Fiddler Album Will Be Most Complete Recording Yet of Classic; Cast in Studio April 26 | Playbill

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News Fiddler Album Will Be Most Complete Recording Yet of Classic; Cast in Studio April 26 Fiddler on the Roof's new Broadway revival company, headed by Alfred Molina, will be in a Manhattan recording studio April 26 singing for a disc expected in stores June 8 from PS Classics.
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Alfred Molina in Fiddler on the Roof Photo by Joan Marcus

Come June, the CD will be the first — by Playbill On-Line's count — new English-language Fiddler cast recording to appear wide since the 1971 film soundtrack; albums of the original London cast (with Topol) and Broadway cast (with Zero Mostel) preceded it.

In studio, the 36-member cast, including Randy Graff as Golde, and 25-piece orchestra will perform the score by composer Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick (not the mention book pieces by Joseph Stein).

For fans, it will be a fresh listen to an old and beloved score. PS Classics co-founder and executive producer Tommy Krasker anticipates a full 75-minute disc, which will allow for the inclusion of "a great deal of material not heard on the original cast album, as well as the revival's new song, 'Topsy-Turvy,'" he said.

The album is expected to be the most complete document of the score yet to appear on store shelves. Among pieces to be recorded are the lesser-known "Chavaleh," the wedding dance music, the "To Life" dance music, and the sequences in which Tevye's inner thoughts are revealed ("They gave each other a pledge...").

* This marks the second Broadway cast album from PS Classics, the young label devoted to the heritage of Broadway music and American pop songs. PS Classics' 2003 recording of Nine was Grammy Award nominated earlier this year. A cast album of A Year With Frog and Toad, recorded before the show went to Broadway, was released by PS Classics April 6.

Krasker told Playbill On-Line, "Philip [Chaffin, co-founder of PS Classics] and I saw the revival and thought it was brilliant.  I mean, like most people, I've seen a lot of Fiddlers: I've music directed Fiddlers, and accompanied Fiddlers, and seen Philip perform in Fiddlers. Heck, I saw the original Fiddler.  I didn't expect to be as blown away as I was, but for me, this revival truly honored the original while daring to see it through new eyes; and I found myself moved as if I were seeing it for the first time.  We're really thrilled to have the chance to record it."

David Leveaux directed the new revival, at the Minskoff Theatre, with Kevin Stites serving as musical director.

Larry Hochman orchestrated the new song, "Topsy Turvy," written in the last year, which takes the place of "The Rumor." Don Walker's original orchestrations sweeten the score by composer Jerome Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick.

For more information, visit www.psclassics.com.

 
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