FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Definitive Recording?

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 7:46pm

With so many threads going on lately asking people what their favorite cast recording of a certain musical is, I thought I'd start the discussion on Fiddler on the Roof.

There's obviously a ton of recordings out in existence, from the original Broadway cast to the soundtrack for the film version to subsequent revivals. Which recording of Fiddler on the Roof would you say is your personal favorite?

Mine would have to be the most recent revival. I thought it preserved a lot of the great performances from the production as well as Ted Sperling's fresh orchestrations and arrangements of the score.

Updated On: 9/24/17 at 07:46 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 8:19pm

My go to is the movie soundtrack. It's how I first discovered the show/score. John Williams did phenomenal work with the arrangements (that Oscar was certainly well-deserved). I also love that they lowered Golde's vocal part down the octave to make use of Norma Crane's rich lower tones, especially for "Sabbath Prayer." 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 8:30pm

Wishing there had been a recording of the Herschel Bernardi/Maria Karlinova company. To me, that was the perfect FIDDLER.

[ImAGeneralWEE]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 9:21pm

The original London recording is probably my favorite.  Especially "To Life!"  I also really love the movie.

I saw the recent Broadway revival, and while I admired many things about it, I just didn't care for it overall. It was a bummer because Fiddler is one of my favorite things in life. 

[Jake01]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 10:25pm

I LOVE the motion picture soundtrack. Topol is my favorite Tevye, by far; so much warmth and feeling and good humor in his performance. And violinist Isaac Stern as the eponymous Fiddler means the violin solos are probably the best one will ever hear on any recording of the score. John Williams' Oscar was certainly well-deserved, as the dance music, especially in "To Life" and "Wedding Dance", are absolutely rich and thrilling.

[Dfgtoronto]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 11:36pm

I'm surprised to be casting the first vote for the OBC recording with Zero Mostel. I have loved that recording since it first came out over 50 years ago. In addition to Mostel's brilliant, funny, touching performance, I love Julia Megenes, Austin Pendleton, and Bert Convy in their roles.