Search - Various Artists :: Fiddler on the Roof (Deluxe Edition) (1964 Original Broadway Cast)

Great recording - Poor packaging

Pope | Wisconsin, United States | 11/16/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has been a bestseller for RCA for forty years now, and I will not dispute that. I love the movie soundtrack, and the 1967 London cast recording with Topol is acceptable, but the ORIGINAL has remained the best. The cast is superb and performances are glorious. I'm only disappointed that I wasn't alive back in the 60s to see this on Broadway. I'm not sure if the recording was remastered for this "deluxe edition" release or not, but it sounds glorious. I've had the LP for quite some time now, but seeing an outstanding local community theatre group production of FIDDLER a year ago at the historic Al Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wis., compelled me to obtain this on CD.



This release, however, gets only 3 stars because of the moronic, cheap packaging that RCA devoted to this deluxe edition of an album that has been a show music best-seller for them for forty years. All that the CD comes in is basically a cheap thin open-out cardboard sleeve with a CD tray on one side and the liner notes glued to the other. As another reviewer states in his/her review of the similar HELLO DOLLY deluxe edition, this is NOT the proper way to store CDs. The bonus tracks alone do not make this special edition worth the purchase. In bonus tracks, I like to see outtakes that were originally recorded by the cast and subsequently dropped. I really think we could do without the studio and radio interviews that labels (most notably Columbia) have been resorting to for inclusion on Broadway discs under the banner of special features or bonus tracks.



By all means, DO look for this recording in its previous CD incarnation from RCA, which is still in print, but avoid the deluxe edition."

The most beloved Broadway musical of the 1960's

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 02/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It might seem an odd choice for the honor, but "Fiddler on the Roof" is undoubtedly the most beloved Broadway musical of the Sixties. The book by Joseph Stein is based upon the stories of Sholem Aleichem, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, the songwriting team whose earlier Tony Award winning success "Fiorello!" certainly never suggested they could create something as wonderful as "Fiddler." Zero Mostel heads the cast as Tevye, the dairyman, with Maria Karnilova as Golde, his wife, who, with "Do You Love Me?" have the best love duet between two married people in musical history. At the heart of the story are the efforts by Tevye to deal with the way God keeps presenting him with challenges, from needing to take care of a lame horse ("If I Were A Rich Man"), to getting his oldest daughter engaged to one man ("To Life") only to see her marry another ("Sunrise, Sunset"), and finally to leave the only home he has ever known to travel to America ("Anatevka"). Throughout it all Tevye tries to remain true to the traditions of his community ("Prologue--Tradition") and his faith ("Sabbath Prayer"). The cast features Beatrice Arthur as Yente the matchmaker ("The Rumor"), Austin Pendleton as Motel the tailor ("Miracle of Miracles"), Bert Convy as Perchik the student ("Now I Have Everything"), Joanna Merlin as the eldest daughter Tzeitel ("Matchmaker") and future opera star Julia Migenes as the second oldest daughter Hodel ("Far from the Home I Love"). I understand now from those who should know that Mostel butchers the pronunciation of anything not said or sung in English, but I have to admit that does not really detract from my enjoyment of this album; I do not pay attention to pronunciation when listening to opera either, so I am at least consistent. This CD version features two previously unreleased tracks, the "Wedding Dance" music (including the famous bottle dance) and "The Rumor," both of which are welcomed additions. Bottom line: If you own a dozen musicals on CD, then this is one of the ones that has to be in your collection"

Curiously satisfying somehow... but film version still wins

Tommy Peter | 05/27/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Once you have seen the film version of "Fiddler on the Roof," with its perfect cast, excellent performances and moving songs, any other recording of the show is bound to falter at least a little in comparison. Not even this recording of the original Broadway cast is exempt. Zero Mostel's... unique form of humor works well in some of the songs, most notably "To Life," and he is a decent Tevye. But other times, he just gets on your nerves, with his intentional (and annoying) bungling of the Yiddish phrases in "If I Were A Rich Man" and his just plain, to quote another reviewer, "braying" during the "Sabbath Prayer." Maria Karnilova, as Golde, does indeed have a very shrill voice, which doesn't help "Do I Love You," beautifully sung in the film but barely seviceable here. In the hands of such as these, you start to notice just how unremarkable Sheldon Harnick's lyrics and, to a lesser extent, Jerry Bock's music can be when in the wrong hands. In addition, the faster, bouncier orchestrations take away much of the power of the final mournful ballad "Anatevka."And yet, as crazy as it sounds, this recording is somehow satisfying. I have no idea why, but I liked it. It makes no sense, but it happened. I enjoyed it, was barely moved by it, but enjoyed it. But when all is said and done, the film version wins hands down. Topol truly captures the essence of Tevye in a way not even Mostel can match, and the "heavier and deeper" orchestrations of the songs make them that much stronger, memorable and moving, (though there is still plenty of humor to be had). So, as legendary as this Broadway musical is, the film version is much better."