

 

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 7:07am

Globefan said: "I hope this recording opens the door to possibly them granting the rights for a new film version. I already have a dream casting for it."

It's just a studio recording. It will be little more than a footnote in the show's history. I don't think it will be opening any doors for any big or small screen remakes.

 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 8:04am

MichelleCraig said: "There was a proposed remake of MY FAIR LADY some years ago. It was set to starCarey Mulliganas Eliza Doolittle. For the role of Professor Henry Higgins, actorsColin FirthandHugh Grant were both considered.

The project, which ultimately did not go forward, included other key figures:

• Emma Thompsonpenned the screenplay for the new adaptation.
• ProducersCameron MackintoshandDuncan Kenworthywere attached.
• Joe Wrightwas rumored to be the director at one point, withKeira Knightleyalso considered for the role of Eliza.

"

Hugh Grant as Higgins is genius

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 9:52am

I’d like Timothy Spall as Higgins. Hugh Grant runs the risk of giving the character actual charm and appeal. Let's not forget what a hideous creature he is. I assume any new movie would have a radically different ending.

 

Updated On: 9/29/25 at 09:52 AM

[EvanstonDad]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 10:05am

I'm generally a sucker for these complete recordings. Even if there are other versions that are sung better or whatever, it's hard for me to choose those when I know there's a complete version available. I really like the Oklahoma!, mostly because there wasn't another version, aside from the film soundtrack, that did much for me, and the film soundtrack is so different from the score as composed for the stage. Carousel is an exception. The 1993 London cast recording is definitive as far as I'm concerned, so I just built a playlist using that recording and then inserted some of the extra material from the studio recording to fill it out a bit. I'm through the first act of My Fair Lady and am enjoying it so far. I could see this being my go-to recording for this show.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 10:26am

EvanstonDad said: "I'm generally a sucker for these complete recordings. Even if there are other versions that are sung better or whatever, it's hard for me to choose those when I know there's a complete version available. I really like the Oklahoma!, mostly because there wasn't another version, aside from the film soundtrack, that did much for me, and the film soundtrack is so different from the score as composed for the stage.Carousel is an exception. The 1993 London cast recording is definitive as far as I'm concerned, so I just built a playlist using that recording and then inserted some of the extra material from the studio recording to fill it out a bit. I'm through the first act of My Fair Lady and am enjoying it so far. I could see this being my go-to recording for this show."

Yeah , among the recent three releases of complete recordings from Chandos, I enjoyed Carousel the least. My go to for Carousel are either one of:

1994 Broadway recording which I bought a CD so I can listen to it - weirdly tho I like the Bway recording more than the London 1993 one, just my personal taste.

 

1987 Studio recording - I know many people dislike this one but I really enjoy it because of some of the  orchestra and vocal performance 

[darquegk]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 11:13am

1994 Carousel Broadway is definitive for me; I love the mix of high art and low, the most glorious voices against the roughest, almost "punk" vocals of the working-class men. (Similarly, I love the Donmar Warehouse "Threepenny," which stars Michael Hayden as Macheath and has a similar high/low aesthetic.)