My Fair Lady -- Cast Recordings

[Robos89]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 6:13pm

I saw that there are a couple of recording of MY FAIR LADY.

The original Broadway cast, the 20th Anniversary cast recording, the original London cast and the new London Cast recording.

Which one is the best? Which one should I buy?

I usually prefer the clearer better sounding recordings...but I'm not sure which to get.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 6:44pm

THe original Broadway cast is my fave and by far the best recording, IMO. On the contrary, the 2001 London revival is atrocious. I bought it last weekend and can't stand to listen to it.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 7:01pm

I love the original cast with Julie Andrews. At first I was a little put off by the snippets of her acting the role, because I was so used to Audrey Hepburn. I got used to it. And of course, her voice is glorious.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 7:17pm

Obviously the clearer better sounding recording is the 2001 London revival cast recording. You get a singing Higgins from Jonathan Pryce, but a spotty vocal performance from Martine McCutcheon as Eliza. Still the new orchestrations induce eargasams and the new dance arrangements are wonderful. It may not be the most "faithful" recording for the purists, but it's the most fun and thrilling for those of us who prefer our classics spruced up.

[Salene]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 12:25pm

I saw that there are a couple of recording of MY FAIR LADY.

The original Broadway cast, the 20th Anniversary cast recording, the original London cast and the new London Cast recording.

There are MANY more:
http://www.castalbums.org/shows/235#recordings

[philcrosby]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 12:32pm

I thought the new orchestrations were the WORST thing about the revival I just saw, and so I avoided buying the 2001 cast album. Are they any different on the CD?

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 12:45pm

I love the 20th Anniversary recording with Christine Andreas (the only recording on which I've liked her, although I thought she was stunning live in Piazza). While I haven't seen the 2001 revival version live, I have to admit that I wasn't impressed at the orchestrations either. It's difficult to describe, but they tend to switch styles with each verse of a song, so you never feel like you're getting a coherent piece of music.

Anyway, if I want my "My Fair Lady" fix, I always go for the OLC. It has Harrison, Andrews, and Coote, but with the glorious and more satisfying stereo sound.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 12:57pm

The 20th anniversary recording has my all time favorite person as Higgins - the late Ian Richardson. He is so perfect for that role with his velvet and steel diction and seemingly natural hauteur. "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" is heart-stoppingly beautiful.

[mauriposa]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 12:59pm

Julie Andrews is always the way to go.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 2:21pm

The ORIGINAL original cast recording is the one to get. (Columibia Broadway Masterworks ...the one with the white cover:
http://www.amazon.com/Fair-Lady-1956-Original-Broadway/dp/B000067AS1/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1203016199&sr=8-3)

The same stars took it to London and re-recorded it in stereo. The album was issued with the same cover art but with a gold background. The sound is harsh and there is some distortion that is really apparant on the CD. (http://www.amazon.com/Fair-Lady-1959-Original-London/dp/B000007OHU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1203016763&sr=1-3)

If you really must have a stero recording get the 1976 revival which is well sung and slightly more complete. (http://www.amazon.com/Fair-Lady-20th-Anniversary-Broadway/dp/B000GRTQX4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1203016632&sr=1-1)

There is the film soundtrack but for the same price you might as well get the DVD of the actual movie.

AVOID at all costs: The 1986 studio cast with Kiri te Kanawa and Jeremy Irons. JUST DREADFUL!

Updated On: 2/14/08 at 02:21 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 3:20pm

I vote for the Christine Andreas revival that came out on CD for the first time recently. I'm not a huge fan of this show, but this recording is wonderful. I also have the London Revival and the OBC. Rarely listen to either.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 3:25pm

"The same stars took it to London and re-recorded it in stereo."

I think by this time Julie Andrews had started her bad habit of speaking bits of lyrics rather than singing them.

[FranklinShepard-Inc.]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 4:22pm

To throw in a foreign language OCR: there's a charming 1961 Original German Cast recording, conducted by original Broadway conductor Franz Allers, who for some reasons has speeded up the pace a little.

[sparrman]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 9:37pm

While the original Broadway and original London recordings have the same leads, the Broadway recording is FAR superior. Sure, the London is in stereo, but how often do you find yourself saying "Hmmm, I'm really in the mood to listen to some stereophonic sound!"? What's important is WHAT you're listening to, and there the Broadway version is the best. By the time they got to London, the leads had clearly been playing their roles for quite a while, and they sound rather weary. Somewhere between Broadway and London, Rex Harrison decided that he actually COULD sing, and the results are not an improvement. And Julie Andrews sounds tired throughout, with a woefully flat note at the end of "I Could Have Danced All Night". Get the OBC, unquestionably.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:27am

The OBCR is possibly my favorite cast recording of all time.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 9:29am

Really, I think you need both the OBC and OLC to have it right. On the OBC, the energy and performances are better. However, by the time you get to the OLC, Julie Andrews was actually playing Eliza and not Julie Andrews playing Moss Hart playing Eliza.