Upcoming John Wilson / Sinfonia of London recordings: GUYS AND DOLLS (complete) and WEST SIDE STORY (also complete?)

[Fan123]

Posted: 4/11/26 at 9:26pm

As per this article: https://www.gramophone.co.uk/content/features/john-wilson-inside-the-sinfonia-of-london-s-remarkable-recording-success

The orchestra continues its acclaimed series of classic American musicals with Guys and Dolls, another labour of love. ‘We live in an era of reinvention and reimagining,’ says Wilson, ‘and I think it’s easy to lose sight of what these pieces were like when they were first performed. If I’m honest, I don’t think you can improve on them. Frederick Loewe wouldn’t let an arranger change a semiquaver of his original piano sketches. “Don’t change my harmonies!” Guys and Dolls is one of a very, very, very small handful of pieces where the book, the music and the lyrics are on an equal footing. It’s a brilliant masterpiece. The original orchestrations, restored by Larry Moore, had never been recorded complete until now, and so we recorded every single note.’

And further on: 'Then the week after that, we are recording West Side Story!’

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/11/26 at 10:09pm

I just can't get excited for these Wilson recordings of shows that have already been recorded so many times, with singers that are proficient but not revelatory.

Even with restorations, to the vast majority of listeners, there is not a big difference between these albums and the Jay Records albums of the 80s-00s.

(I also vastly prefer the 1992 G&D arrangements and orchestrations over the originals)

[darquegk]

Posted: 4/11/26 at 10:31pm

The only one of these note-for-note studio reconstructions I ever listen to with any regularity is the Chess "Danish Complete" that reconstructed the London original.