My Fair Lady (1997 Studio Cast) [CAST RECORDING]

Frederick Loewe (Composer), John Owen Edwards (Conductor), National Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Alec McCowen (Performer), Andre Mutis (Performer), Barrie James (Performer), Bob Hoskins (Performer), Bruce Ogsten (Performer), Carol Lesley-Green (Performer), Christopher Dee (Performer), David Bexon (Performer), Denise Shane (Performer), Derek James (Performer), Diane Langton (Performer), Dulcie Gray (Performer), Frank Carandini (Performer), Garrick Forbes (Performer), Guy Matthews (Performer), Henry Wickham (Performer), Jane Powell (Performer), Alan Jay Lerner (Artist)

Product Details

• Performer: Alec McCowen, Andre Mutis, Barrie James, Bob Hoskins, Bruce Ogsten, et al.
• Orchestra: National Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: John Owen Edwards
• Composer: Frederick Loewe
• Audio CD (March 31, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Jay Records
• ASIN: B000006C5U
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #318,809 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Complete Lady!, August 16, 2000

By	gellio "gellio" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

I have long wondered why a complete recording of this great musical masterpiece was missing- now I found it, and what a treat it is.

I really like Andrews and the guy who plays Higgins in the Audrey movie (NOTE: Audrey does not sing). Anyways, this recording is great. I only listen to this one now, because it's complete.

I thought Andrews was kind of see through in the beginning as even then she sounded good. In the beginning on this disc Tinuke Olafimihan is terrible, just terrible, but is that not how the role is supposed to be? 'Just You Wait' is a real treat here. It sounds like an angry woman who can't speak proper English. Then In 'The Rain in Spain' wow- what a transformation into a beautiful voice. She really sings the role properly. Transforming from an ugly voice, and boy is it ugly, to a beautiful one...as the role calls for.

The rest of the cast is quite good. Charming performances. Henry Wickham is good as Freddy...quite a nice performance.

The real star here is Alec McCowen as Henry Higgins.. phenomenal.. What a great performace. My absolute favorite. Great performance, both vocally and acting wise. Great performance here.

It's a good performance here. I prefer the Eliza (overall) in the movie and Julie Andrews...however, the completeness here makes up for any performance shortages.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!, August 5, 2000

By A Customer

I'm a BIG fan of My Fair Lady. I almost did not buy this because it cost a lot more than most My Fair Lady recordings. Well was wrong or what? This album is the BEST recording of My Fair Lady ever made. It does not have big star names like Julie Andrews or Rex Harrison but it doesent need them. The music is somewhat diferent from the original but it is also a lot better. The singer / actors are soooo god you may just forget about Julie Andrews. Buy this recording!!! Trust me!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this one!!, January 3, 2001

By	Brandon Langeland (Fort Wayne, IN USA) - See all my reviews

After listening to the OLC, I was severly disappointed because the guy playing Freddy wasn't right for the part and Julie Andrews kept going flat. I ordered this one and I absolutely loved it. Hats off to Tinuke Olafimihan and Henry Wickham for outstanding vocal performances, although she sounds a little reserved in some dialogue parts. Alec McCowen was good, and was vocally very similar to Rex Harrison. To answer the previous reviewer, yes, this does have the "Get Me to the Church..." dance music. It was quite unexpected. The Movie is still my favorite, but for a recording from the play, none can hold a candle to this one.